SAMPLE PERFORMS RECORD CATFISH LIFT

Over the years Lindsay Sample has been adept at raising the bar.

A renowned power-lifter, Sample has bench pressed 413 pounds, squatted 705 pounds and dead-lifted 683 pounds.

He's won nine power-lifting state championships, two national titles and a world title.

Now for his latest massive lift: an 85-pound blue catfish.

Sample hauled it out of the Mississippi near Thebes, Ill., on Feb. 22 and promptly raised the bar for the Illinois state record.

The fish exceeded keeper, surpassed lunker, outdid trophy and checks in somewhere between personal watercraft and yacht.

The record fish measured 52.25 inches long and had a girth of 35.5 inches.

The fish was also no fluke as the Cape Girardeau fisherman regularly pursues the monsters of the Mississippi. He was equipped with a saltwater reel and Power Stick and lured the fish with a 5-inch shad.

"I'm pretty competitive and like to go for records in whatever I do," said Sample, a muscular-armed and thick-chested 46-year-old.

He's fished the Mississippi since he was 15 and also patrols the waters of the Ohio River. He's caught a lot of catfish in the 40- to 50-pound range and said he had a similar catch to his record fish in December that topped a national year-long catch-and-release list in In-Fisherman magazine.

"On the day I went I told my buddy I was going to get a state record," said Sample. "I was half kidding but I went and got it."

On that particular day, Sample and his friend Robert Overbey put their boats in near Thebes and quickly found out the big ones were biting.

Overbey pulled in a blue catfish that was just under the record catch by Sample, who caught a 40-pounder just prior to his monster. They had been fishing for about an hour when fates crossed on a No. 8 hook. Fishing in about 40 to 50 feet of water, Sample sank his hook into the Mississippi monster around 4 p.m..

It took about 12 minutes to land. "It actually didn't fight until it got to the boat," said Sample. "The big ones stay down deep until they get near the boat."

Things get a little more exciting when the fish nears the surface as the fisherman must contend with an inspired fish in a stronger current .

"Getting them in the boat is the hardest part," said Sample.

That's when Sample's brute strength comes in handy. He stuck his gloved hand into the fish's mouth and pulled it aboard.

Sample said the fish weighed 90 pounds on his portable scale in his truck and said its girth measured 37 inches. By the time they got the fish to Boyd's Custom Butchering in Anna-Jonesboro, the fish weighed 85 pounds on a certified scale. The fish died on the way to Little Grassy Fisheries near Marion for further inspection and certification.

The state of Illinois examined it and hailed it as a new state record, surpassing the previous 80-pound blue catfish. The state is also having a fiberglass replica made of the fish, which it will display at Little Grassy Fisheries as well as at state fairs and fishing shows.

"I've always liked to catch cats, but I really went after them hard the last three years," he said.

He said he had more success catching big catfish this past winter than ever before and credited a low river level.

"It's hard to fish in current," said Sample. "The deeper holes were more accessible with the river low."

Sample says the right bait, location and timing are the key to catching big catfish. He recommends natural bait and slices his shad to enhance the aroma.

In the Mississippi, he pursues the big ones from November through February.

"Most people miss out on really big cats by not fishing in winter," said Sample. "It's a growing sport. I believe there will be a lot of others like me. It's one of the biggest freshwater fish you can catch."

He has the proof of that.

And he firmly believes there are even bigger catfish in the depths of the Mississippi.

"My goal is to get over 100 pounds," said Sample.

Sounds a lot like a competitive powerlifter hooked on fishing.