John Williams, a Midstate angler, got a big surprise while fishing in a small lake recently.

He hooked a blue catfish that weighed more than 50 pounds in Coy Gaither/Bedford Lake.

The lake is located 15 miles east of Shelbyville and Wartrace and is only 47 acres in size.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has released catfish in the lake over the years.

The lake, which is fed by five springs, was built in 1939. The first manager of the lake was Coy Gaither, a Normandy resident and Tennessee Game and Fish employee.

Today Coy Gaither/Bedford Lake is one of 18 Family Fishing Lakes managed by the TWRA.

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Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.