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.
Inhabiting those waters are 42 game fish species, from giant white sturgeon to wild trout, catfish to kokanee, and smallmouth bass to salmon and steelhead. Most Idaho waters have year-round fishing seasons. However, many rivers and streams and some lakes have special rules and seasons.
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.
Catfish a plenty in the Snake River [video] | Idaho Fish and Game
Congratulations to Reed Monson of Meridian on landing a new catch/release state record for channel catfish. Reed was fishing for largemouth bass on Lake Lowell on Friday, July 24 when the 33-inch catfish inhaled his plastic swimbait.
Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) Presence Present in Idaho: Yes Native to Idaho: Exotic
Channel catfish raised at a Magic Valley aquaculture business were recently stocked across Idaho to provide opportunity for anglers to catch these fish and put food on their tables. Stocking locations ranged from Lake Cocollala in northern Idaho to the Rexburg City Pond in eastern Idaho, with 18 lakes and reservoirs receiving catfish. Channel catfish are a highly sought after fish by anglers ...
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.