After the water rose because of the heavy rain I was able to launch my boat for the first time this year. I began fishing at 5:00 P.M. and at 5:05 felt a tap and set the hook. The fish simply moved away from the boat. I was using Seaguar 8# Invizx line and could not stop or even turn the head of the fish. I followed the fish using the electric motor. After about 30 minutes it briefly surfaced and upon seeing it I felt the need to change my shorts. Twice during the fight I thought it had snagged and the game was over, but then it began moving again. When I worked it to the surface I tried to get it into my net, but it was too large and it slid out. Then I remembered a small Bogagrip that I was given for Christmas. I used it to grab the lower lip and hoist it into the boat. It was 5:57, so the fight took 52 minutes. I was glad that I noticed when it took the 5" Kalin's grub. We had moved around in an area about 200 feet long.<br /><br />I immediately started back to our dock, and, showing how cool I am under pressure, left the electric motor in the water. After experiencing a cold shower I stopped the boat and put that motor up. When I returned and my wife came down to help put the boat up I called for her to get the camera and bring the bathroom scale. It was a blue catfish that was 42" long and 39 1/2#. It swam away when returned to the water.<br /><br />I have a photograph on the computer but still have not figured out how to post it. I can e-mail it to someone who might be kind enough to post it if they have the interest.