Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

by Gary Hompland, Regional Conservation Officer Question: "I have always struggled with the complexity of the fishing regulations and understanding the exceptions. I know I should just take the time to read the brochure from cover to cover, but are there any secrets to quickly help me find the regulations about specific waters?" Answer: You raise an excellent point and many people struggle and agree that our regulations are complex and difficult to understand. The reason for this complexity is mostly because the vastness of our state and our fishery resources. The fisheries management priorities across the state vary significantly from protection of threatened species such as wild salmon and bull trout to focused harvest on other species such as Kamloops and northern pike minnow. Many reservoirs in southern Idaho are irrigation reservoirs subject to de-watering or poor water quality during drought years. Most of these systems are managed for both cold water species such as trout and warm water species such as perch, crappie and bass. The varied fish species, varied water conditions, and intent to provide quality angling opportunities to the public, while also providing some measure of protection for the resource, results in many exceptions in the fishing regulations. However; there are a couple of items that can help anglers to quickly and accurately assess the fishing regulations on a questionable body of water. The biggest help for anglers is understanding the philosophy of how the fishing regulations brochure is organized. Two items of special note are the "General Rules" and the "Exceptions to the General Rules." Near the front of the 2006-2007 fishing brochure (pages 8-9) are two pages labeled "General Fishing Seasons" and "General Bag and Possession Limits" on the next page. These two pages contain the fishing rules and regulations for areas that have no "special rules" or no "Exceptions to the General Rules." To find out if the waters you intend to fish contain any "special" rules or exceptions to the general rules, you must go farther back into the fishing brochure. All exceptions to the general seasons and bag limits are listed alphabetically in the Fish and Game Administrative region where they are found. If there are no special rules listed for your fishing area, then the "general rules" on pages 8-9 apply to the area you intend to fish. A second option for a quick review of the fishing regulations on a specific body of water is to turn to the back of the regulations brochure (pages 73-75) and look at the index to fishing waters with exceptions to the general rules. This is an alphabetized list of all waters in Idaho with special rules. If the fishing area you are looking for is not listed in this index, then the general fishing rules and limits apply. If you have any further questions you may call the Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208)324-4350 or e-mail us at the Fish and Game web site at game.Idaho.gov.