Young angler lands a new state record chiselmouth. Also, what is a chiselmouth?

Before our Sportfishing Program Coordinator could close Idaho’s record books during what’s turned into a wallop of a record fish season, Carmen, Idaho angler Akeley Fahnholz tossed her hat into the ring. 

While fishing on June 8 along the Salmon River up near the town that shares the same name, Akeley hooked a fish that might’ve been considered small by even stocked rainbow trout standards. But the fish on the end of her line was no trout — in fact, this fish was a native Idaho species, the chiselmouth.

Chiselmouth come from the minnow family and are the only species in their taxonomic order in Idaho. Akeley’s chiselmouth stretched the tape at a whopping 11.25 inches, which is a trophy size for this species which rarely exceed 12 inches. 

Sure, that might get a few chuckles from the record lake and brown trouts we’ve seen so far this year, but remember this: Chiselmouths, as their name implies, literally chisel their dinner off river rocks. Focusing primarily on algae and small insects, it’s no wonder the term minnow garners such a diminutive reputation when held up next to their cousins in the char, trout, and catfish families.

So, imagine how much chiseling it might take a chiselmouth to reach 11 inches and change. Akeley’s new state record species isn’t one that dogears the state record book's pages all that often. But, native non-game fish like the chiselmouth are pretty fun to add to your day’s catch, and this fish will surely get talked about for the rest of her life. 

Congratulations, Akeley, on your new Idaho state catch-and-release record chiselmouth! 

More About Idaho’s State Record Fish

Thinking about chasing a state record fish? Check out the state record fish page for more information. 

How to Apply for a Catch-and-Release Record

All applicants must submit a complete Record Fish Application Form, with accompanying photographs. This form can be completed online or downloaded from our website here.

• Fish must be released alive. (See tips on safely releasing fish in the Fishing Rules booklet.)
• Steelhead, ocean-run salmon, bull trout, and white sturgeon submitted for records must be measured and photographed in the water.
• Catch-and-release records are based only on the total length (snout to tip of tail) for fish released alive.
• Fish must be photographed directly next to a ruler/tape or an object of known verifiable length.
• New catch-and-release white sturgeon records must be broken by a minimum of 2 inches.
• Catch-and-release records for all other species must be broken by a minimum of ½ inch.
• Fish within ¼ inch of the current record will be recognized as a tied record.
• All applications must be submitted within 30 days of the catch date.

How to Apply for Certified Weight Records

Records will be awarded for either fish caught by angling (rod/reel) or by archery/spearfish for legal unprotected nongame species. Archery/spear fishing records will be listed separately and identified by the angler on the application form. No records will be awarded for fish caught during salvage seasons or at private pay-to-fish facilities.

NOTE: Idaho Fish and Game now provides certified scales for weighing potential records at the Panhandle, Clearwater, Nampa, Headquarters (Boise), Jerome, and Pocatello regional offices.