Troy Angler Lands New Idaho Catch-and-Release Record Burbot on the Kootenai River
A Troy, Idaho angler made history on the Kootenai River in March, hauling in a burbot that now stands as the state’s new catch-and-release record for the species. Caleb Wilson landed the fish on March 19, 2026, measuring it at an impressive 26.75 inches — long enough to earn him a permanent place in Idaho’s record books.
Wilson, fishing under the cover of darkness in keeping with the burbot’s nocturnal habits, recognized he might have a record contender on his hands. He pulled out a tape measure under his headlamp to confirm the fish’s length before carefully releasing it back into the Kootenai River alive.
A Unique Fish With Deep Idaho Roots
Burbot — known by a variety of regional nicknames including cusk, freshwater cod, ling, lingcod, and eelpout — hold the distinction of being the only freshwater cod species found in North America. Among Kootenai River anglers, they’ve earned yet another nickname: “Kootenai leopards,” a nod to the fish’s brownish-yellow mottled skin pattern.
Their physical appearance is as unusual as their reputation. Burbot feature flat heads, long bodies, and prominent pectoral fins just behind their gills. Their back halves taper into an eel-like form with stubby, rounded fins. Cold-water predators by nature, burbot spend daylight hours in deep, slow-moving pools before moving into shallower water after dark to hunt prey such as crayfish and small fish.
Despite being prized table fare among those who know them, burbot remain one of Idaho’s more overlooked sport fish. Wilson’s decision to release his record catch rather than keep it reflects both his sportsmanship and the state’s growing catch-and-release culture.
Conservation Efforts and Hatchery Work Fueling Population Recovery
Wilson’s record catch didn’t happen in a vacuum. The Kootenai River’s burbot population has benefited significantly from years of coordinated conservation work between multiple agencies and tribal partners. Idaho Fish and Game, British Columbia officials, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, and funding from the Bonneville Power Administration have all contributed to efforts aimed at restoring burbot numbers in the river.
Decades of aquaculture research from the University of Idaho, combined with a successful hatchery stocking program run by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, have played a significant role in fueling the species’ comeback in the region. The results appear to be paying off — not only in recovering fish populations, but in the kind of record-breaking catches that put Idaho anglers on the national map.
Wilson’s record is a direct product of that collaborative, long-term investment in the river’s ecosystem — an example of what conservation partnerships between government agencies, tribal nations, and academic institutions can accomplish when focused on measurable outcomes rather than bureaucratic process.
Latah County has its own tradition of outdoor heritage, and stories like Wilson’s are a reminder of the recreational and cultural value that Idaho’s rivers and wild fisheries provide to communities across the region. For more on outdoor recreation and community events in and around Moscow and Latah County, readers can follow local coverage at the City of Moscow and University of Idaho’s upcoming Arbor Day Ceremony, another reflection of the area’s commitment to its natural surroundings.
For those looking for more Idaho sports and outdoor coverage at the statewide level, additional reporting is available at Idaho News.
What Comes Next
Anglers hoping to pursue their own state records on the Kootenai or elsewhere in Idaho must submit a complete Record Fish Application Form along with photographs to Idaho Fish and Game within 30 days of the catch date. Catch-and-release records are determined solely by total length — measured from snout to the tip of the tail — with the fish photographed next to a ruler or object of known length. For most species, a new record must exceed the current mark by at least half an inch. Wilson’s catch of 26.75 inches now stands as the benchmark for future burbot anglers across Idaho to chase.