Jesse Lance cradles the Missouri River giant moments after the fight of a lifetime.
His decision to release the fish reflects a growing commitment among trophy catfish
anglers to catch, photograph, and release their biggest catches. (courtesy of Jesse Lance)
Kansas Angler Releases Potential World-Record Blue Cat
By Keith “Catfish” Sutton
On a cold, rainy afternoon in late October, Missouri River angler Jesse Lance launched his 17-foot Alumacraft near Kansas City with modest expectations. He’d spent half the day doing other things, reluctant to brave the chilly conditions. But something pushed him to go anyway.
“I didn’t wake up today and think I might catch a potential state-record catfish,” Lance said. “It was rainy and cold, and I had to convince myself to get on the river.”
Once on the water, he caught a few silver carp for bait and headed to a favorite stretch of river known for big blue cats. The first spot didn’t produce. Then a call from a friend changed the day.
“I was talking to my boy Anthony on the phone, and he told me, ‘Bro, scan that dike. Scan that dike.’ So I did,” Lance said. “I marked a fish on some structure and anchored up on it using a little bitty half-dollar-size piece of Asian carp.”
Fifteen minutes later, his Mad Katz medium-heavy Orange Crush rod doubled over, and the drag on his Shimano Calcutta reel began to scream.
“That fish smoked it,” Lance said. “He was pulling hard, but I eventually got him to the boat.”
The Battle of a Lifetime
Lance had no idea how big the fish really was until he tried to net it. His personal best blue catfish—an 80-pounder—fit easily in the same net. This one didn’t come close.
“I put my glove on, but he twisted, and I dropped him in the water,” Lance recalled. “I grabbed him real quick again because the rod wasn’t in my hand at that point. I got him in the boat. I pulled him up over the edge. But I couldn’t lift him up. I just kind of fell backwards and slid him on top of me to get him over the side of the boat.”
Once aboard, the fish filled the deck of his boat. Using a portable scale, Lance tried to weigh it, but the giant never fully cleared the floor. Even so, the reading stopped at 126 pounds, and that was with part of the fish still resting on the deck.
“I was solo that day,” he said. “I couldn’t get an accurate weight. And instead of risking that fish’s life, I decided I’m going to let him go and not get it to certified scales or help.”
A Fish of Extraordinary Size
Photos and video of the catch show a blue catfish of truly massive proportions—its head nearly as broad as Lance’s chest, its mouth large enough to fit his entire head inside. The fish may well have weighed 130 pounds or more, rivaling the 143-pound world record blue cat caught in Virginia’s Kerr Lake in 2011.
But that will never be known for certain. Lance didn’t measure or officially weigh the fish. What mattered more to him was ensuring the big cat survived.
“The opportunity to catch this fish means more than any record,” he said. “This fish is nationwide and spreads a firm belief in CPR—catch, photograph, release—and that will do far more good than any name in a book.”
Fifteen Years in the Making
For Lance, the catch wasn’t luck. It was the reward of persistence—years of learning the river and countless hours spent chasing blue cats through both tough and fruitful days.
“It just shows, some days you don’t feel like fishing, the conditions aren’t the best, but if you don’t put the time in, you’re not gonna catch ’em,” he said. “I’ve spent 15 years chasing these blue catfish on this river, and it took me that long to catch this class of fish. I’ve been skunked and skunked and skunked, but this paid for it all.”
That dedication—and his decision to release the fish—reflect the mindset of an angler who understands his quarry and the value of conservation.
Doing the Right Thing
Many anglers would have sought a certified scale and possible place in the record books. Lance chose another path.
“Catching a record is great, but it mattered most to me to release that fish alive,” he said. “Big cats are old, smart fish, and there’s just no good reason to kill them.”
Lance hopes to have a replica mount made, but says the true reward was seeing the fish swim away. “It’s a super great feeling—released to live another day.”
The Missouri River has long been known for producing giant blue cats, and Lance believes even bigger ones are out there. “Maybe even fish weighing 160 pounds,” he said with a grin.
In the end, Jesse Lance didn’t just catch a trophy—he made a statement about what it means to be a responsible catfish angler. He demonstrated respect for the resource, reverence for the fish and a deep belief in the future of the sport.
Lance chose conservation. He released the fish, demonstrating what it means to be a true sportsman. He did the right thing, and we at CatfishNOW salute him!
