Ask Fish and Game: Fishing in High Water

Q. Can I still go fishing with the high water in the river? A. Many Idaho streams are generally high and may be difficult right now. It's not just about whether the fish will bite; it's also a safety question. Keep a close eye on young children around fast moving water. The best advice is to decide where you want to go and call Fish and Game or local tackle shops to check on conditions before heading out. The U.S. Geological Survey also provides a report on streamflows at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/current/?type=flow. For help in finding a place to go fishing, try the Idaho Fish and Game Fishing Planner at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/Fishingplanner/. Meanwhile, anglers may want to consider urban ponds, lakes and reservoirs until the waters recede and over the Memorial Day Weekend. Fish and Game won't stock streams until they return to a normal flow, and this year, that could be late June or early July.