Comments Sought on Payette Lake Lake Trout Fishing

Idaho Fish and Game wants to hear from the angling public about a proposal to outfit and guide paying clients on Payette Lake for lake trout. The proposal being considered by the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association Licensing Board would amend McCall Angler's operation area to include the ability to sell trips to fishing clients targeting lake trout. Fish and Game and the licensing board are interested in what the fishing public has to say about the possible increase in lake trout fishing on Payette Lake. Specifically, McCall Angler proposes to offer powerboat fishing trips to clients on Payette Lake from April to October with a total proposed use of 70 days per season. The proposal is for four to six anglers per trip for a range of 280 to 420 angler days of fishing effort. Guides will be licensed Idaho guides and carry Coast Guard six pack boating license. Fish and Game estimates that 1,500 adult lake trout reside in Payette Lake, and that 500 to 700 "angler days" are spent on Payette Lake in pursuit of lake trout each year. "We're also seeing increased interest in, and increased fishing effort for, lake trout," fisheries manager Dale Allen said. "This lake trout population is unique in the United States because of the large average size of the fish." Lake trout are slow growing and long lived. Fish more than 30 years old reside in Payette Lake. Payette Lake fishing regulations are catch-and-release for lake trout. Comments on the proposal are encouraged by January 16, 2009. Send written comments to Dale Allen, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 555 Deinhard Lane, McCall, ID 83638; by e-mail to dallen@idfg.idaho.gov; or phone at 208-634-8137.