The pictus catfish is a freshwater species that’s part of the Pimelodidae family of fish, or long-whiskered catfishes. Because of their unique appearance, these fish make popular pets, especially for ...
In fact, there are so many that Fish and Game captures catfish from the Snake River and transplants them into Treasure Valley ponds and elsewhere to provide more fishing opportunity. Catfish are also available in many of the Snake River’s tributaries, including the Weiser, Payette and Boise Rivers, typically in the lower stretches.
Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) Presence Present in Idaho: Yes Native to Idaho: Exotic
Couples who fish together stay together, I like to say. But on Aug. 2, that theory got put to the test. Brandi Holt’s flathead catfish now stands as the official catch-and-release state record, dethroning her husband’s 42-inch cat.
As channel catfish grow, they become increasingly piscivorous (fish eating), leading to competition between channel catfish and largemouth bass, which typically are highly piscivorous in small impoundments.
From two catfish records broken less than three weeks apart (by the same angler) to one of the “smallest” state record fish ever caught in Idaho, it’s time to wrap up the top “big fish” stories from 2024. In total, 2024 had 7 new state records, which included 4 certified-weight records, and 3 new catch-and-release records.
Catfishing doesn’t have a strong tradition in Idaho, but it could. Fisheries biologist Joe Kozfkay is comfortable in saying there’s over a million catfish in the Snake River, CJ Strike, and Brownlee. To show off this bountiful fishery, Kozfkay took a couple of young anglers fishing in the Snake River near Parma.