F&g commission hears salmon forecast, big game summary
Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:57
administrator
| Date: |
February 1, 2010 |
| Contact: |
Ed Mitchell
(208) 334-3700 |
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission heard some encouraging news about the coming salmon seasons.
The pre-season spring and summer Chinook salmon run forecast predicts about 160,000 adult hatchery fish and almost 30,000 wild fish to cross Lower Granite Dam, Idaho Fish and Game fisheries head Ed Schriever told commissioners.
The forecast predicts the bulk of the fish will head up the Snake and Salmon rivers, enough are expected to run up the Clearwater River to support fisheries there as well. Fish and Game expects to propose Chinook salmon seasons on the same waters in Idaho and in the boundary water fished in recent years, Schriever said.
Last year's pre-season forecast predicted about 128,600 hatchery origin and almost 23,000 wild Chinook would return to Idaho. Only about 60,000 adults returned, but an unusually high number of almost 55,000 returning jacks suggest good ocean survival of the fish that will be returning to Idaho this year.
In a review of preliminary big game hunter harvest reports, data show fewer tags sold but improved hunter success for deer, elk and pronghorn, big game manager Jon Rachael told commissioners during their annual meeting Thursday, January 28.
The results so far show a:
- 5 percent decline in deer tags sold but hunter success increased to 34 percent over 33 percent in 2008.
- 6 percent decline in elk tags sold, but hunter success increased to 20 percent from 19 percent in 2008.
- 5.6 percent decline in pronghorn tags, but hunter success increased to 47 percent from 44 percent in 2008.
Elk numbers across the state's 29 elk management zones are holding their own, with some exceptions. Twelve zones are meeting objectives for female elk numbers, nine are above objectives and eight are below. Five zones are meeting bull elk objectives, 15 are above the objectives and nine are below.
Monitoring results show mule deer in good condition in most of the state, which portends better than average winter survival. Preliminary figures for the total deer harvest is about 42,000 animals - about 24,000 mule deer and about 18,000 white-tailed deer.
For more information go to the Fish and Game Web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.
From the field: 2009 chinook salmon fishery
Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:55
administrator
| Date: |
January 25, 2010 |
| Contact: |
Jim Lukens
(208) 756-2271 |
By Jim Lukens, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Last summer, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission opened 130 miles of the Salmon River from Island Park in Salmon City upstream to the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery for Chinook salmon fishing.
This was the first time in more than 30 years that salmon fishing had been opened on this much of the Salmon River. The season was open from June 20 through July 26. Initially fishing was quite difficult, mainly because of river conditions. Salmon River flows on opening day were 7,030 cubic feet per second, which is 40 percent greater than the 10-year average on that date making fishing challenging.
The first recorded Chinook kept was on June 28 near Sunbeam Dam. Throughout the season a total of 3,519 Chinook were harvested, of which 2,918 were adults (fish remaining in the ocean at least two years) and 601 were jacks (fish remaining in the ocean for only one year).
The peak of fishing success from Salmon City to the Pahsimeroi River occurred during the weekend of July 18 and 19. The peak of the fishery above the Pahsimeroi River occurred during the Fourth of July weekend. Anglers fished for more than 60,000 hours and averaged a salmon caught for every 12 hours of fishing.
A recently released pre-season forecast for the 2010 run of Snake River spring and summer Chinook salmon returning to Idaho indicates that fishing in 2010 should be every bit as good as it was in 2009 for Pahsimeroi Hatchery stocks. However, adult returns to Sawtooth Hatchery near Stanley are not expected to be adequate to provide a fishery above Ellis next summer.
As adult Chinook begin returning this spring, Fish and Game biologists will monitor returns closely and plan fishing seasons based on actual count numbers.
Jim Lukens is the regional supervisor in the Salmon Region.
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Spring steelhead season opens friday
Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:47
administrator
| Date: |
December 28, 2009 |
| Contact: |
Ed Mitchell
(208) 334-3700 |
The spring steelhead season starts Friday, January 1, but anglers will need a 2010 fishing license and steelhead permit to fish on New Year's Day.
