Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for April 9

April 8, 2020 Updated Wed., April 8, 2020 at 8:49 p.m.

By Alan Liere spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Tip of the week

With so much time on our hands, many of us are turning to the many outdoor-oriented YouTube videos to relieve boredom. Some of these are excellent and some are OK, but some are not only hokey, they are passing on information that is inaccurate, unethical and sometimes illegal. An example is a video I watched recently of a man showing how to catch trout from shore on Lake Roosevelt using Power Bait. Each fish he caught was deeply hooked, but this didn’t keep this “sportsman” from pulling out the hook, measuring the trout and returning them to the water – all eight of them. Trout caught on bait, whether kept or released, must be counted as part of your limit, which is five on Lake Roosevelt. Technically, this guy was three fish over his limit, and there was little likelihood that any of the fish survived the hook removal and measuring process. In essence, he killed and wasted eight beautiful trout.

Braggin’ rights

Idaho Fish and Game, the College of Southern Idaho and Idaho Power Company are working together to strengthen white sturgeon populations in the middle Snake River. Stocking hatchery-reared sturgeon – the progeny of wild parents – is one part of a much bigger plan to help conserve sturgeon populations and maintain fishing opportunities for these long-lived river giants.

My hunting dogs are not complaining a bit about the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, as with so much time on my hands, I am taking them for long walks at least twice a day. I am fortunate that I can walk out the door and be in the woods. Lucy, the Brittany spaniel, points at least one grouse on every walk. Jill, the aging yellow Labrador, is content to walk beside me with an infrequent burst of energy to investigate a gopher hole or the skeletal remains of a deer.

Heads up

The state Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the extended closure of state lands to the public through May 4. The closure coincides with the extension of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.

A number of April razor clam digs have been canceled, although WDFW will assess the ability for razor clamming and other shellfish seasons to resume in May. Larry Phillips, WDFW Coastal Region Director, said WDFW “ had an excellent season planned, with a great number of days available for razor clam digging. If we are not able to reopen, clam diggers can still look forward to larger clams next year.”

Overheard

Idaho hunters and anglers can expect to see a significant increase in public access to private land as early as this fall through Fish and Game’s Access Yes! program, thanks to a $900,000 federal grant recently awarded to the department. The grant will improves access to private land or through private land by compensating willing landowners who provide access.

In its latest newsletter, Mack’s Lures published a guide for surviving a quarantine – Fishermen’s Edition. Its four suggestions were:

Clean your tackle box – make room for things that actually catch fish.
Learn something new from the internet – like how to catch walleye or how to fly fish.
Tie up some spinners/rigs – grab some Smile Blades, beads and hooks and get to work.
Teach the kids how to cast and retrieve in the backyard.
If you’re a hunter, there are also things you can do to survive a quarantine:
Learn how to take apart and thoroughly clean your rifles and shotguns.
Familiarize yourself with that GPS unit you’ve never taken the time to master.
Clean and apply leather preservative to your boots.
Touch up the paint on your duck and goose decoys. Consider flocking the heads.
Do some online research and learn how to reload steel shot.
Investigate new destinations for this fall.

Fishing

With stay-home orders in place in Idaho, Washington and Montana, the Silver Bow Fly Shop in Spokane Valley is closed for all walk-in and curbside business. Phone orders will be handled Monday-Friday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. at 924-9998.

Coeur d’Alene Lake chinook anglers are starting to pick up some larger fish on helmeted herring behind dodgers off planer boards at about 45 feet. The water is starting to get dirty, so it might be about time to start running some Rapalas.

Hunting

On Monday, WDFW announced that recreational fishing, shellfish harvesting and spring turkey and bear hunting seasons will be delayed in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19. If the department is able to open spring bear and turkey seasons on May 4, spring bear hunters would still have until May 31 or June 15, depending on the location, to use their permits before the intended season closure dates for those hunts.

Likewise, spring turkey hunters would have 28 days of hunting during the spring season, plus, most likely, a robust fall season.

WDFW does not regulate shed antler hunting yet wants to remind the public that this is not allowed on state lands while the closures are in place.

Children who are at least 8 years old and hold a hunting passport can hunt turkeys with a mentor in Idaho. Idaho’s Hunting Passport allows any first-time hunter, resident or nonresident, age 8 and older to try hunting for one year with an adult mentor without first having to complete an Idaho hunter education course. The hunting passport and turkey tags can be purchased online at idfg.huntfishidaho.net/login, or over the phone at (800) 554-8685.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has adopted a rule that temporarily suspends the sale of several types of nonresident fishing and hunting licenses, tags and permits. The action is effective immediately and lasts until the rule is repealed, consistent with relevant state of Idaho public health orders.

Fishing and hunting licenses, tags and permits purchased by nonresidents prior to the last Saturday’s commission action are still valid for those existing hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons still in effect. Nonresident hunting licenses along with currently available nonresident deer and elk tags are not included in the suspension. Nonresidents who purchase a 2020 hunting license may still apply for controlled hunts that will occur this fall.

The commission action does not affect Idaho residents, and there are no new limitations on resident purchase of licenses, tags and permits or any changes to existing seasons.

Nonresidents and resident hunters, anglers and trappers are reminded Idaho’s guidance for outdoor recreation: Follow social distancing directives of at least 6 feet; day trips are encouraged; check before heading out because many recreation sites are closed, and bring your own supplies.

Outfitting and guiding are permissible with adherence to outdoor recreation guidelines. For details: idfg.idaho.gov/press/nonresident-licenses-permits-and-tags-sales-temporarily-suspended-fg-commission

The application period for Idaho moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunts is open and runs through April 30. The big game controlled hunt application period follows right on its heels.

The department’s public offices are closed through at least April 15, consistent with Gov. Brad Little’s statewide stay-home order.

As a result, Fish and Game officials are encouraging hunters to apply for controlled hunts online.

Full story and video showing how to do this can be viewed at: idfg.idaho.gov/press/moose-sheep-and-goat-application-period-open-heres-how-apply-online

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for April 9

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