Comments Sought on Fish Plan, Salmon Season and New Rules

Fish and Game's statewide Fisheries Management Plan is up for renewal this year, and the public is invited to help craft the plan that will chart fish management in Idaho from 2013 through 2018. The plan will outline various long-term strategies and objectives for programs such as wild trout, hatchery trout, and warm water fish. To learn more about the plan, contact Fish and Game fisheries manager Dale Allen in McCall at 208-634-8137, or attend one of four upcoming public meetings. In addition to the long-term plan, anglers and other interested parties are invited to comment on the pending 2012 salmon seasons and on fishing rules for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Fish and Game fisheries staff will be making a series of short presentations regarding all three subjects at each of the public meetings in: McCall at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 21 - Fish and Game McCall Office 555 Deinhard Lane. Riggins at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 23 - Best Western Salmon Rapids Lodge, 1010 S. Main St. Boise at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 29 - Fish and Game Headquarters, 600 South Walnut. Nampa at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 1 - Fish and Game Nampa Office, 3101 S. Powerline Road. This year's Chinook salmon season is predicted to be the best in a decade. A short presentation will provide more detail about this upcoming fishery and the number of fish returning to Idaho. The fishing rule booklet is reviewed and 1 every two years. In 2011, Fish and Game totally revamped the brochure for readability and simplicity. Anglers now have the opportunity to suggest regulation changes on any of Idaho's fishing waters. The current six-year Fish Management Plan is available on the Department's website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/planFisheries.pdf. "The new plan will be the driving force for fish management in Idaho for the next six years," Fish and Game regional fisheries manager Dale Allen said. "We encourage anglers to review the current plan and provide us with their comments, as this scoping period is a chance for citizens to bring their ideas forward regarding how the public's fisheries should be managed." The new plan will be presented to the Fish and Game Commission for approval in November 2012. Send written comments regarding the plan via e-mail to fishingmccall@idfg.idaho.gov, or via standard mail to: 2013 Fish Plan, C/O Idaho Fish and Game, 555 Deinhard Drive, McCall Idaho 83647.