Lucas Barnett is all smiles after landing a channel catfish that established a
new Idaho catch-and-release record. (courtesy of Idaho Fish & Game)
Double Record Catch
Source: Idaho Fish & Game
Two Idaho catfish records were broken less than three weeks apart by the same angler.
According to a December 19th news release from the Idaho Fish & Game Commission, one of the top 2024 “Big Fish” stories in the Gem State originated when angler Lucas Barnett landed a monster channel catfish in 16.7-acre Caldwell Rotary Pond in Canyon County. He caught that 34-1/4-inch brute on October 7, 2024 and was so confident the fat cat might wind up being the new state catch-and-release record that he submitted the state-record application later that day.
Before State Sportfish Coordinator Martin Koenig could even process that application, he received another telegram from the same angler—this time reporting an even larger 37-1/2-inch channel catfish caught from the same pond on November 1.
Amazingly enough, both records would have put Barnett at the top of the state catch-and-release record board, edging out the previous record-holder by an inch or two. But, it was the second catfish that ultimately solidified his name in the record books.
Want to learn what you’ll need to do if you catch a potential Idaho state-record fish? Check out this article: You landed a lunker—now what? Here’s how to submit your big catch into the record books.
