Idaho State Record Fish
Certified-weight and catch-and-release records IDFG announced in 2026, with the waters and sources.
- 20.03 poundsRainbow Trout
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Lake Pend Oreille: MonikaMurren, CC BY 2.0
Idaho state records IDFG announced in 2026
IDFG keeps two record lists: certified weight, for fish weighed on a certified scale, and catch-and-release, for fish measured by total length and let go. The full lists live at idfg.idaho.gov/fish/record, which could not be opened during the November 2026 site maintenance.
So this page lists only the records IDFG announced in 2026 that could be read from its dated releases or from news reports citing IDFG: 7 in all. Angler names are not shown. A TV report in October 2026 said 17 catch-and-release records had fallen that year, so this list is short.
Idaho certified-weight records announced in 2026
| Fish | Weight | Water | Caught | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 20.03 pounds | Dworshak Reservoir | January 13, 2026 | IDFG news release (Jan 22, 2026) as distributed unaltered by Public Technologies (article), read November 8, 2026 |
| Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout | 3.08 pounds | Henrys Lake | not printed | IDFG news release (Jan 30, 2026) as distributed unaltered by Public Technologies (article), read November 8, 2026 |
Records announced by IDFG in 2026 as reported in the dated releases and articles linked in each row, read November 8, 2026; a partial list, since the full IDFG record lists at idfg.idaho.gov/fish/record could not be opened during the November 2026 site maintenance. Angler names are left off.
Idaho catch-and-release length records announced in 2026
| Fish | Length | Water | Caught | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westslope Cutthroat Trout | 27 inches | Lake Pend Oreille | February 1, 2026 | Outdoor Life (Mar 18, 2026), reporting IDFG certification (article), read November 8, 2026 |
| Burbot | 26.75 inches | Kootenai River | March 19, 2026 | IDFG news release (Apr 24, 2026) as distributed unaltered by Public Technologies (article), read November 8, 2026 |
| Lake Trout | 43.25 inches | Payette Lake | not printed | IDFG news release (June 2026) as distributed unaltered by Public Technologies (article), read November 8, 2026 |
| Northern Pike | 49.75 inches | Lake Pend Oreille | June 13, 2026 | Outdoor Life (Jul 23, 2026), reporting IDFG certification (article), read November 8, 2026 |
| Bullhead Catfish | 17 inches | Cascade Reservoir | September 5, 2026 | KIVI-TV (Oct 9, 2026), citing Idaho Fish and Game (article), read November 8, 2026 |
Records announced by IDFG in 2026 as reported in the dated releases and articles linked in each row, read November 8, 2026; a partial list, since the full IDFG record lists at idfg.idaho.gov/fish/record could not be opened during the November 2026 site maintenance. Angler names are left off.
How IDFG certifies an Idaho record
- Catch-and-release records are based only on total length for fish released aliveIDFG record rules
- Steelhead, ocean-run salmon, bull trout and white sturgeon must be measured and photographed in the waterIDFG record rules
- New C&R white sturgeon records must be broken by at least 2 inches; other species by at least 1/2 inch; within 1/4 inch is a tieIDFG record rules
- No records for fish caught during salvage seasons or at private pay-to-fish facilitiesIDFG record rules
- IDFG provides certified scales at the Panhandle, Clearwater, Nampa, Headquarters (Boise), Jerome and Pocatello officesIDFG record rules
IDFG record rules as restated in its April 2026 release (source), read November 8, 2026.
Idaho water photographed for Idaho State Record Fish
Photo: mypubliclands, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Stephen Hanafin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Idaho Fish and Game, CC BY 2.0
Idaho state record questions
Is this the full Idaho record list?
No. It lists only records IDFG announced in 2026 that could be read; the full lists are at idfg.idaho.gov/fish/record.
What is the newest Idaho rainbow trout record?
20.03 pounds from Dworshak Reservoir, announced by IDFG in January 2026.
What is a catch-and-release record?
A record by total length for a fish released alive; IDFG keeps it apart from the certified-weight list.
How much must a new record beat the old one?
Catch-and-release records must be beaten by at least half an inch, or 2 inches for white sturgeon; within a quarter inch is a tie, per the IDFG rules.
Where can I weigh a fish on a certified scale?
IDFG lists certified scales at its Panhandle, Clearwater, Nampa, Boise headquarters, Jerome and Pocatello offices.
Which waters produced 2026 records?
Dworshak Reservoir, Henrys Lake, Kootenai River, Lake Cascade, Lake Pend Oreille and Payette Lake.
Do fish from pay ponds count?
No. IDFG takes no records from salvage seasons or private pay-to-fish facilities.
Why does this list leave off who caught each fish?
This site leaves them off; the IDFG releases linked in each row carry the full story.