Idaho stream fishing already open for fun
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May 14, 2013 |
By Phil Cooper
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
The general fishing season in Idaho, often
referred to by anglers as "stream season,"
opened the Saturday before Memorial Day for many
years. A few years ago that changed, and most
streams are now open all year.
Having started my career in southeastern Idaho,
I remember well the fanfare that came with the
stream opener. Many small cities in southeast
Idaho held highly popular fishermen’s breakfasts
on the opening Saturday. Excited anglers came
before dawn for pancakes and eggs before heading
out for their first day of wetting lines in area
streams.
The events were great fundraisers for area
sportsman’s groups as well as a day that anglers
looked forward to all winter. There were likely
similar events held around the state, but the
one in St. Anthony was an event to behold. Many
anglers in eastern Idaho were headed to the
famed Henrys Fork of the Snake River, one of the
best fly-fishing reaches in the entire country.
Stream fishing is king in the low precipitation
areas of southern Idaho. Many of the smaller
lakes in southeast Idaho go dry in late summer.
Because of the arid climate, there aren’t a lot
of lakes there that hold fish year to year, and
they must be replanted in spring with catchable,
but not remarkable, sized trout. Anglers wanting
to catch large fish had wait for Memorial Day
weekend to head to rivers and streams.
One of the many outdoor blessings we enjoy in
the Panhandle is the abundance of lowland lakes
that hold a wide variety of fish species that
can grow in size year to year. By my rough
count, there are 68 smaller, low elevation lakes
to choose from – making it almost a challenge to
decide where to go on any given day.
Fortunately, being open all year makes it
possible to fish them all.
As the spring days get longer and the sun higher
over these lakes, warm water species, such as
bluegills, crappies and yellow perch, move into
shallow water where the sunlight penetrates to
the bottom and warms the water. They feed
actively and aggressively, making them easy to
catch.
In addition, many lakes still contain many
holdover hatchery rainbow trout that were
planted in previous years. These are found all
over area lakes, not just in the shallow water.
They have grown considerably after being planted
at 10 inches or so, and provide excellent
fishing and eating opportunity.
While the best fishing on area low elevation
lakes is typically found in May and June,
anglers who switch tactics and fish deeper water
can have excellent results throughout the
summer. Mountain lakes, often covered by a layer
of ice into mid-July, can also provide good late
summer fishing. However, many are “hit and
miss,” and the trout in these lakes may bite
aggressively one day and not at all the next.
Either way, the scenery, solitude and wildlife
viewing more than compensate should the fish not
cooperate.
As for fishing rules, Idaho Fish and Game has
taken great effort to simplify. The new fishing
rules are now in effect for three years, and the
publication has been reorganized to make it very
easy to follow. Daily bag limits, size
restrictions and exceptions for specific waters
will not change until 2016, as this is the first
year of the new three year rules.
If you fish, take a look at the new publication.
I feel certain you will like how it is laid out.
On page 11, there is a short guide that tells
you how the publication is designed. The first
step is to go to the section on the region you
plan to fish. Immediately below the region
designation are the fishing season dates for
that region. The next box gives limits for all
species in that region. The next box lists any
waters in that region in alphabetical order that
have specific regulations. If the water you are
planning to fish is not listed – and most are
not – you are done. Go fish!
If the water is listed, the next few pages
explain the rules for that water.
Anglers should note, however, that some waters,
such as Henrys Lake, Henrys Fork of the Snake
River, Big Wood River and Silver Creek, are
still closed for fishing in the winter and early
spring to protect spawning populations of native
fish.
Good fishing! We have some of the best fishing
anywhere right here at home.
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