Spring steelhead season opens on the:
- Salmon River from its mouth to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream of the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir, near the town of Stanley.
- Little Salmon River from its mouth to the U.S. Highway 95 bridge near Smokey Boulder Road.
- Snake River from the Washington state line at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers upstream to Oxbow Dam.
- Clearwater River mainstem and Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth to Clear Creek.
- North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth to Dworshak Dam.
- South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth to the confluence of American and Red Rivers.
- Boise River from its mouth to the Barber Dam.
The season runs through April 30 in most areas, except:
- On the Salmon River from Lake Creek Bridge to Long Tom Creek, about a quarter mile upstream of the Middle Fork, the season ends March 31.
- On the Little Salmon River the season runs through May 15.
- On the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam upstream to Oxbow Dam, and on the Boise River upstream to Barber Dam, the season ends May 31.
Steelhead are in the Snake River between the Hells Canyon and Oxbow dams and the Boise River only when stocked by Idaho Fish and Game. Here steelhead are defined as rainbow trout longer than 20 inches with a clipped adipose fin.
This year about 1,500 steelhead were stocked in the Boise River; a similar number was stocked in the Snake River below the Oxbow Dam. Barbless hooks are not required in the Boise, but anglers must have a steelhead permit to fish for and keep steelhead.
On the Boise and Clearwater rivers the steelhead limit is three per day and nine in possession. Elsewhere, the daily limits is five steelhead, no more than three may be 32 or more inches in total length. The possession limit is 15, no more than nine may be 32 or more inches long. The statewide limits in the fall and spring seasons is 40 steelhead in each, but no more than 20 of those may be caught in the Clearwater River drainage in each season.
Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch and release.
Steelhead anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit. Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed.
In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2010 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds.
Consult 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the fishing page at the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.
Don't forget to buy a 2010 fishing license and steelhead permit before heading out on New Year's Day.
Spring steelhead season to start soon
Sunday, 07 February 2010 14:46
administrator
| Date: |
December 14, 2009 |
| Contact: |
Ed Mitchell
(208) 334-3700 |
Anglers who want to go steelhead fishing on New Year's Day will need a new 2010 fishing license and steelhead permit.
The spring steelhead season starts January 1 and runs through April 30, with three exceptions.
On the Little Salmon River the season runs through May 15; on the Salmon River from Lake Creek Bridge to Long Tom Creek, about a quarter mile upstream of the Middle Fork, the season ends March 31; and on the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam upstream to Oxbow Dam, and on the Boise River upstream to Barber Dam, the season ends May 31.
Steelhead are in the Boise River only when stocked by Idaho Fish and Game. This year about 1,500 steelhead were stocked in the river. Barbless hooks are not required in the Boise River, but anglers must have a steelhead permit to fish for and keep steelhead, which are rainbow trout longer than 20 inches with a clipped adipose fin.
On the Boise and the Clearwater rivers and on the Snake River between Hell Canyon and Oxbow dams the steelhead limit is three per day and nine in possession. Elsewhere, the daily limit is five steelhead; no more than three may be 32 or more inches in total length. The possession limit is 15, no more than nine may be 32 or more inches long. The statewide limits in the fall and spring seasons are 40 steelhead in each, but no more than 20 of those may be caught in the Clearwater River drainage in each season.
Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch and release.
Steelhead anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit. Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed.
Open waters for steelhead are:
- Salmon River from its mouth to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream of the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir, near the town of Stanley.
- Little Salmon River from its mouth to the U.S. Highway 95 bridge near Smokey Boulder Road.
- Snake River from the Washington state line at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.
- Clearwater River mainstem and Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth to Clear Creek.
- North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth to Dworshak Dam.
- South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth to the confluence of American and Red Rivers.
- Boise River from its mouth to the Barber Dam.
In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2010 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds.
Consult 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure, which is also good for 2010, for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.
Don't forget to buy a 2010 fishing license and steelhead permit before heading out on New Year's Day. And remember to hang onto the current fishing regulations. The 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure has been extended through 2010.
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