Press Releases and Articles
Kokanee fishing picking up in Lake Pend Oreille
| idfg-mcorsi
The late summer kokanee fishing has been heating up recently on Lake Pend Oreille. This comes as a nice surprise because Fish and Game biologists were expecting kokanee to be abundant, but also on the small side, and kokanee smaller than about 8-inches long tend to be hard to catch. When fish get over 8 inches and… more
Caldwell Ponds to Close for Angler Use Improvements
| idfg-eoneale
More suitable gamefish habitat and fewer aquatic weeds are the goals of a renovation project set to begin in late August at Caldwell Ponds. The five-year gravel extraction project will result in one larger, deeper pond and subsequent better fishing conditions for pond anglers.
Upon project completion… more
Salmon River No Barrier to Wandering Wolverine
| idfg-devansmack
With all the trail cameras in the woods these days, it’s hard for even a rare animal to go unnoticed. And if you’re a wolverine sporting white feet instead of brown, you can bet you’ll get attention. A biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game discovered a very distinctive-looking wolverine on a series of… more
F&G seeks angler input on proposed Clearwater fall Chinook season
| idfg-mkoenig
Fish and Game fisheries managers are considering expanding fall Chinook salmon fishing in the Clearwater River, and they're gathering public comments about the proposal. Deadline to comment is Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. MDT.
There have been discussions on how to provide this fishery without negatively impacting the… more
PotlatchDeltic places fire restrictions on its property
| idfg-rphillips
PotlatchDeltic Corporation announced in late July that no campfires or open burning will be allowed on its Idaho property due to increasing fire danger in the region.
The burning ban on PotlatchDeltic’s Idaho properties will remain in effect until conditions improve. Additional information about PotlatchDeltic… more
Bighorn sheep lottery tag raised over $109,000 for sheep research and management
| idfg-bpearson
For the Arizona hunter whose ticket was pulled for the 28th Annual Bighorn Sheep Tag Lottery, it represents the hunt of a lifetime. For the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, it means more than $109,000 in funding will benefit wild sheep conservation in Idaho.
The lucky winner of the 2019 Bighorn Sheep… more
Hunters still have a second chance at big game controlled hunt tags and Super Hunt tags
| idfg-mdemick
Hunters who were unsuccessful in the first drawing for big game controlled hunts still have a chance at over 2,540 tags available in the second controlled hunt drawing.
There are 1,123 tags for deer, 1,259 tags for elk, 127 for pronghorn, and 34 for black bear available. A list of tags by hunt number is… more
Wolf trapper certification course scheduled Aug. 31 in Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
Trappers are reminded that Idaho rules require trappers to successfully complete a Wolf Trapper certification course before they can purchase wolf trapping tags.
A wolf trapper certification course will be held in Salmon Saturday, August 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fish and Game office, 99 Highway 93 North… more
Clear Springs Foods donates giant trout to anglers in Challis and Salmon
| idfg-mdemick
Few things can match the sheer excitement of catching a giant trout.
Anglers in Challis and Salmon can now catch this excitement, as Clear Springs Foods recently donated 1,400 giant hatchery trout to be stocked in local fishing ponds.
Over 160 super-sized trout, which average 9.5 pounds, were… more
2019 second controlled hunt drawing information (now closed)
| idfg-bstuder
The following tags were available for application for the 2019 second controlled hunt drawing: 1123 tags for deer, 1259 tags for elk, 127 for pronghorn, and 34 for black bear. Drawing results will be released by Aug. 25.
The application period is now closed.
Options to… more
First sockeye of 2019 arrives at Stanley
| idfg-bpearson
The first sockeye of 2019 returned to the Redfish Lake Creek trap near Stanley on Aug. 2. The first sockeye arrived on July 26 last year, and July 27 in 2017.
The fish is among the 53 sockeye that have so far crossed Lower Granite Dam near Lewiston (through Aug. 1), which is the last dam the fish cross before… more
Still time to catch kokanee at Dworshak Reservoir
| idfg-swilson
There’s no better place to be on a hot summer day than out on the lake. If you haven’t been kokanee fishing on Dworshak Reservoir yet, you’re missing out. The kokanee are large, and fairly plentiful. During our trawl survey on July 29, the adult kokanee we caught were typically 12 inches long, with some as big as 13… more
How to fish Alpine lakes: planning your trip length
| idfg-mkoenig
Fishing alpine lakes is a great reason to strap on a backpack and hit the trail. There’s nothing quite like the experience of catching a trout in Idaho’s backcountry, but with more than 1,000 high mountain lakes that hold fish in Idaho, deciding on a destination can seem daunting.… more
Bluegill, bass populations rebounding at Bruneau Dunes after carp eradication
| idfg-bpearson
Joe Thiessen, regional fisheries biologist for Idaho Fish and Game, couldn’t help but be excited as he loaded a boat with electrofishing gear and prepared to launch at the overgrown earthen ramp at Bruneau Sand Dunes Lake on a warm July evening. He was eager to see how the lake’s bluegill and bass populations… more
August trout stocking schedule for the Southeast Region
| idfg-jjackson
Grab your fishing pole, pack the cooler, and don’t forget your fishing license. Personnel from Idaho Fish and Game’s hatcheries in the Southeast Region will be releasing nearly 7,000 catchable-sized rainbow trout at the following locations during August. Fish on!
Location Week… more
Steelhead Graduate Study field work gets underway
| idfg-bbowersox
Written by Will Lubenau, University of Idaho
As you have hopefully heard by now, the University of Idaho and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game have teamed up to study the potential influence of catch-and-release angling on wild steelhead. We’ll be doing project updates like this one once a month during the… more
Upper Snake Region honors Hunter Education instructors
| idfg-jbrower
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Upper Snake River Region, held its annual Hunter Education Instructor’s banquet in July. The banquet and awards ceremony were held to honor and show gratitude to our volunteer instructors who donate their time teaching Hunter Education classes.
The “Instructor… more
F&G seeks public comment on proposed sage-grouse hunting season
| idfg-rphillips
Idaho Fish and Game officials are asking hunters and other interested parties to review and comment on a proposed sage-grouse hunting season for 2019. Deadline to comment is Aug. 19.
Statewide, sage-grouse lek counts indicate a 25-percent decline in males at leks in spring 2019, compared to 2018. Data … more