Press Releases and Articles
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
| Anonymous (not verified)
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
| Anonymous (not verified)
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
| Anonymous (not verified)
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
| Anonymous (not verified)
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
Generous donation leads to upgrades at Wilson Ponds
| idfg-jcassinelli
A recent donation by the Gem State Fly Fishers has resulted in some significant upgrades to Idaho Fish and Game’s Wilson Ponds. Improvements to the pond complex include the installation of 10 steel benches in various locations around the ponds, as well as the addition of steel railings to all of the fishing docks. The… more
Shelley Pond Receives Hatchery Rainbow Trout for the First Time
| idfg-cwatkins
Located along the Snake River, about 2 miles west of Shelley, this 12 acre fishing pond bears the community namesake. The pond has traditionally provided some limited fishing opportunity when fish are entrained during high spring runoff, but has not received a consistent supply of fish over time.
After… more
Blackfoot man loses hunting and trapping privileges for numerous wildlife crimes
| idfg-staff
Gage Allen of Blackfoot, after reaching a plea agreement with the Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, was sentenced June 24 for various wildlife crimes dating back to 2007. In January of 2019, Allen was charged with numerous wildlife violations, including four felony charges related to illegally trapping and… more
The Clearwater River Fisheries Working Group
| idfg-jdupont
The Clearwater River Fisheries Working Group and its Members
The Clearwater River in Idaho is widely known for its amazing fishing opportunities for steelhead and Chinook Salmon. Some of the fisheries, like the steelhead fishery, have been occurring for years and attract people from around the world,… more