When Your Wife Shows You Who's Really the Boss of the Boat
The Ultimate Fishing Humiliation: Idaho Angler Gets Dethroned by His Better Half
Brandi Holt with her record-breaking 44-inch flathead catfish - and her husband's bruised ego
Picture this: You're Jared Holt of Homedale, Idaho. For five long years, you've been the king of your castle, the sultan of your living room, the undisputed heavyweight champion of Idaho's flathead catfish catch-and-release records. Your 42-inch snake river monster from 2020 has been hanging over the mantle (metaphorically speaking) like a crown jewel, a constant reminder of your fishing prowess every time someone dares question who wears the waders in the family.
Then came August 2nd, 2025 – a date that will live in marital infamy.
There you were, probably feeling pretty good about yourself, teaching the missus a thing or two about proper catfishing technique on the Snake River. Maybe you were even mansplaining the finer points of bait presentation or showing off your rod-handling skills. You know how it goes – we've all been there, haven't we fellas?
But then Brandi's rod tip went down hard. Real hard. And faster than you could say "honey, let me help you with that," your wife was wrestling something that would make your 2020 catch look like a minnow's little brother.
Forty-four inches. FORTY-FOUR INCHES.
That's two whole inches longer than your pride and joy. Two inches that might as well be two feet when you're talking bragging rights at the local tackle shop. Two inches that now separate the former record holder from the current one. Two inches that have probably made dinnertime conversation a whole lot more interesting in the Holt household.
Now, credit where credit's due – Jared handled this fishing emasculation with the grace of a true sportsman. According to Idaho Fish and Game, it was actually his encouragement that convinced Brandi to submit the record. "My husband puts in so much time and effort all year trying to beat his own personal best," she said, "and it was really his encouragement that convinced me to go ahead and send it in."
Translation: "Honey, you better submit that record or you're sleeping on the couch until ice fishing season."
But let's be real here. Can you imagine the ribbing this poor guy is taking from his fishing buddies? Picture walking into your local bait shop, and instead of the usual "Hey Jared, caught any good ones lately?" it's more like "Hey Jared, how's second place treating you?" or "Jared, is Brandi giving fishing lessons these days?"
The beauty of this whole situation is that Brandi didn't even set out to break any records. She was just along for the ride, probably thinking she'd catch a few channel cats and maybe spot some wildlife. Instead, she landed a state record and delivered the kind of fishing comeuppance that legends are made of.
And here's the kicker – they fish together regularly. This wasn't some fluke outing where she got lucky while he was home watching the game. They were literally side by side when fishing destiny decided to have a little fun with the Holt family dynamics.
You've got to wonder what the car ride home was like. "Nice fish, honey." "Thanks, dear. By the way, I think I might have just stolen your thunder." "That's nice, sweetheart... wait, WHAT?"
The record books now show Brandi Holt as Idaho's catch-and-release flathead catfish champion, while Jared has been unceremoniously bumped to runner-up status – in his own house, no less. It's the kind of story that makes you appreciate why some guys prefer to fish alone.
But here's what we can all learn from Jared's good-natured response to this fishing fiasco: Sometimes the best catch of the day isn't the fish – it's being married to someone who can out-fish you and still let you drive the boat home.
For more fishing stories that'll make you feel better about your own angling adventures, visit New York Angler.
Story sourced from Idaho Fish and Game and KIVI TV
