Dubious Record Competition Gets Ugly For The Biggest Squawfish

State records say the biggest squawfish caught in Idaho weighed about 5 pounds.

Don’t believe it.

Local anglers say they’ve been yanking 6-, 7-, even 10-pound squawfish from North Idaho’s streams and rivers for years.

“All the time,” proclaims Gene Binkley, owner of a St. Maries sporting goods store. “Oh, easy.”

But nobody’s ever bothered to seek the record for a fish widely considered useless. Many anglers dislike the squawfish, a voracious eater of trout and bass.

“Nobody ever calls them in because it’s a trash fish,” said Bill Aiton of St. Maries. “Nobody wants his name next to it.”

That’s changing this year.

Until a few months ago, the squawfish record - for a relatively small 4-pound, 6-ouncer - was held by Sagle’s Lloyd Campbell. Campbell is the undisputed king of North Idaho squawfishing, yanking thousands of pounds of the fish out of the water each year. On a good day, he’ll catch more than 100 of the trash fish.

Campbell says he’s caught much larger squawfish; he just never bothered to record them.

“They’re a scrap fish, no good for anything. No prestige at all,” he said.

Recently, however, Campbell’s fish was unseated by Boise’s Scott Turner, who recorded a 4.8-pound fish caught on the Snake River.

The Snake River? Southern Idaho? North Idahoans’ brows knotted in consternation.

“It (the record) is coming back to North Idaho now,” vows Campbell. “I ain’t gonna have it down in southern Idaho.”

“We’re ready this year,” vows Binkley. Four years ago, he founded St. Maries’ weeklong squawfish derby, which kicks off Saturday. About 2,000 people are expected to register. Top prize is a fishing boat.

Anglers can register at St. Maries sporting goods stores. For information, call Bill Aiton at 245-4079 or 245-4559.

There’s also a two-week squawfish derby under way through June 16 on the Clark Fork River at Lake Pend Oreille. For information, call Bobbie Kassel at 264-5031.

It shouldn’t be hard to reel in a record fish, local anglers say. The fish are aggressive and easily caught with shiny lures, worms or rapid trolling.

“I caught a 13-, 14-pound squawfish out on Coeur d’Alene Lake six years ago,” said Ross Fister, manager of Fins and Feathers in Coeur d’Alene. “At first my dad thought it was a salmon.”

Squawfish are rarely eaten, although Campbell swears they’re tasty. Like Northern Pike, the squawfish has a “y-bone” running along it, making it tough to filet.

Generally, the fish get tossed into bushes, or sent to mink farms, or used as bait.

“A lot of them go into gardens,” said Binkley.

Anyone wishing to try for the record should freeze the fish to preserve it, then take it to a certified scale, like those in grocery stores or meat markets. A witness must observe the scale’s reading, and it’s a good idea to write down the scale’s registration number. If an Idaho Fish and Game employee is nearby, ask him or her be the witness.

The witness and angler then must fill out forms at the local fish and game office. The record books are kept in Boise.

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