Press Releases and Articles
No Chinook fishing this year on the South Fork Salmon, Upper Salmon rivers
| idfg-rphillips
After monitoring low Chinook counts over the Columbia and Snake River dams, Idaho Fish and Game fisheries managers have decided to not propose a summer Chinook fishing season on the South Fork of the Salmon River and due to a lack of harvestable hatchery fish.
Chinook fishing has been very limited this year… more
Understanding steelhead genetics in the Lower Clearwater River
| idfg-bbowersox
IDFG crews recently surveyed nine lower Clearwater River tributaries looking for juvenile steelhead. They were taking small fin clips off these fish to look at how wild fish genetics in these tributaries compared to hatchery fish genetics from Dworshak Hatchery located on the mainstem Clearwater River.
… more
Follow an IDFG snorkel crew
| idfg-jbruns
Each summer IDFG snorkel crews survey juvenile wild salmon and steelhead across the state to track their abundance and distribution. Click here to follow their field adventures this summer!
Black bear hunters urged to use increased caution after grizzly spotted in Unit 10 and 12
| idfg-bpearson
Black bear hunters in north-central Idaho, specifically those who are hunting in Unit 10 and 12, are asked to use increased vigilance after a radio-collared grizzly bear was spotted by a hunter on Thursday, June 13.
The hunter reported the sighting to Fish and Game staff in the Clearwater Region, and the bear… more
Walleye locations in Lake Pend Oreille in early June
| idfg-staff
Between June 1 and 14, stationary receivers located near the Clark Fork delta and the Sandpoint long bridge picked up the highest number of sonic tagged walleyes (see map below). The other receivers had four or less walleyes during the two week period.
Similar to last year at this time,… more
Campground Openers/Closures at Horsethief Reservoir
| idfg-eoneale
After a month-long search, a new camp host is now in residence on Horsethief Reservoir’s east side. For campers, this means the three east side campgrounds – Horsethief Creek, Trout Landing and Beaver Tail – are open for business just in time for the July 4th holiday.
There is no reservation system at… more
Fishing has slowed at Mormon Reservoir, but no signs of winter kill found
| idfg-bpearson
After two years of spectacular trout fishing at Mormon Reservoir, the trout population has likely returned to what it has traditionally been. Based on sonar data, underwater camera drifts, and reports from anglers, it appears that there are now fewer fish in the reservoir
Anglers who read about the… more
2019 Lake Pend Oreille Walleye Netting Update
| idfg-prust
Since 2006, IDFG has worked to manage and suppress lake trout, which threatened to collapse the kokanee population. This program has been tremendously successful, leading to recovery of kokanee in Lake Pend Oreille, and continues to have strong public support. In recent years, we have observed a new threat from a… more
F&G starts process to replace aging, under-sized Boise headquarters building
| idfg-rphillips
The Idaho State Division of Purchasing has issued a request for proposal on behalf of Idaho Fish and Game to begin the process of replacing Fish and Game’s aging headquarters building in East Boise. The current building has not met the agencies office space needs for over 20 years.
Fish and Game’s headquarters… more
Big Lost River near Arco to be stocked with 3,000 rainbow trout around June 28
| idfg-jbrower
Idaho Fish and Game will be stocking the Big Lost River near the city of Arco the week of June 28 with 3,000 rainbow trout. According to Fish and Game records this will be the first time fish have been stocked this close to Arco since the 1980’s.
“Three good water years in a row have allowed us to place these… more
Fourteen Idaho hunters draw Super Hunt tags, second drawing deadline is Aug. 10
| idfg-epalmer
Hunters have a second chance to win a Super Hunt tag this year. The entry period for the second drawing goes through August 10, where tags for two elk, two deer, two pronghorn, one moose, and one Super Hunt Combo will be drawn.
Of the 66,116 entries in the first drawing, 24,548 were for eight deer tags, 21,545… more
Henry's Fork River's Box Canyon has nearly 5,000 rainbow trout per mile
| idfg-jbrower
To determine the number of trout in the Box Canyon section, Idaho Fish and Game biologists recently conducted the annual electrofishing surveys on this section of the Henry's Fork River in Eastern Idaho.
"We marked fish on May 13 and recaptured fish on the 15," says F&G Fisheries Biologist… more
Where the wild fish are
| idfg-bbowersox
Ever wonder if a nearby stream or river has wild salmon and steelhead in it? Well Idaho Fish and Game projects monitor wild salmon and steelhead distribution in our streams and rivers to make sure populations are stable and they keep occupying the same habitat. In some instances, we monitor habitat restoration… more
Farragut range closed on June 22
| idfg-ksiitari
The range will be closed to the general public on Saturday, June 22 to host the Fish and Game Women's Outdoor Clinic. Public hours will resume as usual on June 23.
Clark Fork Delta restoration work continues this summer with the help of youth crews
| idfg-kcousins
Starting in mid-June, youth crews from the Idaho Conservation Corp will be camping at the Clark Fork Drift Yard while they assist Fish and Game in seeding, planting, weeding and monitoring efforts in the delta. Three crews are expected to stay and work at the delta during June 10 to… more
Mother Nature knows best; leave young wildlife alone
| idfg-jbruns
June is the peak fawning and calving season for Idaho's deer, elk and antelope herds. With camping and the outdoors season well underway, well-meaning citizens often find baby animals that seem to be abandoned. Idaho Department of Fish and Game is asking people to leave them alone. If a female deer returns to find… more
F&G Commission opens Chinook fishing season on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River
| idfg-rphillips
Fish and Game Commissioners on June 13 opened Chinook salmon fishing effective immediately on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River to allow anglers the opportunity to harvest hatchery fish bound for the Selway River that are normally caught in the Lower Clearwater River, which did not have a Chinook season during… more