Public Open House for Fishing Regulations and Salmon Season Setting at McCall Office IDFG Tuesday Feb. 20th

Open house scheduled for February 20th at the McCall IDFG Office will help shape fishing rules and long-term management of Idaho waters. During February and March, Fish and Game’s fisheries managers will work with the public to shape three fishing proposals: 2018 Chinook Salmon seasons, upcoming statewide fishing seasons and rules through 2021, and updating Idaho’s long-term fisheries management plan. Chinook Salmon seasons are set annually, so fish managers are collecting public comments to help them form rules for the spring season. The statewide fishing rules are set on a three-year cycle with the current ones expiring Dec. 31. In November, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission will adopt regulations that will be in effect until 2021. Public input is also needed to update the statewide Fisheries Management Plan, which lasts from 2019 to 2024. It helps guide fisheries managers to set program priorities and also establish sport fishing and conservation goals. An Open House for anglers is scheduled for Feb 20th from 4 PM to 8 PM at the McCall Office of IDFG at 555 Deinhard Lane. Biologists will have the Department’s predictions on the upcoming 2018 Chinook Salmon seasons, and information about how the next three year cycle of fishing regulations will be developed. This is also the year when the 6 year Fisheries Management Plan document is updated which is a policy document approved by the IDFG Commission. Pre-season predictions point to a more normal Spring Chinook season locally, including a South Fork Salmon river fishery. Likely the largest changes locally to the 3 year fishing rules will be changes in regulations and management direction of Lake Trout harvest in Payette Lake. Six years of liberal harvest rules have not improved the fishery as hoped and different and more dramatic strategies will need to be considered. Comments from public feedback will help fisheries staff develop proposed changes, which will also go through another round of public review before the Fish and Game Commission adopts new rules in November. If unable to attend this local open house look at the Department’s webpage https://idfg.idaho.gov/fish for a fishing rule comment page, and a link to the current 2016 – 2018 fishing regulations and links to the 2013 to 2018 statewide Fisheries Management Plan. You can also call or email comments and concerns to Dale Allen; Regional Fishery Manager at 208-634-8137 or email dale.allen@idfg.idaho.gov.