Urban Fishing for Mr. Whiskers

By Joe Kozfkay - Idaho Department of Fish and Game For southwest Idaho anglers targeting catfish in the Snake River, times couldn't be better. As spring gives way to summer, channel catfish line up in key feeding areas by the dozens, selecting spots where the river currents bring their dinner to them as if by conveyor belt. Knowing that times of plenty don't last forever, channel catfish - most in the 3- to 10-pound range - put on the feed bag and gain weight quickly. During this period, anglers' offerings are often greedily accepted, whether it be night crawlers, cut bait, crickets or something odiferous (i.e., stinky). Close by, in the deeper water near dead-fallen trees that line the banks, the channel's cousin, the monstrous flathead catfish, lies in wait for an unsuspecting fish to swim by and pounces. Stout tackle and large chunks of freshly-dead fish cut into strips are a must for anglers targeting these trophies. Were it located in another area of the country, the Snake River with its abundant catfish population would be heralded as a premier fishery. But in Idaho, Snake River cats barely garner attention. In this wide, shallow river, most catfish die of old age without ever seeing an angler's baited hook. Not wanting to let a good fishing opportunity go underutilized, Idaho Department of Fish and Game staff started a new program in 2008 that involves capturing catfish from the Snake River with electro-fishing equipment, loading them on a truck, and hauling them to a few more accessible locations. During 2008 and 2009, eight ponds, including Beach's, Caldwell #2, Ed's, Horseshoe Bend Mill, McDevitt, Parkcenter, Sawyers', and Quinn's Ponds were stocked with more than 3,000 adult-sized catfish. Most catfish, primarily channels, were in the medium-to- magnum size range - 3 to 10 pounds for those not too familiar with Mr. Whiskers. A few large flathead catfish were also released. Channel catfish fit very well with Fish and Game's urban pond management program. Rainbow trout stocking doesn't work well in most ponds during June, July and August because of elevated water temperatures that often exceed lethal limits for rainbow trout. Unfortunately, summer is when these ponds receive the most visits from anglers, especially youth on summer break. In these locations, the high fishing demand can't be met with Fish and Game's primary hatchery product (rainbow trout). That's where channel catfish come in. The program has proven successful and very popular with anglers and will continue in 2010. The first capture and haul efforts of the season have already taken place. The week before Free Fishing Day (June 12), Fish and Game staff members moved catfish to these ponds: Beach's, Rotary, Ed's, Horseshoe Bend Mill, McDevitt, Parkcenter, Sawyers' and Riverside. Additional catfish stocking efforts will take place in August. Anglers looking to catch a couple of catfish should keep it simple using the baits mentioned earlier and fishing near the bottom. Catfish are often more active during low-light periods, sometimes even at night. Don't forget to pick up a fishing license, a bargain at $25.75. A youth license for 14- to 17-year-olds costs $13.75 and youngsters under 14 years of age can fish for free. Because it is a new program, effective allocation and utilization of these fish is something Fish and Game biologists are still trying to determine. The department does not have the resources to stock catfish in all of the 20-plus publicly accessible ponds, so it's important to target the right ponds for the effort. To help determine this, about one-third of the channel catfish relocated during 2009 had small plastic tags attached below their dorsal fins. Each yellow tag has a unique number as well as a tag reporting hotline phone number. When reported by anglers, these tag numbers help biologists learn more about which stocking periods work best, which ponds produce high catch rates, which size catfish are most readily caught by anglers, and how long channel catfish persist in their new homes before being caught. All this information will assist Fish and Game in managing these fish more effectively. Anglers are encouraged to report all tagged fish whether they chose to keep or release the fish. Tags may be reported through Fish and Game's website: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/fishtag/ or on the hotline phone number printed on the tag (1-866-258-0338). And remember to call the Nampa Fish and Game office (465-8465) if you have any fishing questions; we are always ready to help you have a great fishing outing, whether it be in the wilderness or just down the street. Joe Kozfkay is a fisheries biologist in the Southwest Region.