Proposed Fish Rules Subject of Open Houses

Plan now to review and comment on proposed 2006-2007 fish rules at an upcoming open house hosted by Idaho Fish and Game. Open houses are scheduled for September 14 at Fish and Game headquarters (Boise) from 5:00pm to 9:00pm and September 15 at the Fish and Game McCall office from 10:00am to 7:30pm. Persons unable to attend an open house can still review and comment on the proposed fishing rules changes by accessing the Fish and Game website, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. In the southern portion of the southwest region, proposals call for a year-round season designation for the Owyhee River, and applying the Family Fishing Waters designation to Settler's Pond (Meridian), Merrill Pond (Eagle) and Payette Pond. In the northern portion of the southwest region, proposals call for a general fishing season (the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30), on Big Creek and its tributaries, a general fishing season on the North Fork of the Payette River between Cascade Reservoir and the Hartsell Bridge, and removing kokanee catch and release restrictions on the North Fork between Cascade Reservoir and Payette Lake. One final proposal would convert the Little Salmon River and its tributaries from a year-round fishing season to a general fishing season. Regarding statewide issues of note, Fish and Game is proposing to eliminate limits on walleye and northern pike in waters where these fish have been illegally introduced, and change fishing tournament rules to allow harvest of wild trout in streams where the practice would benefit native trout.