It took Tim Pruitt over thirty minutes to capture his 124 pound blue catfish on Saturday, May 22nd 2005. However, after he had it safely out of the Mississippi River and on his boat he soon realized that he was holding Illinois' largest catfish of its kind, ever.

Now, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the International Game Fish Association are claiming Pruitt's fish may land in the world record books. Until that determination has been made, the 58 inch long and 44 inch around catfish is being kept alive and on display in a tank at the Cabela's Outfitter store in Kansas City, Kansas.

The previous state record holder was 85 pounds. And the world record holder tipped the scales at 121 pounds, 8 ounces.

The world's largest blue catfish prior to Pruitt's was caught Jan. 16, 2004, in Lake Texoma, Texas.

Pruitt, 33, of Godfrey, told the (Peoria) Journal Star's outdoors columnist that he considered releasing the fish in the river but decided to donate it to Cabela. Pruitt said he was donating it:

because I thought it might be neat to give people a chance to see a fish that massive.

For further details, go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at http://dnr.state.il.us or the International Game Fish Association at www.igfa.org/

Do you suppose Pruitt is singing Black Water like I am?

You remember the Doobie Brothers' smash hit? It was one of the greatest songs of all time on their Greatest Hits album. The lyrics go:

Well, I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin' Ol' Mississippi, she's callin' my name Catfish are jumpin' That paddle wheel thumpin' Black water keeps rollin' on past just the same Old black water, keep on rollin' Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me Old black water, keep on rollin' Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me Old black water, keep on rollin' Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me Yeah, keep on shinin' your light Gonna make everything, pretty mama Gonna make everything all right And I ain't got no worries 'Cause I ain't in no hurry at all

Well, if it rains, I don't care
Don't make no difference to me
Just take that street car thats goin' up town
Yeah, I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland
And dance a honky tonk
And I'll be buyin' ev'rybody drinks all 'roun'

Old black water, keep on rollin'
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me
Old black water, keep on rollin'
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me
Old black water, keep on rollin'
Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me
Yeah, keep on shinin' your light
Gonna make everything, pretty mama
Gonna make everything all right
And I ain't got no worries

'Cause I ain't in no hurry at all
I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama come and take me by the hand
By the hand, take me by the hand pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I want to honky tonk, honky tonk, honky tonk
With you all night long

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "buying' everybody a round for having the biggest fish in town" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC