Fish and Game Corner

Fish salvage order issued for Jensen Grove Pond in Blackfoot

Idaho Fish and Game has issued a salvage order for the pond at Jensen Grove Park in Blackfoot effective Sep. 8 through Oct. 15, 2025.

During the salvage order timeline at Jensen Grove Pond:

• Fish may be taken by any method except use of firearms, explosives, chemicals, electric current, or prohibited baits.

• All bag, possession, size, and number limits are suspended.

• A valid Idaho fishing license is still required.

• No live fish may be transported from the pond.

The City of Blackfoot manages the water in Jensen Grove Pond every year for aquifer recharge and recreation, creating a seasonal fishing opportunity for anglers. In May, Idaho Fish and Game stocked 2,525 catchable-sized rainbow trout into the pond.

At this time, the pond water levels are decreasing rapidly, and any remaining fish will not survive when water levels in the pond become unsuitable. Therefore, an order of salvage is warranted to maximize public use of these fish.

For more information about this salvage order, contact the Idaho Fish and Game office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703.

Former catch-and-release state record holder gets dethroned…by his wife

By Connor Liess, Idaho Fish and Game

Homedale angler Brandi Holt’s 44-inch flathead catfish edges out her husband’s prior record by two inches.

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—the Holts—got to experience this firsthand.

Couples who fish together stay together, I like to say. But on Aug. 2, that theory got put to the test. Brandi and Jared Holt of Homedale were hucking bait out 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, she felt the unmistakable feeling of a large river monster fighting on the end of the line. Brandi managed to haul the giant flathead catfish aboard the boat where her husband Jared anxiously rolled out the tape measure.

You see, since Sept. 20, 2020, Jared Holt had held the catch-and-release state record for the same exact species Brandi was now putting next to the tape. You can see photos 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 Holt’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 can also 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 was caught in 1994 from Brownlee Reservoir, weighing in at 58.4 pounds and stretching to 48 inches.