Idaho State Record Brown Trout

In late May 2026, Georgia angler Caroline Langdale caught a new Idaho state record (catch and release) brown trout during a multiday fishing trip along the South Fork Snake River.

Langdale was drifting her rubber legs fly down a massive hole when she noticed her indicator dip below the surface. The angler battled the fish for approximately 10 minutes before hoisting the 30.5-inch monster into the boat.

With the help of her guide, Langdale stretched the brown trout along a tape measure and instantly was told she might have a shot at the state record.

“I never dreamed when I started my day of fishing with Ed Emory of South Fork Lodge that God was going to bless me with a fish of a lifetime,” Langdale said.

Langdale submitted the measurements and photos to Idaho Fish and Game’s Sportfish Coordinator, who verified the brown’s size and place in the record books.

South Fork Snake River Brown Trout

Although not native to Idaho’s waters, brown trout offer exciting fishing opportunities. Brown trout are recognizable by their yellowish bodies, spots, and long, angular faces.

One of the best places to fish for brown trout in Idaho is the South Fork Snake River. While brown trout over 30 inches in the South Fork Snake River are exceptionally rare, they do exist.

Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) fisheries surveys captured a 33-inch brown in 2016 and another 33-inch fish as recently as 2024. This is mainly based on electrofishing, however.

According to fish survey data on the South Fork Snake River, biologists have recorded measurements of over 57,600 brown trout dating back all the way to 1986.

In all those years, surveys have documented only four brown trout over 30 inches. In other words, of all the brown trout captured during surveys, only 0.007% ever exceed 30 inches.

“Even brown trout over 25 inches are rare on the South Fork, with only 30 brown trout over 25 inches ever recorded in electrofishing surveys,” Koenig said.

Again, that’s probably because the biggest trout live in places that are hard to reach with electrofishing, so there’s probably more of them out than the survey data suggests. Even so, this is an exceptionally rare fish for this river.

Idaho Catch-and-Release State Record Fish Program

To apply for a Catch-and-Release Record, applicants must submit a complete Record Fish Application Form, with accompanying photographs. The form can be completed online or downloaded from the IDFG website.

Fish must be released alive. (See tips on safely releasing fish in the Fishing Rules booklet.)

Steelhead, ocean-run salmon, bull trout, and white sturgeon submitted for records must be measured and photographed in the water.

Catch-and-release records are based only on the total length (snout to tip of tail) for fish released alive.

Fish must be photographed directly next to a ruler/tape or an object of known verifiable length.

New catch-and-release white sturgeon records must be broken by a minimum of 2 inches.

Catch-and-release records for all other species must be broken by a minimum of ½ inch.

Fish within ¼ inch of the current record will be recognized as a tied record.

All applications must be submitted within 30 days of the catch date.

Idaho Certified Weight Records

Records will be awarded for either fish caught by angling (rod/reel) or by archery/spearfish for legal unprotected nongame species.

Archery/spear fishing records will be listed separately and identified by the angler on the application form.

No records will be awarded for fish caught during salvage seasons or at private pay-to-fish facilities.

NOTE: IDFG now provides certified scales for weighing potential records at the Panhandle, Clearwater, Nampa, Headquarters (Boise), Jerome, and Pocatello regional offices.

source: Idaho Fish and Game