Michigan Record Flathead Breaks 68-Year-Old Record

A Michigan man reeled in the new state record flathead last month, breaking a nearly 69-year-old record.

Rodney Akey of Niles, Mich., landed a 49.8-pound, 45.7-inch flathead at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, on the St. Joseph River in Berrien County, Mich.

Akey's catch shattered the previous record, a 47.5-pounder measuring 44 inches caught by Elmer Rayner on Aug. 6, 1943, on the Maple River in Ionia County.

Akey was still-fishing from the shore of the St. Joseph when he landed the giant catfish, which was later certified by Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Scott Hanshue at the DNR's office in Plainwell, Mich.

A monster catch, no doubt, but Akey's flathead doesn't come close to the International Game Fish Assocation's world record -- a 123-pounder caught by Ken Paulie on May 19, 1998, on the Elk City Reservoir in Independence, Kan.