fish and game

Mar
16

South Fork of the Snake River Fish Count Near Record High

The South Fork fish numbers look good for the upcoming season. Are you ready? The following is from an article in the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

A fish count on the South Fork of the Snake River last fall showed more than 5,177 fish per mile, the second-highest number recorded since the mid-1980s.

An increase in brown trout helped boost the overall numbers.

Figures are closely watched by biologists trying to maintain a viable Yellowstone cutthroat trout population in one of the nation’s blue-ribbon fisheries.

In 1986, biologists counted a record 5,692 fish per mile in the South Fork, a stretch of the Snake in Idaho.

“Our estimates are pointing to good fishing to be had this year,” said Brett High, regional fisheries biologist for Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

0 Categories : Fish, fish and game, Fishing Report, Idaho, South Fork

Dec
18

Cutthroat Trout Populations are Stable in Idaho

by Matt Berry

REXBURG, Idaho – The broad-based surveys showed Yellowstone cutthroat were the most widely distributed, and at 2 million fish, the most abundant trout in the state. Catch trends showed the trout were within 4 percent of the catch rates from 1980 to 2000. The findings showed the cutthroat population trends to be stable. “We also studied genetic purity,” Moore said. Those findings showed that Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations have their own genetic profile in each drainage studied. The research gave the agency a scientific basis for managing the trout to keep the populations steady.

Under its state authority, IFG has two ways to manage fish populations, Moore said. It can regulate the catch by setting seasons and limits and it can adjust the way it stocks hatchery fish. The research backs up the management decisions. And it was the push to keep the trout off the ESA list that provided the data. “In response to the data, we stopped stocking rainbows in high mountain lakes,” Moore said. That’s because the data showed nonnative trout, such as the rainbows, were the biggest threat to the cutthroat population. Catch limits and size limits were also put in place. Before the actions, the species was overfished with a 72 percent mortality rate annually. “Once we got the rules in place to protect the fish, catch is not a limiting factor,” Moore said.

Teton River Fishing Report

by Matt Berry

The Idaho Fish and Game has recently published a report of the Teton River from a 2010 study. The department interviewed fishermen along the river. These anglers were asked to identify the trout species in the river, their catch rates and what fish were harvested.

Fish identification quizzes on the river’s bank indicated most anglers could identify trout species present in the Teton River. Rainbow trout were most accurately identified with 98% of the anglers correctly identifying them followed by Yellowstone cutthroat trout (94%), brown trout (81%), and brook trout (80%).

Angler catch rates were just shy of one fish per hour, and caught an estimated 53,761 fish. Catch was comprised of Yellow-stone cutthroat trout (40%), rainbow trout (22%), brook trout (27%), and mountain whitefish (11%).

Total harvest was low, at 1,183 trout – 98% of captured trout were released. Although closed to harvest, a small portion of the fish observed in anglers creel was cutthroat trout. Based on observations, 6% of harvested fish were cutthroat trout, 50% were rainbow trout, and 44% were brook trout.

Anglers spent nearly 57,000 hours fishing the Teton River in 2010. This is light fishing pressure compared to the neighboring South Fork which had over 233,000 angler hours in 2005. Over 80% of anglers were fly fishing, while 11% were bait fishing and 7% were fishing with lures. Anglers were most often fishing from a boat (71% of the anglers) instead of wading or fishing from the bank (29% of anglers), and most Teton River anglers were Idaho residents (60%).

Read more and download the recent IDFG report:
Upper Snake Region Annual Fisheries Report Activities and Accomplishments

0 Categories : Fish, fish and game, Fishing Report, Idaho, Rivers, Teton

May
18

Honestly honey, I was just fishing

by Matt Berry

By UPI

A U.S. study suggests some lake sturgeon might harbor a protozoan parasite that can cause a sexually transmitted disease in humans.

Purdue University Professor Andrew DeWood and postdoctoral researcher Matthew Hale said they made the discovery while attempting to find a DNA-based test to determine the sex of lake sturgeon. The only way to determine a lake sturgeon’s sex currently is to examine its internal sexual organs.

Full story: Lake sturgeon harbor protozoan parasite

0 Categories : Fish, fish and game, Links

Apr
16

Grizzly bear spotted on Teton Pass

by Matt Berry

Rachael Horne TVN Staff

A grizzly bear stopped traffic on Teton Pass recently. The bear was spotted by the Mail Cabin Creek Trailhead across from the Coal Creek parking lot. The area is heavily used by skiers, boarders and snowshoers. Recreationists in the area are reminded to be bear aware.

Doug Petersen with Idaho Fish and Game said his department hasn’t responded to the bear, but said that it’s not uncommon to see grizzlies this time of year. It is fairly uncommon to see them in this area, however.

Read the rest of the story at Teton Valley News…

0 Categories : fish and game, Idaho