DES MOINES, Iowa – A new state record has been set for the biggest catfish caught in Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says George Thompson landed a monster after a 35-minute battle on rod and reel on the Missouri River. The catch broke the previous 2004 record of 53 inches, 101 pounds that was caught along the same stretch of river.

To have the fish certified as the new state record, the DNR says George kept the fish in a large live well with diffused oxygen while traveling to a certified scale. The record-breaking fish then traveled back to the Missouri River - where George released it back to the water.

The DNR says this big blue cat is a big river species, and the population in the Missouri River is wild and not stocked.

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