Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes, it is legal to use artificial lights for the purposes of fishing in Idaho.

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There are several commercially licensed aquaculture facilities in Idaho that sell the game fish listed in your e-mail.  In Idaho, this business is regulated by the Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture and they could provide you a list of providers in your area.  To prevent transmission of diseases around the state, we would prefer you use a local source of fish. You will need to obtain a Private Pond permit from our agency to possess game fish.  There is an application on our website under the "Fisheries" tab and "Forms."  The permit is free and good for 5-years.

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Hi there, thanks for your question. Its great to hear that you are excited about steelhead fishing. Drift boats are a great way to chase these fantastic fish. Your options will be limited to your skills on the oars and where steelhead can currently be found. At this time of year (late winter), you best bet will be the Clearwater River near Kooskia near the confluence of the South Fork Clearwater. There are several easy floats from Kooskia down to Orofino. I suggest starting at Kooskia and floating down the Button Beach, or Kamiah. You could also float Kamiah to Long Camp. During the fall season (September - November) you should float the lower sections of the Clearwater from Cherry Lane to Lewiston.  For more access and boat ramp information for the Clearwater River, take a look at this very helpful guidebook pamphlet:   You could also try some sections of the main Salmon near Riggins. There is an easy float upstream of Riggins from Shorts Bar to Long Bar, and several downstream of Riggins as well. You may want to talk to a local tackle shop before heading out to get some better sense of the rapids in this area. There are some challenging spots that you don't want row a drift boat without being experienced.  Once you gain some more experience, check out the main Salmon around Challis and Salmon. These can be great spots and take just a little more skill, but are otherwise very drift boat friendly.  Good luck, and be sure to bring an extra oar, life jackets and typical safety gear.  Martin Koenig Sportfishing Program Coordinator

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Starlings are classified in Idaho as a predator and can be controlled by almost any means, but a license or permit is required for the individual doing the control action.   However the depredation control folks at Wildlife Services (208-373-1630) can help control migratory wildlife which are depredating on crops.  

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Lighted bow sights would be legal when hunting turkeys.  Prohibition of lighted sights only applies to the hunting of big game.

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This would be dependent upon each individual cities ordinance and would need to be addressed with the city.  There is no mechanism in state law that would give a variance for this.    

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Good morning Austin, If you don't already have Google Earth Pro on your computer, I suggest you download it (it is free - use the key GEPFREE). You can add a .shp file to Google Earth Pro and save as a kml if you like. Feel free to contact me if you need any further assistance.  pam.bond@idfg.idaho.gov, 208-287-2724 Pam Bond, GIS Analyst, IDFG

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Greetings, thanks for your question. The mesh size requirements for fish screen is really dependent on several factors. The design of the outflow (pipe vs drain etc), the size of fish you want to screen, and the water flow through the screen make a big difference in the mesh size needed. We need more details about your potential pond design to really provide an accurate answer. At a minimum, you should expect nothing bigger than 1", but likely will need something down in the 1/4-1/2" size screen.  I'm going to forward your question to the Regional Fish Manager in Lewiston who will be the point of contact for pond permits in your area. He will respond to you directly and can provide further guidance.  Martin Koenig Sportfishing Program Coordinator

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River conditions are constantly changing, especially this time of year. There are a couple of different ways to get information on current river conditions: 1.) There are numerous stream flow gauges throughout the upper Salmon River basin that are operated by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and reported online (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/id/nwis/current/?type=flow) or try an internet search for "Idaho stream flows". While these gauges will report stream flow and give you a general idea of flow in relation to the long term average (high, low, normal), they do not report conditions such as water clarity, slush ice, etc. 2.) For current fishing conditions, contact the Idaho Department of Fish and Game office in Salmon (208-756-2271) or try one of the license vendors in the Salmon Region found here: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/licenses/lookupVendors.cfm. Many of our license vendors are paassionate anglers as well, and will likely be able to give you up to date reports on current river conditions.

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Provided you possess the proper federal paperwork, suppressors are legal for hunting in Idaho.

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Poundage restrictions on archery equipment are only for taking of Big Game in Idaho. There is no minimum poundage for Small Game.

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Yes, several WMAs have turkeys.  Two of the better known WMAs include Craig Mt. WMA and Cecil Andrus, but they also occur on Fort Boise, Boise River, and in eastern Idaho.  Depending on where you live you may be able to find turkeys on WMAs.  You can call the local regional office to get more specific information or  go to our website in the turkey section of the rules to locate distribution of turkeys in Idaho.