Fishing Rules, Salmon Season Meetings Slated

Anglers will have the opportunity to comment on the coming salmon fishing season and the new fishing rule book at one of several upcoming open houses hosted by Fish and Game. Open house meetings are scheduled: In the Southwest Region: contact 208-634-8137 in McCall or 208-465-8465 in Nampa.

• Monday, February 22, 7 to 9 p.m., Fish and Game headquarters, 600 S. Walnut, Boise.
• Tuesday, February 23, 7 to 9 p.m., Fish and Game office, 3101 S. Powerline Road, Nampa.
• Wednesday, February 24, 7 to 9 p.m., Fish and Game office, 555 Deinhard Lane, McCall.
• Thursday, February 25, 6 to 8 p.m., Salmon Rapids Lodge, 1010 S. Main Street, Riggins.

In the Clearwater Region: contact 208-799-5010. Meetings are from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Monday, February 22, Kooskia Community Center, 26 Main Street, Kooskia.
• Tuesday, February 23, Super 8 Motel, 801 W South 1st Street, Grangeville.
• Wednesday, February 24, Fish and Game Clearwater Hatchery, 118 Hatchery Roe Drive, located northwest of Ahsahka Bridge, Orofino.
• Thursday, February 25, Salmon Rapids Lodge, 1010 S. Main Street, Riggins.
• Monday, March 1, Clearwater Region Office, 3316 16th St., Lewiston.

In the Salmon Region: contact 208-756-2271. Meetings are from 4 to 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, February 23, Stanley Community Center, Stanley.
• Wednesday, February 24, Fish and Game regional office, Highway 93N, Salmon.
• Thursday, February 25, Forest Service Conference Room, Challis.

During these meetings, Fish and Game also will present its ongoing efforts to make the fishing rules simpler and easier to understand, and how these changes could potentially influence the fishing rules. "We've worked on readability, organization and simplifying our entire fishing rule package," Fish and Game regional fisheries manager Jeff Dillon said. "We're anxious to present the new format to the public." Idaho's 2008-2009 Fishing Seasons and Rules book will continue to be valid through 2010, while a new 2011-2012 rule book is developed. The meetings also will cover Chinook salmon management strategies as well the upcoming Chinook salmon season. Early indications suggest a good salmon season is in store. Up to 200,000 marked hatchery Chinook salmon may cross Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River later this spring, with most of those fish headed for Idaho. Fish and Game will discuss potential salmon fishing seasons and some of the changes anglers can expect to see this year. Anglers also will learn more about which hatchery runs are expected to provide harvestable salmon this season. Information from these and other open house meetings will be used to shape the 2011-2012 fishing rule book which will be completed in November. Spring Chinook season rules will be set by the Fish and Game Commission in late March. Anyone unable to attend an open house may provide comments by calling the regional Fish and Game office at the numbers listed above.