Press Releases and Articles
Last call: Buy your 2021 big game controlled hunt tags by Aug. 1 or lose them
| idfg-bpearson
If you are a hunter who was successful in the 2021 controlled hunt drawing, don't forget to purchase your controlled hunt tag by Aug. 1.
Successful applicants must purchase their controlled hunt tags by 11:59 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Aug. 1 or their tags will be forfeited. All unclaimed tags, along with… more
Dworshak Reservoir fishing update
| idfg-swilson
Abundant kokanee have fueled exceptional fishing at Dworshak Reservoir this year. In June, catch rates were just under two fish per hour for the kokanee fishery, which is as good as we have seen. As expected with high abundance, kokanee are smaller than average this year. The average size of kokanee in the creel… more
Panhandle Region fish stocking schedule for August
| idfg-tjross
Time to grab your fishing gear and enjoy summer while it lasts! Fish and Game staff will be stocking over 3,500 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) trout at the following locations across the Panhandle Region in August. All stocked fish are rainbow trout.
Body of… more
Recreationists can help reduce conflicts on Idaho Fish and Game properties
| idfg-nmerz
With summer in full swing, the desire to get outside and enjoy all Idaho has to offer grows strong. With a renewed recreation focus and a growing population, publicly accessible lands in North Idaho are seeing a lot of use. These publicly available lands fall under many different ownerships, ranging from federal… more
Craig Mountain WMA road closures as of 7/27/21
| idfg-jbruns
Idaho Fish and Game, Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Department of Lands would like to remind public that the Snake River Complex is still an active fire. Primarily, everything south of Waha Rd/Redbird Rd is limited to local traffic only; ingress and egress to homeowners and fire personnel. This includes… more
Magic Valley Region rainbow trout stocking schedule for August 2021
| idfg-tthompson
Hatchery personnel from Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region will be stocking approximately 23,100 10-12” catchable-sized rainbow trout in August. All stocking dates and numbers of fish are approximate and may change without notice due to water or weather conditions.
For maps of these Idaho fishing locations… more
Hayspur Fish Hatchery will reduce campsite numbers due to site construction
| idfg-tthompson
In early August construction projects at the Hayspur Fish Hatchery near Picabo will limit the number of campsites available to campers. Throughout the month heavy equipment will be operating adjacent to the campground which requires a partial closure of the campground for safety reasons.
It is anticipated that… more
Weekly Salmon Fishing Update – July 28, 2021
| idfg-csullivan
Welcome to our weekly Chinook Salmon Fishing Update. Each week, we will provide updates on seasons and rules and share data from creel surveys and hatchery returns to help anglers plan their salmon fishing trips.
This will be the last update for the year for spring/summer Chinook fisheries and the remaining… more
Public health advisories issued for algae blooms in Fernan Lake and parts of Hayden Lake
| idfg-tjross
Anglers planning to fish Hayden Lake or Fernan Lake should be aware of the public health advisories recently issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Panhandle Health District. Full details of the advisory for Fernan Lake can be found here and for Hayden Lake can be found here. … more
Walleye locations in Lake Pend Oreille during late-July 2021
| idfg-prust
Walleye are still concentrated in the western basin of Lake Pend Oreille, especially in the northern portions of Oden Bay and near the Sandpoint bridges. More walleye have moved into the Pend Oreille River, with concentrations near Laclede and Thama.
The table below provides locations of walleye,… more
Deadline for second Super Hunt drawing is Aug. 10
| idfg-rphillips
The second Super Hunt drawing will be for two elk, two deer, two pronghorn, and one moose hunt. Another Super Hunt Combo entry will also be drawn, and winners will be notified by August 20.
Hunters may enter the drawings at license vendors, Fish and Game offices, online or by calling 1-800-554-8685. You can… more
Second big game controlled hunt drawing and swan tag application period is Aug. 5-15
| idfg-bpearson
The application period for Idaho’s second big game controlled hunt and swan tag drawing runs Aug. 5-15. To see big game tags available see the controlled hunt webpage.
Tags available in the second drawing include those for deer, elk, pronghorn, and black bear that were not applied for in the first drawing, as… more
Seeing Redd: How to identify spring and summer Chinook salmon redds [video]
| idfg-sputnam
The term “redd” came to America from Scotland. It means “to clear an area or to make it tidy.” – The Free Dictionary.
Female Chinook salmon build and lay their eggs in a gravel nest called a redd. Redd counts provide fisheries managers with insight about Chinook salmon spawning activity… more
August fish stocking schedule for the Upper Snake Region
| idfg-jbrower
Fish and Game staff will be stocking a total of 17,700 catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) trout at the following locations around the Upper Snake Region in August. All stocked fish are rainbow trout.Time to grab your fishing rod and enjoy the summer sun!
Stocking of all waters is… more
Hatchery highlights for August: Notable fish stockings around the state
| idfg-bgrant
Idaho Fish and Game is stocking almost 90,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout throughout the state in August.
With so many fish stocked in so many places, it can be hard for anglers to sift through the stocking forecasts and records to identify noteworthy stocking events. To make it easier, we asked Fish and… more
Deer Creek Reservoir temporary closed to public use due to fire danger
| idfg-jbruns
Due to severe fire danger in the region, effective immediately and until further notice, Deer Creek Reservoir is closed to public use. The extreme fire season and continued dry conditions in Idaho are stressing available firefighting resources and risking public safety, property, and impacting wildlife. As a result,… more
South Fork Salmon River Chinook Update - 7/27/21
| idfg-jmessner
The South Fork Salmon River Chinook Salmon fishery is officially closed for the 2021 season. Here is a recap of how this season went:
As most of you are probably aware, the fish showed up quite a bit earlier than normal this year. We chose to open the fishery on June 26 because anglers asked us not to open too… more
Fish and Game adds 2021 nonresident tag supplement to big game rules
| idfg-rphillips
In accordance with state law, Idaho Fish and Game has posted a supplement to the Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules proclamation outlining the number of tags available to nonresidents and allocated to outfitters. Most of the tags sold out in early 2021 and are no longer available except for those that are periodically… more