In the early sixties my grandfather snagged a Lake of the Ozarks paddlefish that weighed fifty pounds. It was not as big as some cat fish he first took in the 30s and 40s but trying to get it in the boat by himself in his sixties was a big job.
Big prehistoric fish in France Park limestone quarry (west of Logansport, IN) is the American Paddlefish (aka Spoonbill Sturgeon).
Key Facts Scientific name: Polyodon spathula
Why it looks prehistoric: a “living fossil”, basic body changed very little in 150 million years.
Size: Can grow up to 8 feet long (some reports even larger).
Weight: Adults commonly reach 100–200+ pounds. The largest recorded specimens have exceeded 300 pounds.