Boise angler breaks catch-and-release record for catfish - East Idaho News
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Boise angler breaks catch-and-release record for catfish

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Scott Turner of Boise caught the 32-inch channel catfish from the Snake River. | Courtesy IDFG

The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

BOISE – Congratulations to Scott Turner of Boise, who recently set a new catch-and-release state record for channel catfish.

Turner landed the 32-inch catfish on May 16 while fishing the Snake River in Canyon County. His fish was just long enough to pass the previous 31-inch record set in 2018 by James Stackhouse. As an avid catfish angler, Turner now holds catch/release records for both channel catfish and flathead catfish. While both species are found in the Snake River, flathead catfish are much less common and are typically found from Brownlee Reservoir to Swan Falls Dam.

Channel catfish are widespread throughout the Snake River, from Brownlee Reservoir upstream to Lake Walcott near Burley. Catfish also live in many lakes and reservoirs, making them a great fishing opportunity for anglers across the state.

While some populations reproduce naturally, many lakes and ponds are stocked with catfish to provide consistent numbers of fish. Fishing usually turns on in late spring when water temperatures rise above 60 degrees and catfish feed aggressively ahead of the spawning season. Catfish like much warmer water than trout, making them a good option for summertime fishing.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

List of Idaho’s Channel catfish spots

Catfish stocking information

View all of Idaho’s record fish and learn more about the program on our State Record Fish website.

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