Better Fishing For Idaho

[Hamstn]

I agree with diversity. These water can and will support a wide range of species and each species can complement each other. I am neutral on the bag limits when it comes to pan fish. The reason is in most if not all cases the cold water species will not over populate where pan fish will. Each body of water would have to have it's own limit to keep things in check depending on diversity, amount of pressure, ect. To me it would be a night mare to monitor and set limits on each body of water especially those that are hard to keep a balance.

Bluegill may not fight like a 5lb trout but pound for pound they are the winner...aka light line or fly and much better table fare.

[Liv2hnt]

I just moved here in the last couple of years. I would love to know where to go to get perch at Ririe. I live 15 minutes from Blacktail launch. I've caught a few trolling for kokes along with smallmouth. But they have all been pretty small. Where are the fillet size?

[curt69]

In the spring and summer you can catch them off the swimming dock at Blacktail boat ramp . Curt G.

[born2fish]

I think it would be a great idea and would support it fully. We need more diversity in our local reservoirs and lakes. Plus how likes catching these planter trout. They are hardly eatable and cost the state of Idaho alot. Furthermore, most of them are sterile so they will never be self sustaining. 

[HooknHunter]

Fish and Game is now asking for input.

Go tell them what you think.  I did.

https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/portal/form/public-2011-idaho-angler-opinion-survey

[Perch Freak]

HooknHunter...Thanks for the survey link. I just completed it. It doesn't take long and it asks some good questions. I hope everyone takes the time to do it.

[MNiceman]

"Since we're talking about this...I'm really blown away at the mentality of F&G that you can't have varying species in the same body of water. Some of the greatest fisheries in the country have perch, crappie, bass, walleye and sauger, browns, lakers (Macs), 'bows, pike and muskie "
  This was written earlier in the topic.  I grew up in Minnnesota and all but a number of the 10000 lakes had all of these species mixed together.  Only the pike will over run a lake.  I have seen it happen and you wanna talk about catching big fish over and over the pike is the one.  But it can desomate a lake.  But I love the idea of this.  I have heard rumors of walleye in Ririe and would love to pull out my old tackle box to use again. 
   Also fishmount.  They are pulling 12" perch off of American Falls if it ever gets froze over enough!  This is all just my 2 cents. 
MNiceman

[HooknHunter]

I'm going to forward a link to this thread to fish and game. 

[Ziceman1]

OK, I can see this is becoming a very touchy subject but here I go.  I also moved out here from the midwest a couple of years back.  So I understand all the points about different fish species in the same body of water.  The one main difference I see here compaired to back east is the amount of food are fish have available.  Allot of the lakes in Idaho are man made there for do not have a natural food source.  Yes, I understand that food becomes available once the water is present, but many of the bait species in those lakes back east have adapted to those bodies of water for as long as the predator fish have.  There is a natural balance to all bodies of water.

All that being said I would much rather catch warm water species of fish but by introducing one species I believe you will have to forgo another.  Unless every one enjoys fishing for stunted species.  I also believe daily bag limits would be a great idea.   Why would every other state implement limits if they were not there to protect the fish and make fishing better for all.

[IDbasser]

Thanks for the link to the survey.  I completed it.

[Idbowhunter]

I agree and would support more planting of pan fish as well, but I would caution against plating pike. From my limited knowledge, they can clean a lake out of panfish once they take hold. I don't see any reason why IDF&G can't plant pan fish in most of our lakes and give the kids some non stop action, while feeding the bass and other predators.

[IDREBEL]

It's great to see a lot of interest in this idea.  Has anyone been able to get any feedback from their fisheries biologists or their commissioners yet?  It sounds like there will be some changes here in region 2 but our fisheries biologists tell me it won't be right away.  They will probably give it a try with one or two reservoirs, but it sounds like we're still a couple of years away from them making a move.

[unforgiven]

 I would even support bag limits and size limits. Say on perch and crappie min 9" and 20/day.


Michigan imposes a strict bag and size limit on all of their species. Perch are 7" and 35limit as blue gills and crappie are just limit of 50.

I do agree that we need more areas to fish the warm water species as the trout around here are everywhere.

[IDREBEL]

I actually grew up in Michigan.  In a state like that bag limits are very necessary(when people respect them),  but it is a very different situation out here.  We don't have the population density like MI.  Now, I agree that we need to have the discussion about limits because in some places it would be very helpful.  I think one of the problems we would face in this area is limited opportunity.  For example, here in region 2 we don't have a good warm water fishery in any of our reservoirs; we have only one reservoir that is maybe mediocre on the best of years.  If we establish a good warm water fishery in one of our reservoirs that place would get hammered to death until we establish a good fishery in some other reservoirs to spread out the pressure.  In a situation like that we would need to limit the take until we can establish good fisheries in other reservoirs.  The beautiful thing about warm water species like bluegill,crappie, perch, etc. is that they are not dependent on continual stocking programs($$$) and are benefited by a fair amount of harvest.  One of my fears is that the F&G will establish one good fishery, and when everyone and their brother's dog fishes only that reservoir(over-harvesting and ruining the fishery) the F&G will give up on the idea that we can have quality warm water, self-sustaining fisheries.  Once we have established several good fisheries in this region, pressure would spread out and bag limits would not be much of an issue.  I hope when we establish one good fishery and everyone chooses that fishery over the others, the F&G will realize that people want warm water fisheries and be motivated to go this direction with our other reservoirs.  I believe we can make this plan a success, but it will take a lot of work on our part.  We need to make sure everyone is on board to make sure none of our other fellow fisherman get out of control and botch this up.

[HARDTOP]

I go fishing to catch fish who cares which type they are all good eating and Lot's of fun to catch. F & G. need to get OFF the cut. only crap it's shut down our creeks for kids You can't keep cuts, yet that is all that's in the creeks. I guess it's OK if you like pulling in moss that's about how exciting catching a cut is. ALL CUT'S are raised in hatcheries the are NOT native any more they are long gone. GET OVER CUTS. Give me browns/Brooke's/rainbows/macks/walleyes/bass/croppie/Spike/BIG perch anything but cuts. Just my 2 cent's.

[golfmechhs]

Couldn't agree with you more Hardtop. 

[Hoosier]

I hope everyone has taken this survey.It has been at the top of the page for some time now.. JT