Woman fishing in Idaho snags line on something huge. Then she pulled something up that set a new state record

A fishing trip on one of Idaho‘s best-known trout rivers turned into a record-setting day after a Georgia angler landed a massive brown trout that now holds the state’s catch-and-release record. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Caroline Langdale caught the 30.5-inch brown trout on May 30, 2026, fly-fishing the South Fork Snake River. The agency highlighted the catch in an early July social media post after verifying her measurements and photographs.

Langdale had been drifting a rubber legs fly through a deep hole during a multiday guided trip when her strike indicator suddenly disappeared beneath the surface. At first, she believed her line had become snagged on a submerged obstacle. Moments later, the “snag” started moving.

Fish and Game said Langdale battled the fish for nearly 10 minutes before bringing it alongside the boat. Once she and her guide measured the trout, they realized it might qualify for a state record.

Langdale “thankful” for the experience

Langdale later submitted the required documentation to Idaho Fish and Game’s sportfish coordinator, who certified it as the new Idaho catch-and-release record for brown trout. “What an amazing experience that I will always be thankful for,” Langdale said in the agency’s announcement.

The record books now list Langdale’s fish at 30.5 inches, caught on the South Fork Snake River. It surpassed the previous catch-and-release brown trout record by one-half inch, according to the Idaho Fish and Game record database and reporting by the Idaho Statesman.

Brown trout are not native to Idaho. Wildlife managers introduced the species decades ago, and they have become one of the state’s most sought-after sport fish because of their size, strength and cautious feeding behavior. The South Fork Snake River has earned a national reputation as a trophy trout fishery, supporting healthy populations of Yellowstone cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout.

Although anglers regularly catch brown trout in the South Fork, fish exceeding 30 inches remain exceptionally uncommon. According to Idaho Fish and Game, fisheries crews have measured more than 57,600 brown trout in scientific surveys on the river since 1986. Only four of those fish exceeded 30 inches.

Agency officials noted that electrofishing surveys may miss some of the largest trout because those fish often occupy habitat that is difficult to sample. They still described Langdale’s catch as exceptionally rare.

Idaho’s catch-and-release record program recognizes fish by length rather than weight. To qualify, anglers must hold a valid Idaho fishing license, catch the fish legally, release it alive, and submit a completed application with witness verification, photographs, and measurements within 30 days.