Brandi Holt with the 43-inch flathead catfish that broke her husband’s
previous state record by an inch. (Photo courtesy of Idaho Fish & Game)
Record Holder Dethroned by His Wife
Source: Idaho Fish & Game
Friendly competition among outdoorsy couples can come in many ways, shapes and forms: who shot the biggest buck last year; who limited out first on doves; who cooked the better camp meal; and, last but not least, who caught the bigger fish. Recently, one couple—Brandi and Jared Holt of Homedale, Idaho—got to experience this firsthand.
Couples who fish together stay together, we like to say. But on August 2, that theory got put to the test. Brandi and Jared had cast baits into the Snake River late that night when Brandi’s rod tip suddenly bowed towards the water.
As soon as she started cranking on the reel, Brandi felt the unmistakable feeling of a large fish fighting on the end of the line. She managed to haul the giant flathead catfish aboard the boat where Jared anxiously rolled out the tape measure.
You see, since September 20, 2020, Jared Holt had held the Idaho catch-and-release state record for the same species Brandi was now putting next to the tape. You can see a photo and read about Jared Holt’s 42-inch long flathead catfish here.
But the angling gods were smiling upon Brandi that night as the tape measure—stretched nose to tail—read 44 inches. Brandi’s flathead catfish now stands as the official catch-and-release state record, dethroning her husband’s 42-inch cat.
“I was hesitant to even submit the record,” Holt said. “My husband puts in so much time and effort all year trying to beat his own personal best, and it was really his encouragement that convinced me to go ahead and send it in.”
Flathead catfish can be found in the Snake River and associated reservoirs in southwest Idaho. They are typically found in the Snake River between C.J. Strike and Brownlee reservoirs, but their numbers are higher in the river sections closer to Brownlee Reservoir.
They also can be found occasionally in lower reaches of tributaries like the Weiser and Payette rivers. While they are not as common as channel catfish, they can reach some surprising sizes, making them a great trophy opportunity. Idaho’s largest flathead catfish caught in 1994 from Brownlee Reservoir, weighed 58.4 pounds and stretched to 48 inches.
