Idaho’s catfish are jumping. Let this fishing expert teach you how to catch one!

Did you know catfish are one of the most abundant fish in southwest Idaho? While they are often overlooked by anglers, catfish are big, fun to catch and good for the frying pan.

Summer is a great time of year to target catfish, and bait fished near the river bottom is usually the best way to tempt one. Worms, fresh cut bait, shrimp, chicken livers and prepared dough baits are popular choices. Catfish will also bite jigs, crankbaits and other lures — anglers often catch them on gear intended for bass or panfish.

Catfish are a dominant species in the Snake River, and they’re also found in reservoirs like Brownlee and C.J. Strike, as well as Lake Lowell and many local ponds. Channel catfish are the most common species in Idaho, but anglers can also tangle with giant flathead catfish and smaller bullheads.

To learn more about these big, whiskered predators, check out my next fishing class, Catfish are Jumping, which is set for Wednesday, July 20, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum. Register and get all the details at www.tightlines208.com. I’ll see you there!

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.