Fish And Game Proposal

fishing regulation scoping meeting panhandle region 2008-2009 season proposals

contact information date: name: phone number: mailing address email address: meeting location:

statewide proposals bull frogs

-should

we remove bull frogs from the game fish species list and possibly manage them as unprotected wildlife?

crayfishlminnow traps -should we allow larger traps that are commercially available?

import of aquatic organisms -should we require permits to import live aquatic organisms into the state to help control the spread of deleterious animals and to reduce chances of importing diseases or disease carrying organisms. this would make it illegal to fish with imported live leeches, salamanders, crayfish, etc.

panhandle region proposals moyie river -should we open the season year round to increase angler opportunity?

priest lake -how should we increase angler interest in lake trout fishing?

adfluvial cutthroat trout -should we provide more protection to cutthroat trout in coeur d'alene lake and pend oreille lake?

trophy trout lakes -which lakes would you like to see managed for trophy trout (2 fish, none under 14 inches)?

coeur d'alene river cutthroat trout -would you like to see more protection given to cutthroat trout (change to catch-and-release) or more opportunities to harvest cutthroat trout (2 fish, none between 8 and 16 inches) in the coeur d'alene river watershed?

smallmouth bass -should we manage smallmouth bass differently than largemouth bass. if so what type of regulations would you propose for smallmouth?

coeur d'alene lake kokanee -should we consider a reduction in the kokanee limit?

are there any other proposals you would like us to consider?

fishing regulation meetings set the first of a series of public input meetings on fishing regulation proposals for the panhandle region have been scheduled in april. anglers will be asked to provide direction for the 20082009 fishing regulation cycle. the fish and game commission recently approved the 2007-2012 fish management plan providing direction on how to manage fisheries across the state of idaho. new research has also provided additional information on how we may want to manage our fisheries differently. please voice your opinion about the fisheries management in the panhandle region at one of the scoping meetings listed below. moyie river: private property along the upper half of the moyie river has made access to the river difficult: consequently, one of the best ways to fish this section of river is by boat. unfortunately, after july, flows become low enough that floating becomes difficult. to increase fishing opportunities in the moyie river we want to know your opinion about opening up the river to fishing year round. this would allow people to float and fish the river in april and may when flows are higher. past work indicates few of these fish are harvested by anglers; consequently, the longer season should not impact the fishery. priest lake: the six year fish management plans indicates that we should shift management emphasis in priest lake to lake trout, to provide both a yield and trophy fishery. while a lake trout fishery will not attract as many fishermen as a kokanee, cutthroat trout, bull trout fishery would, if we manage the lake trout fishery in a manner where limits would attract harvest oriented fishermen and there would still be the potential to catch a trophy sized fish (> 15 lbs) we may be able to increase angler interest. lets us know you ideas on how we can get to thi adfluvial (lake run) cutthroat trout: cutthroat trout populations in pend oreille lake and coeur d'alene lake have been reduced significantly below historic levels. the six year fish management plan indicates we should evaluate strategies to rebuild these lake run fish. in pend oreille lake you can keep two cutthroat trout over 16 inches, and in coeur d'alene lake you can keep two fish -none between 8 and 16 inches. we are considering catch-and-release regulations for cutthroat trout in both these lakes to provide greater protection for these depressed stocks. let us know what you think. trophy trout lakes: currently, only two lowland lakes in the panhandle (bonner lake and hayden lake) are managed for trophy trout (two fish, none under 14 inches) where anglers have a good opportunity to harvest larger trout. anglers have indicated they have a desire to see more of these lakes in the panhandle. bonner lake was treated in i998 to remove stunted warrnwater fish and rainbow trout stocking started in 1999. the ensuing fishery was extremely popular, but unfortunately, warmwater fish have again taken over the lake and the trout fishery has suffered. unfortunately the aquatic vegetation in bonner lake makes it impossible to effectively remove undesirable species and consequently is not the best lake to manage for trophy trout. so we are now looking for other lakes to manage with trophy trout regulations. let us know which lakes you would like to see managed for trophy trout. coeur d'alene river: recent work on cutthroat trout in the coeur dlalene river watershed has shown that after spawning these fish remain in a relatively short reach of river for the rest of the year. these fish also grow faster and reach the largest size of any cutthroat trout in the panhandle. there is an opportunity to provide a trophy cutthroat trout fishery in areas where good habitat and suitable water temperatures occur. one of these areas

is the 11 mile reach of the coeur d'alene river between the cataldo mission boat ramp and the south fork. a catch-and-release regulation and year round season in this reach of river would allow fish to achieve their maximum growth potential and maximize fishing opportunity. research also shows the shoshone creek watershed provides critical summer habitat for cutthroat and might be another good candidate for expanding catchand-release regulations. to offset losses in harvest opportunity, areas currently managed as catch-and-release could be changed to allowed harvest of 2 fish, none between 8 and 16 inches. come and discuss these issues and let us know what you think. smallmouth bass: the expansion of smallmouth bass throughout the panhandle has increased concerns that these fish may be negatively influencing other fisheries. as a result, we are asking your opinion on whether we should manage smallmouth bass differently from largemouth bass. possible changes include removing size restrictions and limits on smallmouth bass. coeur d'alene lake kokanee: currently the kokanee limit has been reduced to 6 f to help rebuild a weak year class of kokanee. excessive angler harvest was part of the reason for the resulting problems with the kokanee population in 2006 and 2007. it is not possible to sustain a 25 fish kokanee limit when the fish are at low densities and 14+ inches long. we are considering a reduction in the limit after 2007, possibly something similar to the 15 fish limit at spirit lake. all meetings will be held from 7pm to 9pm at the locations below for those who can't attend the meetings you can send your comments to ned horner (e-mail: [email protected]; mailing address: idfg 2885 w. kathleen ave, coeur dralene, id 8381 5) or give him a call at (208) 769-1414. coeur d'alene kellogg bonners ferry sand point

april 18, wed. april 19, thurs. april 24, tue. april 25, wed.

idaho fish and game, 2885 kathleen ave. avista building, 120 n. hill st. county extension office, 6447 kootenai st. usfs ranger station, 1500 hwy 2.