Frequently Asked Questions

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He can contact headquarters at 208-334-3700.  They can look into it for you.

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May 22, 2013 Idfg closes clearwater from railroad bridge to cherrylane; other sections stay open for jacks   On Tuesday, May 21, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game closed the lower Clearwater River from the Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge in Lewiston to the Cherrylane Bridge to all salmon fishing. The other sections of the Clearwater previously open to salmon fishing will remain open for harvest of jack salmon four days per week, Friday through Monday. Sections of the Clearwater River basin that remain open to jacks-only harvest include:   The mainstem Clearwater: From Lenore Bridge to Greer Bridge The North Fork Clearwater River: From the mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam excluding the perimeter of the Dworshak National Hatchery at Ahsahka. Fishing from any watercraft is prohibited. The Middle Fork Clearwater: From the mouth of the South Fork Clearwater River upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers. The South Fork Clearwater: From its mouth upstream to the confluence of the American and Red rivers. Anglers are not be allowed to retain adult Chinook salmon anywhere in the Clearwater basin, but can continue to retain four adipose fin-clipped salmon less than 24 inches total length (jacks), per day. Jack salmon count against the daily limit but need not be recorded on the salmon permit. There is no season limit for jacks. Jacks are salmon that return after one year in the ocean. They are relatively abundant this year, are not necessary in the brood stock and are all available for harvest. Managers estimate that over 2000 jacks returning to hatcheries in the Clearwater River will be available for harvest by sport anglers. Fishery managers had consistently predicted that a relatively small number of adult hatchery Chinook salmon would return to the Clearwater River in 2013 and that over 50 percent would be needed to fill the hatchery brood stock quota. With the support of the public, managers structured a conservative fishery framework that allowed fishing four days per week with a daily limit of one adult Chinook salmon per day. The hatchery fish available for harvest are shared with Tribal fishers, resulting in less than 25 percent of the hatchery adults available for the sport fishery. Excellent fishing conditions and a pulse of fish moving through the lower Clearwater River resulted in the sport fishery achieving the harvest objective more quickly than expected. Salmon fisheries on the Snake, lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers remain unchanged at this time. For updated seasons and limit information, consult the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=140, or call the salmon fishing hotline at 855-287-2702, local Fish and Game Office or license vendor. For an interactive map of river segments open to Chinook fishing go to Fish and Game's website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/chinook/

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RESIDENTS ONLY - License buyer must present to vendor a letter from SSI, SSDI, or Railroad Retirement board showing person is currently disabled and economically disadvantaged or a signed and completed Certification of Permanent Disability [PDF, 244 KB] form. IDAPA Rule [PDF, 36 KB].

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Information on all of the IDFG Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) is posted on our website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/wma/.  You can check the details there and a phone number is provided for you to call for other information.

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Please contact the Salmon Region office at 1-208-756-2271.  Their staff can help you.

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The deadline to enter this year's first Super Hunt drawing is May 31. With every entry in Fish and Game's Super Hunt drawings, hunters get a chance at winning the hunt of a lifetime, and their entry fee helps support hunter and angler access to and across private lands. The first drawing in June will pick 26 lucky hunters, each of whom will win one of 25 tags - eight elk, eight deer, and eight antelope hunts as well as one moose hunt; and one "Super Hunt Combo" entry also will be drawn that will entitle the winner to hunt for one each elk, deer, pronghorn and moose. A second drawing will be in August when another "Super Hunt Combo" and entries for two elk, two deer, and two pronghorn hunts along with one moose hunt will be drawn. The entry period for the second drawing is June 2 through August 11. Winners can participate in any open hunt in the state for deer, elk, pronghorn or moose, including general hunts and controlled hunts, in addition to any general season or controlled hunt tags they also hold. Hunters who win any Super Hunt tag may still enter controlled hunts, except where other restrictions apply. All other rules of individual hunts apply. The first Super Hunt entry will cost $6. Each additional entry purchased at the same time will cost $4 each. The Super Hunt Combo entries work the same way. The first one costs $20, and each additional entry purchased at the same time will cost $16. Entries are available at license vendors, Fish and Game offices, or they can be ordered on the Internet at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/?getPage=22, and on the phone at 800-554-8685.

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The hunting passport cannot be used to apply for a controlled hunt. A person holding a passport can only hunt in a general season hunt with their mentor.  

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You can purchase a license online and print it at home, but the actual tags would be mailed to you.  They go out within 5-7 days of order.  Buying license and tags at an Idaho vendor is a good alternative.  

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The catch-and-keep season for bass is open year-around on most waters.  There are, however,  a few exceptions where we are trying to manage for quality or trophy populations of bass. In order for a fish to qualify as a "state record" the fish needs to be weighed on a state certified scale.  These scales are found in meat departments in your local grocery store, the post office, local hardware store, etc.  Only fish legally taken can be recognized as "records" in Idaho, so, if "no harvest is allowed," it would be impossible to weigh the fish on a certified scale. Before you ask, it is also illegally to transport a live fish - unless you have a live fish transport permit from Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game.  Sorry - there's just no way to certify the weight of a fish caught in a "catch-and-release, only" fishery and recognize it as a "state record fish."    

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Yes, there are smallmouth bass in Long Tom Reservoir.

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You can enter the superhunt drawing...residency does not effect the superhunts.

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Yes, attractants such as WD-40 or other scents that are nontoxic or don't threaten human or fish health can be applied to lures.  Think of it this way - if you're comfortable applying a substance to a lure, to attract a fish that you will eat, it's probably ok.