This beat the previous state record flathead catfish which was 52 pounds and 46.02 inches long back in 2014. Tanner’s fish has been verified by Jay Wesley, Lake Michigan Basin coordinator with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “I’ve been fishing Michigan for almost 30 years,” Tanner said. “What draws me to Michigan is fishing for big catfish.” Tanner said he comes to St. Joe River nearly every weekend to fish with friends in the Michigan Catfish Anglers Trail, an amateur fishing club.