Explained: The difference between fishing regulations and the management plan, scoping and proposals

Scoping? Public comment period? Are they the same thing? Although they sound like the same thing, both serve a different purpose and are opportunities for anglers and interested stakeholders to provide input on fisheries management in Idaho.

Public scoping

Scoping is the gathering of ideas and opinions from the public, allowing us to hear what you like and think should change to improve fishing opportunity in Idaho. 

During the scoping period, anglers can go to the Fish and Game website or visit a regional Fish and Game office to submit ideas or suggestions about their favorite fisheries. This is an important process to hear what's on anglers' minds and what we should consider when developing proposals.

Public comment

After public scoping, angler input is summarized and staff will prepare proposals for the public comment period. Proposals are a formal presentation of ideas that turn into potential regulations and it's where we need to know what proposals you support and what proposals you don't support.

Idaho Fish and Game is updating fishing regulations for 2025-2027 and rewriting the statewide Fisheries Management Plan for 2025-2030. So what is the difference between the two?

Fishing regulations

Most anglers are familiar with fishing regulations, these are the booklets you pick up at our offices or local license vendors or on our website. The regulations identify what is allowed while fishing, where and when you can fish, what fish you can harvest, and how many fish you can harvest. Regulations are set on a three-year cycle.

Fisheries Management Plan

The Fisheries Management Plan is unfamiliar to most anglers. This is a large document that serves as a comprehensive guide to managing Idaho's fisheries. It is updated every six years and identifies department policies and establishes our main goals and objectives. Fishing regulations are one of the tools we use to meet the goals and objectives defined in the Fisheries Management Plan.

For example, the management plan goal might be to provide anglers with larger fish in a certain waterbody. So there might be restrictions in the fishing regulations to achieve that, such as a minimum length for harvest, a lower bag limit to allow more fish to grow large, or possibly both. 

Engagement with anglers and interested stakeholders is a critical part of developing both the fishing regulations and the fisheries management plan.

The Fisheries Management Plan is a big document, about 500 pages, so depending on your interest, you probably don't need to read it all. Here is how  to navigate the plan to provide valuable input:

• View the current management plan on our website. Look at the table of contents in the plan to view different sections.
• The plan is broken into two parts. The first part covers fishery programs, strategies and approaches at the statewide level and this is where you'll find information about anadromous fisheries, hatchery programs, and habitat enhancement projects. 
• The second section of the plan, breaks down the state by major river drainages. Within each drainage, you'll find management priorities, conservation challenges, and specific objectives for major fisheries within the drainage. This is where you can learn more about and provide input on specific waterbodies you're interested in.
• Lastly, some input is relevant to both sections. For example, if you would like to see more frequent stocking in a lake you like to fish, you could provide input on that like specifically, and also for our fish hatcheries program as a whole, which is in the first section.