Cutthroat Trout

June fish stocking schedule for the Upper Snake Region

Fish and Game staff will be stocking catchable-size (10 to 12 inch) rainbow trout at the following locations in the Upper Snake Region during the month of June.

Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Fish & Game to host public meeting March 26 on pike removal project

Plummer, Idaho - The Coeur d’Alene Tribe Fisheries Program and Idaho Department of Fish and Game will hold a public meeting in Plummer on Tuesday, March 26 to discuss a new project designed to reduce northern pike abundance in the southern end of Lake Coeur d’Alene.  The project goal is to boost survival of native lake-run cutthroat trout by reducing predation from northern pike.  The project will be funded and conducted by the Tribe while Fish and Game biologists will assist with monitoring project results.

Yellowstone cutthroat trout swim the fish ladder at Henrys Lake [video]

Clark Fork and Pack River Angler Survey Underway

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with Avista, began conducting a 10-month angler creel survey on the Clark Fork River from Lake Pend Oreille to Cabinet Gorge Dam on February 1. Additionally, we began surveying anglers fishing the Pack River, Grouse Creek, and Lightning Creek on March 1. We plan to continue these surveys through approximately December 1, 2018.

Can triploid cutthroat improve fishing in backcountry lakes?

Biologists completed a three-year study of mountain lakes to compare two kinds of trout used for stocking. 

Can triploid cutthroat trout improve fishing in backcountry lakes? Part 1

Can triploid cutthroat trout improve fishing in backcountry lakes?

Part 1: Setting up for the long game

Public meetings set to consider Priest Lake fishery management

Fishing has long been one of the main attractions on Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake. However, fishing at these scenic lakes has changed a great deal over time.

Historically, the fishery was supported by three native sport fish, westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and mountain whitefish. Fishing for cutthroat was the most popular throughout the early 20th century.

Upper Priest Lake Native Fish Conservation

Native Bull Trout and Westslope Cutthroat have been the target of Upper Priest Lake anglers throughout history. These native species continue to provide good fishing opportunity, but not without some assistance. Since the early 1990’s, non-native Lake Trout have been present in Upper Priest Lake. Lake Trout generally compete with or prey upon Bull Trout and Westslope Cutthroat. This results in weaker populations of these native species.

Learn about native trout and where to find them

Two species of Idaho fish are the subject of a fascinating series by the Western Native Trout Initiative, a private/public collaboration that partners to conserve native trout and their habitat in the West.

Priest Lake Kokanee Anglers Can Expect Status Quo

Priest Lake anglers can expect Kokanee fishing to be similar to what they found last year. Idaho Fish and Game Kokanee monitoring efforts suggest Kokanee numbers remain low, but the fish that are caught should be good sized (likely 14-16"). Although a small increase in Kokanee abundance was observed between 2011 and 2013 in Priest Lake, the upward trend hasn't continued in recent years.