IDFG Hosts Open Houses To Present Proposed Fish Regulation Changes To The Public

IDAHO FALLS - Now that we're into the dog days of summer and fishing has slowed down, anglers might want to pause to reflect on potential changes in the rules and regulations. Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be taking proposed rule changes for 2004 and 2005 to the public to hear what they have to say. The fishing waters with the most changes proposed are the South Fork of the Snake River and Henrys Lake, hence the meetings scheduled for Island Park and Idaho Falls. "We're proposing some of the most significant changes that the region has seen in years", said Jim Fredericks, Regional Fishery Manager. "The proposals are mainly designed to protect native cutthroat and provide more opportunity where it's biologically justifiable." Concern over limiting the impact of non-native rainbow trout on native Yellowstone Cutthroat trout is driving most of the changes proposed for the South Fork of the Snake River. "The future of the cutthroat population depends largely on allowing and encouraging anglers to harvest rainbow and hybrid trout, while at the same time maximizing protection for cutthroat", Fredericks said. The proposed regulation calls for liberalizing the current rainbow trout limit from six fish to no limit, and also increasing the minimum size for cutthroat to 20 inches or even catch-and-release. Cutthroat/Rainbow hybrids would continue to fall under rainbow regulations. IDFG is also proposing to allow year-round fishing on the South Fork of the Snake River. Currently, year-round fishing is only allowed upstream to a point near Heise Hot Springs, now it would go all the way upstream to Palisades Dam, if approved. "A year-round season would provide an opportunity for anglers to target rainbow trout when they are spawning, further helping to keep that population in check," Fredericks said. To further protect spawning Yellowstone cutthroat trout, while at the same time simplifying regulations, the Department is proposing to manage the four main spawning tributaries of Pine, Rainey, Burns and Palisades Creeks with identical seasons. All would open on July 1 and run through November 30. In addition, these four tributaries would also be managed with either a 20" minimum or catch-and-release for cutthroat. The other major changes being proposed for the Upper Snake Region involve providing more opportunity on Henrys Lake. The proposed rule change is to drop the current 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM fishing hours, the only non-salmon season time limits in the state and allowing the lake to stay open for fishing until November 30, rather than closing on October 31. According to Fredericks, "There really isn't a biological basis for these restrictions, so if anglers want, we can eliminate the fishing hours and extend the season." Slight modifications are also being proposed for the Henrys or North Fork of the Snake River to increase angling opportunity and simplify regulations. The reach from the Warm River to Riverside Campground would be open all year, and the reach in the Harriman Ranch would be consolidated to a June 15 through a November 30 season. Two statewide rule change proposals involve fishing tournaments. The first is to redefine what constitutes a tournament so that "buddy" tournaments would be exempt from requiring a Department issued permit. "Technically, if four guys go fishing and bet a six-pack on the biggest fish, then they need a tournament permit", Fredericks said, "It's really not to our intent to regulate that type of activity". Also pertaining to tournaments is a proposal to establish criteria by which IDFG permits "For-profit" tournaments on streams. The proposal is to allow for a public hearing for any tournaments conducted for profit unless the equivalent value of the top prize is donated to conservation efforts for that stream. The public is encouraged to attend any of the meetings and make comments about proposals being recommended or other fishing related topics. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Jim Fredericks at the Idaho Department of Fish & Game at 525-7290 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529(TDD). Comments can also be sent via E-mail to jim_fredericks@idfg.state.id.us. Deadline for comments is 5:00 P.M. on August 15, 2003. ALL MEETINGS START AT 7:00 P.M. Mon, Aug 11 Idaho Falls Eastern Idaho Technical School Cafeteria Tue, Aug 12 Island Park Timbers Edge Restaurant on Highway 20