Talking Trash: Here’s where to find Idaho’s non-game fish – and what to do with one
Just about every angler has been there. As you battle a heavy fish, your mind races with possibilities. Could this be the biggest fish of the year? A new personal best? Maybe even a state record!?
Alas, as your catch comes into view, it turns out to be not a lunker bass or a monster trout, but something … less desirable. To some anglers, these non-game “trash fish” are just a nuisance. Others actually target them on purpose. I’m somewhere in between. I almost never set out to catch a carp or sucker, but when I do, I enjoy the fight — even if it is less satisfying than catching a big bass.
But even non-game fish have their own unique stories to tell. Let’s take a look at the three most common species in southern Idaho —with some added perspective from my friend Joe Kozfkay, the state fisheries manager for Idaho Fish and Game.
Carp
What it is: It’s unsurprising most Idaho anglers dislike carp, an invasive species capable of taking over an entire fishery. Carp don’t really compete with game fish for food, but each ecosystem can only support so much life, so when carp get too plentiful, they can crowd out panfish, trout and bass. On the plus side, they are usually big and are easily the best fighters on this list.
I have accidentally snagged carp on crankbaits, and they will eat worms, jigs and soft plastics, too. Intentional carp anglers often sight-fish with corn, dough balls or flies including leech, nymph and crayfish patterns. Carp are also the top target of archery anglers (who are only allowed to shoot non-game species).
Where to find one: Carp are found in many fisheries, including local ponds, lakes and anything connected to the Snake River.
What to do if you catch one: Some anglers insist on killing carp as a means of reducing their population. In truth, no realistic amount of angler harvest could ever make an impact on their numbers. Carp do make great garden fertilizer, decent bait and can even be eaten if prepared properly. If you do kill a carp, it’s best to cut it open and sink it in deep water, where it will be eaten by scavengers. Avoid throwing them on the bank or in dumpsters, where the smell will plague other anglers for weeks.
Fish and Game opinion: “Carp are here to stay,” Kozfkay said. “They are adept at moving around through canal systems, so pretty much anything connected to the Snake, there’s no way to remove them. We do try to eradicate them from small, closed systems, where we can (use pesticide on) an entire lake and start over.”
Bruneau Dunes Lake is a recent example of successful carp removal. Over the years, IDFG has tried to reduce populations in larger fisheries like Lake Lowell, but those efforts have been largely unsuccessful.
Sucker
What it is: Suckers are native bottom feeders — there are seven different species in Idaho. They prefer clean, cool rivers and play an important role in the ecosystem as algae eaters and scavengers. Young suckers are also a key food source for trout, bass and birds. It is rare to catch a sucker on lures, but they are occasional bycatch for anglers fishing with live worms or small jigs and flies.
Where to find one: Suckers are found in the Boise, Snake, Wood and Payette Rivers, as well as many ponds and reservoirs.
What to do if you catch one: Either let it go or harvest it to use as bait or fertilizer. Cut bait sucker is one of my favorite baits for catching sturgeon, catfish and even trout. They aren’t invasive or harmful, so unless you’re planning to use it, there’s no reason to kill one.
Fish and Game opinion: “Suckers are actually pretty cool fish,” Kozfkay said. “They are good for the rivers and provide an important food source for trophy-class fish. Our information suggests they don’t compete with or harm game fish populations, except in a few rare situations.”
Pikeminnow
What it is: Pikeminnows are native members of the Snake River. Unlike other fish on this list, they are predators. They are have grey-to-olive bodies, white bellies and yellow-to-orange fins. They have large, toothless mouths and can grow to over two feet long, although an average size is 12 to 16 inches. Pikeminnows are common bycatch for anglers targeting trout, bass, catfish, Kokanee and even sturgeon, as they will eat a wide variety of natural baits and artificial lures.
Where to find one: Pikeminnows are found in the Snake, Boise and Payette Rivers and their associated reservoirs.
What to do if you catch one: Pikeminnows have a bad reputation across the Northwest because they eat salmon smolts. There is even a bounty program on the lower Columbia River in Washington. Here, they aren’t considered a major problem. They make great cut bait, so that’s usually the route I take. Harvesting fish as fertilizer, releasing or using the kill/sink method are also options.
Fish and Game opinion: “There are only a couple fisheries where we are taking a closer look at the effects of pikeminnow,” Kozfkay said. “When they overlap with smallmouth bass, and they usually do, the bass tend to outcompete or consume them and pikeminnow do relatively poorly. They do eat fingerling salmonids, but most of the time, it’s a minor source of mortality.”
Lake Cascade and Arrowrock Reservoir are two nearby fisheries where IDFG is keeping an eye on pikeminnow numbers.
There are several other non-game species in Idaho, including chub, dace and shiner. None are particularly common here in the Treasure Valley. One noteworthy species is the grass carp, which can reach four feet long! These sterile giants are stocked in ponds to help control weeds — IDFG asks anglers to not harvest or shoot them. Anglers are also reminded not to transport or transplant any species of fish, which is against the law and can harm fisheries and ecosystems. Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.
This story was originally published May 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.