Keith Lusher 07.30.26
The string of record-breaking catches continues in Idaho after a fisherman brought down a giant northern pike that now holds the state catch-and-release record.
idaho fish and game department It was announced that Timothy Hicks set the new record after catching a 49.75-inch northern pike while fishing in Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho on June 13.
The fish eclipsed the previous Idaho catch-and-release record by just three-quarters of an inch, adding another species to the growing list of state records set in recent months. Earlier this year, new catch-and-release records were set for lake trout, brown trout and native chiselmouth in Idaho.
Hicks fished with his brother while competing in northern pike tournaments. Fishing along a deep weed line with a flutter spoon, he hooked the giant pike before bringing it to the boat, where it was measured and verified before releasing it.
According to Hicks, the fish had recently spawned, reducing the intensity of the fight. After the measurements were confirmed, it was determined that Pike had beaten the previous state record by less than an inch.
This catch also holds family significance. Hicks plans to display a replica mount of the record fish along with a mount of a 38-pound, 9-ounce northern pike caught by his father, Dennis Hicks, on Lake Coeur d’Alene in 1992. That fish held the Idaho state record at the time.
Lake Pend Oreille Known for producing trophy-sized northern pike, although this species is considered invasive in the lake. Idaho Fish and Game says the fish were never stocked there and are believed to have spread naturally from the Pend Oreille River and associated lakes before establishing thriving populations.
Because northern pike can negatively impact native fish populations, the state has imposed liberal harvest regulations on the species. There are currently no size or bag limits on northern pike in Lake Pend Oreille, and anglers are encouraged to harvest whatever they catch.
Despite those regulations, the lake continues to produce impressive fish. Covering approximately 93,000 acres, Lake Pend Oreille has developed a reputation for holding large northern pike along with its more famous trout fishery. Hicks’ record-breaking catch is the latest example of just how big those predators can be.
keith lusher
Keith Lusher is an award-winning outdoor journalist who lives in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthShoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoors column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St. Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s VisitTheNorthshree.com. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report radio show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and is proud to promote the unique fisheries of South Louisiana. To contact Keith email: keithlusherjr@gmail.com
