Idaho Fish and Game is planning a series of public open-house meetings at regional offices across the state to take comments on a series of proposed changes to fishing rules.
All open-house meetings run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in:
Panhandle Region:
- June 23 - 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d'Alene, or call Regional Fish Manager Jim Fredericks at 769-1414.
Clearwater Region:
- June 21 - 3316 16th Street, Lewiston, or call Regional Fish Manager Joe DuPont at 799-5010.
Southwest Region:
- June 23 - 3101 S. Powerline Road, Nampa, or call Regional Fish Manager Jeff Dillon at 465-8465 or Dale Allen at 634-8137.
Magic Valley Region:
- June 30 - 324 S. 417 E., Jerome, or call Regional Fish Manager Doug Megargle at 324-4359.
Southeast Region:
- June 28 - 1345 Barton Road, Pocatello, or call Regional Fish Manager David Teuscher at 232-4703.
Upper Snake Region:
- June 29 - 4279 Commerce Circle, Idaho Falls or call Regional Fish Manager Dan Garren at 525-7290.
Salmon Region:
- June 28 - 99 Highway 93 N., Salmon, or call Regional Fish Manager Tom Curet at 756-2271.
Highlights of Fish and Game's recommendations include:
- Allowing filleting of hatchery salmon and steelhead harvested and recorded on a salmon or steelhead permit when certain conditions are met.
- Use of a gaff hook while archery fishing for nongame fish.
- Modifying the definition of a "steelhead" in the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater river drainages.
- A new definition for when a fishing contest permit is needed.
- New definitions used in the 2011-2012 fishing rules booklet.
- Making it illegal to mark and release fish.
All proposed rules are available on the Fish and Game website at:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/misc/NonbiologicalFishRules_5_19_…. Comments may also be submitted at the links on the webpage.
Written comments may be sent to IDFG Fisheries Bureau, P.O. Box 25, Boise ID 83707.
The deadline for comments is July 8.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will act on these proposed rules at the July 28 meeting in Salmon. Adopted rules would not take effect until April 2012.
