Giant Catfish Caught Through Ice on Bluegill Rod

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Published: 17 January 2014

By LOUIE STOUT

Michigan Record Flathead CatfishThe first time Dale Blakley went ice fishing, he wasn’t all that impressed.

“I didn’t catch a thing,” he groaned.

That all changed last Sunday while fishing on Barron Lake near Niles. He not only caught a fish – he caught a state record – and a monster at that.

With the help of fishing buddies Fred Harkrider and Mike and Justin Wagner, Blakley out-dueled a 52-pound flathead catfish after an hour and 15 minute battle through the ice.

The catfish shattered the Michigan record of 49 pounds, 13 ounces set in 2012 on the Maple River. Blakley’s fish measured 46.2 inches long and had a head bigger than a large medicine ball.

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Michigan Offers Website for Tournament Scheduling, Reporting Catch Data

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Published: 15 January 2014

Michigan offers website for tournament scheduling, reporting catch data

The Michigan DNR recently completed development of a web application designed to allow bass tournament directors to schedule events at DNR access sites and to report their catch results online.

The Michigan Fishing Tournament Information System (MFTIS) is now available to tournament directors for use in scheduling their 2014 tournaments. This application gives tournament directors the ability to view other bass tournaments scheduled on a selected waterbody, so they can plan appropriately.

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