Press Releases and Articles
Anglers' help needed for second year of wild steelhead study
| idfg-bpearson
Steelhead anglers are once again asked to watch for tagged steelhead they might catch during the 2020-21 steelhead fishing seasons, and report tagged fish if they catch one.
Idaho Fish and Game and the University of Idaho are moving into the second year of a research project to study how often anglers catch… more
Visit Idaho's Great Lakes for some of the 'best of the best' fishing
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho is world-famous for its quality fishing, which includes not only a wide variety of species, but different types of waters. Those include Idaho’s “Great Lakes,” which are not only large in size, but also provide excellent and/or unique fishing opportunities for trophy-sized fish. In most cases, they also provide… more
Idaho Fish and Game Commission to meet July 22-23 in Idaho Falls
| idfg-bpearson
The Fish and Game Commission will meet in person in Idaho Falls on July 22-23, with the public hearing starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, in the Grand Teton Event Center, 3910 South Yellowstone Highway. People can address the Commission about agenda items or any matters related to Fish and Game.
The… more
F&G biologists are back to sampling and tagging fish at Lower Granite Dam
| idfg-mdobos
Because of everything going on these days, IDFG's Lower Granite Dam sampling projects were suspended this spring. But, with some planning and coordination, our crew was able to return and resume adult salmon and steelhead trapping at the beginning of July. Summer-run steelhead which return to Idaho… more
Upper Salmon River closes for Chinook fishing effective immediately
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game has closed salmon fishing effectively immediately on the Upper Salmon River to protect wild Chinook salmon. Effects on wild Chinook salmon from catch-and-release impacts of non-tribal fisheries and direct harvest by tribal fisheries have met the allowable take approved through Endangered Species… more
Idaho hunters who applied for controlled hunts are eligible to buy capped elk zone tags starting at 10 a.m. MDT on July 15
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho resident hunters who applied for big game hunts and were subject to the five-day waiting period to buy a capped elk zone tag are reminded they are eligible to buy capped zone tags starting at 10 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, July 15, and many of those zones are likely to sell out fast. Hunters can buy tags online, in… more
Fish and Game hatchery manager retires after 35 years of providing fish to Idaho anglers
| idfg-tthompson
If you’ve fished in Idaho over the last 35 years, odds are that you’ve caught a fish that came from a hatchery where Joe Chapman worked or managed. Earlier this month, Chapman retired from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game after a career that spanned 35 years and included him working at or managing seven fish… more
Loff's Bay boat launch reopens July 13
| idfg-ksiitari
The Loff's Bay access site on Lake Coeur d'Alene will reopen to the public on July 13 at 2 p.m.
In coordination with Kootenai County, the access site was temporarily closed for wreckage recovery work following the July 5 plane crash in Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Explore Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area
| idfg-vosborn
Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area is a backcountry hunting and fishing destination. It takes a bit of effort to get to the main trailhead but once you arrive there are fifty miles of trail to explore this rugged and exclusively non-motorized WMA.
The primary goal of Snow Peak management is improving year-… more
F&G biologists move Snake River catfish into Southwest Idaho community ponds for anglers
| idfg-bpearson
Every year, fisheries biologists transport catfish from the Snake River to community ponds around Southwest Idaho.
This year, they captured and transported nearly 150 catfish between July 6-10 and stocked them into Hoseshoe Bend Mill Pond, Sawyers Pond, Ed's Pond, Kleiner Pond,… more
Another $1,000 reward tag turns up in Pend Oreille walleye lottery
| idfg-ksiitari
A fisherman from Priest River won $1,000 after catching a reward-tagged walleye in the Lake Pend Oreille Angler Incentive Program. Leon Russell caught his winning fish in early July in the lower reaches of the Priest River.
The reward fish was tagged… more
July 16 is last day to comment on proposed fall Chinook seasons for Clearwater, Snake and Salmon rivers
| idfg-bpearson
The 2020 adult fall Chinook Salmon return past Lower Granite Dam is projected to be around 15,000 adults with about 5,500 of these being natural origin. These run sizes will allow a harvest of over 3,000 adult salmon, which is considerably more than was provided during our spring Chinook Salmon seasons.
… more
Waterlife Discovery Center in Sagle open during July and August
| idfg-ksiitari
By Cindy Wolcott, Communications Chair, Pend Oreille Chapter Idaho Master Naturalists
The Pend Oreille Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists is hosting limited and safe open hours at the Waterlife Discovery Center through the month of August. Volunteer Master… more
Loff's Bay boat launch closed until further notice
| idfg-ksiitari
UPDATE: Loff's Bay Access Site reopens July 13 at 2 p.m.
The Loff's Bay boat launch and parking area will close July 9 until further notice in order to facilitate wreckage recovery following a plane collision on Coeur d’Alene Lake.
On July 5, two planes collided with each… more
Black bears and mountain lions frequent Wood River Valley trails
| idfg-tthompson
Recent reports of black bears and mountain lions along trails in the Wood River Valley are a good reminder that no matter the season, wildlife lives nearby. No negative interactions with any wildlife has occurred, but residents are cautioned to be alert and aware of their surroundings when outside. Wildlife such as… more
Boise man catches new catch/release state record grayling from mountain lake in the Sawtooths
| idfg-mkoenig
Brian Brooks released this 16.2-inch Arctic grayling over the July 4 holiday to earn a new catch/release state record!
Congratulations to Brian Brooks of Boise on landing a new catch/release state record Arctic Grayling. Brian hiked high up into the Sawtooth Mountains, where he landed and… more
After promising early results from lake trout suppression, kokanee stocking resumes in Payette Lake
| idfg-bpearson
For the first time since 2014, Idaho Fish and Game has stocked kokanee salmon into Payette Lake in McCall. Hatchery staff stocked a total of about 400,000 kokanee into the lake in late June, and will continue to stock that many kokanee every year until at least 2024.
Resuming kokanee stocking follows two… more
July 6 Upper Salmon River Chinook Salmon Fishing Report
| idfg-bbeller
Chinook angler effort on the upper Salmon River increased over the 4th of July weekend. Once again, the majority of anglers were observed fishing downstream of the Yankee Fork Salmon River confluence, but effort also increased upstream of Stanley, near the Sawtooth Hatchery.
An estimated 39 hatchery… more