Information Meeting on the Coeur d'Alene Lake Fishery

Anglers are invited to an informational meeting next Wednesday evening, September 10, to hear the latest information about the kokanee population status and discuss the future of the Chinook and kokanee fisheries in Coeur d'Alene Lake. The meeting will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Idaho Fish and Game regional office, 2885 W. Kathleen Avenue, Coeur d'Alene. The kokanee fishery closed this week to protect spawners and insure adequate reproduction for next year. The emergency rule change marks the third year the kokanee fishery has been closed in September. In addition, Chinook fishing in recent weeks has been poor relative to past years. The combination of the depressed kokanee fishery and the poor Chinook fishing has many anglers wanting to know more about the status and the outlook for the fishery, Regional Fishery Manager Jim Fredericks said. "This meeting isn't about coming up with new rules, Fredericks said. "It's more about providing the latest population assessment information, discussing alternatives for Chinook population control, and taking a big picture look at what we can expect from the Coeur d'Alene Lake fishery." Fredericks is optimistic that the recent closures have helped and notes that the juvenile kokanee population is in better shape than it has been in years. But he cautions that the key to recovery is keeping predation and harvest under control. "I don't think we can return to daily limits of 25 kokanee and the high levels of Chinook stocking and expect the kokanee population to hold up," he said.