Deadwood River Closed to Fishing

Citing the need to protect spawning adult kokanee, the Idaho Fish and Game Department closed a portion of the Deadwood River to all fishing. The closure is effective immediately. The river closure begins at Deadwood Reservoir and continues upriver to a point 50 yards upstream from Fish and Game's fish weir. "The closure boundaries are clearly posted," Fish and Game regional conservation educator Evin Oneale commented. "And the closure will remain in effect through September 15." The closure became necessary after continued reports of fish harassment along that stretch of river. "We've received reports of people snagging kokanee and driving ORVs through the river," Oneale said. "We're hopeful that the closure and an increased enforcement effort will put an end to these activities." Idaho has no snagging season for kokanee. Deadwood's kokanee run is the backbone of kokanee fisheries across the state. Fish and Game personnel regularly collect eggs and sperm from adult kokanee, with the fertilized eggs flown to Mackay hatchery and raised to fingerling size. The tiny fish are then distributed to water bodies across Idaho. Log on to Fish and Game's website at www2.state.id.us/fishgame/news/featurestories/deadwood/deadwood.htm for a feature story about Deadwood's kokanee.