April 2026 • Nebraskaland 77
World record channel catfish
at Merritt Reservoir, 1988
My great uncle and lifetime resident
of North Platte, Lynn Stockall, holding
the International Game Fish Association
world record channel catfish on 4-pound
test; it weighed 34 pounds 8 ounces.
He caught it at Merritt Reservoir
in 1988 on one of his many fishing
trips with his buddies. Lynn was an
avid hunter and angler all his life.
He passed away in May 2024.
– Andy Yelinek, Omaha
Pheasant hunting in Wausa, 1970
My brothers and me after a
Thanksgiving Day pheasant hunt near
Wausa in 1970. Left to right: Greg
Kirby, Kevin Kirby, Mark Kirby and me.
We usually had about 70 relatives for
dinner, so we threw the pheasants in
the roaster with the turkey. I'm sure
some got a few pellets in their food
that day, but it added to a great time
with family.
– Neil Kirby, Wausa
