Record blue cat caught — and released

I’m always amazed when I receive stories about monster fish being hooked and boated.

While fishing on the Kansas side of the Missouri River on Aug. 11, Rob Stanley of Olathe, Kansas, caught a blue catfish weighing 102.8 pounds, which would surpass the previous state record of 94 pounds set in 2000, according to a report in the Kansas City Star. There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period for verification.

With the help of his fishing partner Brad Kilpatrick, the fish was handled gingerly during the weighing process and successfully released.

“It was strong when it swam away,” said Kilpatrick.

Dress reversal:Here#146;s one instance in which the bureaucracy came through for outdoor sportsmen.A proposed ordinance that would have prohibited residents of Nashua, N.H., from skinning or dressing wild game on their property was effectively killed by city aldermen this week after hunters portrayed it as #147;an infringement on sportmen#146;s rights.#148; Robert Valade, a hunter education instructor for more than 40 years, urged city officials to dismiss the #147;frivolous#148; legislation, adding the immediate dressing of wild game and the preparation of meat is part of the hunting experience.Fish report:Fox Chain: Greatly improved largemouth action on Channel Lake and Lake Catherine. Exception bluegill activity on Nippersink and Pistakee lakes.Fox River: Smallmouth action is showing signs of a slight up-tick, especially near current-riffles.Lake Michigan: Anglers in the far northern suburbs are seeing kings and silver salmon moving almost to shoreline areas.ŸContact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM and live-streamed at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.