IDFG OFFERS SECOND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON FISHING REGULATIONS

Coeur d'Alene, ID: The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) will be holding two meetings in September to gather public input on fishing regulation proposals for the 2006-2007 season. In May, IDFG held a first round of meetings for the public to suggest regulations. IDFG has taken these suggestions and developed season proposals for public review. Interested anglers can come to the Wildlife Building located at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint on Tuesday, September 13; or, the IDFG Regional Office at 2750 Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d'Alene on Thursday, September 15. Both meetings are from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. The following are proposed changes to the fishing rules in the Panhandle Region. 1. Family Fishing Waters Add Antelope and Bull Moose Lakes to Family Fishing Waters Rationale: Additional waters with simplified rules will encourage family fishing trips. 2. Extend Spirit Lake kokanee season Remove seasonal restriction on kokanee fishing in Spirit Lake, allowing anglers to harvest kokanee all year. Rationale: Recent midsummer survey indicated the kokanee population has recovered from past low levels. New rules would maintain the 15 kokanee bag limit to prevent kokanee numbers from returning to low levels. 3. Quality/trophy bass rule on Pend Oreille Implement quality/trophy bass rule on Lake Pend Oreille and Pend Oreille River from the railroad bridge at Sandpoint downstream to Washington. From January 1 to June 30 anglers would be required to release all bass. From July 1 to December 31 anglers would be allowed 2 bass with none between 12 and 16 inches. Rule would also prevent any weigh in tournaments from January 1 to June 30, unless needed for biological reasons. Rationale: Public request to protect older, larger bass in this area by limiting harvest on these fish. The following are proposed changes to rules that would affect fisheries statewide. 1. Walleye/northern pike limits Remove limits on walleye and northern pike except in designated waters being managed for these species. There would not be any limits on these species in waters where they have been illegally introduced. Current limits would remain on Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir, Oakley Reservoir and Oneida Reservoir. Rationale: Designed to discourage illegal introductions of walleye and northern pike into other waters, and to control their populations in waters where they have been illegally introduced. 2. Tournament trout harvest Change tournament rules to allow harvest of wild trout in streams where it would benefit native trout. Rationale: Current fishing tournament rules do not allow harvest of wild trout during fishing tournaments in streams. In some waters such as the South Fork Snake River, tournaments aimed at harvesting rainbow trout would benefit native Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations. In other waters, brook trout tournaments could be a management tool, to reduce competition between brook trout and native trout. 3. Statewide steelhead limits Change fall season limits to: 2 per day, 6 in possession, and 20 per season, keep spring season limits: 3 per day, 9 in possession, and 20 per season. Rationale: The fall season generally has the highest angler effort and more consistent fishing conditions. Reducing harvest would provide better catch rates throughout the fall season. Keeping the higher limits during the spring season would provide high harvest opportunity in the upper parts of the fisheries when steelhead congregate near the hatcheries. People who need special accommodations to attend the meetings should contact Ned Horner at (208) 769-1414 at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, or, call the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529 (TDD). Anglers who do not wish to attend one of the two meetings are encouraged to send their input to: Regional Fisheries Manager Ned Horner, 2750 Kathleen Ave Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815, or e-mail nhorner@idfg.idaho.gov.