News from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game

• Hooking People to Fishing and the Amazing Aquatic World

• Waterfowl Season Open House Slated in Lewiston

• If You Bring It, Don’t Fling It

• Noxious Weeds - A Growing Problem

• Area Trout Fishing Provides Great Family Adventures

Hooking People to Fishing and the Amazing Aquatic World
By Mike Demick, Idaho Department of Fish & Game

Hooking citizens to a lifetime sport of fishing and increasing awareness of the amazing aquatic world are two main goals of Idaho Fish and Game’s aquatic education program.

The diverse program is involved in everything from educating people of all ages how to fish and personal responsibilities regarding the Idaho outdoors, to providing public information about angler opportunities and various fish and water resource issues. Obviously, meeting the challenges of these varied interests requires a multi-dimensional approach to projects and activities that will best serve the Idaho public.

Funding for aquatic education comes from a portion of the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, outboard motors and boats.

Locally, one of the most visible projects of the program has been the implementation of fishing clinics designs for the beginning angler, giving them the basics of what they need to know to get started fishing.

On June 10, 2006, over 700 people participated in the seven fishing clinics held in the Clearwater Region. Besides catching fish, participants could also observe life fish and aquatic invertebrates in aquariums, create fish artwork, learn how to identify Idaho’s common fish species, and ways to prepare and cook their catch. Mark your calendar for June 9, 2007, as similar events will be held throughout the area.

In addition, a local youth steelhead clinic and several women’s outdoor clinics are held annually to introduce young anglers and women to the joys of fishing. Both clinics have been very successful in introducing new anglers to a great life-long sport.

Working with several outdoor groups is also an important part of communication with the angling public and many aquatic education programs would not be possible without their assistance. For example, the Kelly Creek Flycasters have teamed up once again with Fish and Game and the Wild Turkey Federation, and will hold a Women’s Flyfishing Clinic designed to introduce women anglers to casting techniques, equipment use, knot tying and fly selection.

The clinic will include two evening classroom presentation at Lewis and Clark State College and an overnight campout and two days of instructed fishing on a north Idaho river. The classroom sessions will be August 30 and September 6, with the campout scheduled for September 9-10. For more information, contact Jill Green at (208) 798-0215.

Other local examples include working with Trout Unlimited chapters, community groups and area university students on habitat improvement projects, classroom demonstrations and fishing clinics. More importantly, these organizations play an important role in the formalization of an aquatic education network throughout the state that can be called upon to develop ideas to benefit fishing.

Perhaps the most exciting project of the aquatic program is the implementation of a formalized fishing education unit in the lifetime sports program of Idaho schools. The program is designed to promote fishing and conservation education, as well as provide teachers with educational lessons which they can use to expand their teaching programs.

An instructor lesson plan manual was written and tested at several schools in the state and is available for educators and youth leaders through Fish and Game offices. The lessons include the basics of fishing along with elements of aquatic ecology, fish identification, fish habitats, ethics, management concerns, safety and how to care for the catch. A variation of this program has also been used in the lower grades with a very good response.

In addition, Idaho Fish and Game is a national leader in administering Project WILD programs, a conservation education program designed for school teachers and youth leaders that emphasizes wildlife, responsible behavior and constructive actions regarding our natural resources. IDFG has expanded this highly successful program and developed WILD in the Yellowstone Ecosystem held July 16 - 21, at Harriman State Park and Fast Food in a WILD World to be held July 31 - August 3, in McCall. Both programs are college-level conservation educational programs designed for closer, in-depth studies of some of Idaho’s unique fish and wildlife species.

The aquatic education program has addressed the need for more angler information by producing a wide variety of fishing guides and pamphlets. These brochures include information of fish availability, when to fish for them, appropriate tackle, and fishing access areas.

Several visitor interpretation sites cover a variety of topics from anadromous fish life-cycles to lake ecology. These projects are generally done in conjunction with other agencies, and have been very useful in providing information to the general public.

The Lewiston Wildlife Habitat Area in Lewiston is also part of the aquatic education program. The area was designed as a demonstration area of wildlife and fish habitats and serves several thousand visitors annually. The small pond and stream includes an underwater viewing window provides great views into the aquatic world. Seeing fish in their natural surroundings is something few people have the opportunity to witness. Schools from as far away as Kooskia and Potlatch have made the trip to Lewiston to view this unique area.

Volunteers are also very important to the program. Thousands of Idahoans have participated and provided much needed assistance with habitat improvement projects, angler surveys, hatchery operations, fish stocking, and fish population surveys and habitat surveys. Not only does volunteer assistance make the department more efficient and productive, these projects truly bring together those who care the most and offer educational opportunities to those wanting to return something to the resources they enjoy.

Aquatic education is off and running and Fish and Game would like to invite you to be a part of this program. For more information, contact Mike Demick at the IDFG office in Lewiston, 208-799-5010.

Mike Demick is the Clearwater Regional Conservation Educator in Lewiston. He has worked for IDFG since 1994.

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Waterfowl Season Open House Slated in Lewiston

Waterfowl hunters have a chance to comment on proposed 2006-2007 duck and goose seasons during an upcoming open house scheduled for Tuesday, August 1.

Fish and Game personnel will be on hand to visit with the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Clearwater Regional office, 3316 16th Street in Lewiston. The open house format allows visitors to attend anytime during the session. Call 799-5010 for more information.

The Department has received the tentative waterfowl season framework from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees waterfowl management at the national level. Although they will not be finalized until July 28, the season recommendations are expected to be similar to those in 2005.

Tentative department recommendations for both duck and geese include:

• A 105-day season with the usual bag, including a 1-bird bag for both pintails and canvasbacks.
• A two-day youth hunt on September 30 to October 1 for those hunters aged 15 and under.
• Season dates in Area 1 (Northern and Eastern Idaho): October 7 to January 19, 2007.
• Season dates in Area 2 (Southwestern Idaho): October 14 to January 26, 2007.

Information collected at public open houses across the state will be summarized and presented to the Fish and Game Commission, which will set the final waterfowl seasons on August 8.

Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Connie Stevens at the Fish and Game Clearwater office (799-5010) or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529 (TDD).

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If You Bring It, Don’t Fling It
By Jerome Hansen – Idaho Fish and Game

Or, if you pack it in, please pack it out.

I recently visited Spring Valley Reservoir located east of Moscow. This pristine little reservoir nestled in the upper portion of Spring Valley Creek, provides hours and hours of fishing and camping entertainment for families and friends. We were saddened by the amount of trash scattered from shore to shore. Someone had emptied their ashtray right in the middle of one of the parking areas. Fire rings were filled with trash. Empty worm containers, beer bottles, and cans floated near the edge of the reservoir. Unfortunately, this scene is played out throughout the Clearwater Region and the state of Idaho.

So why do people litter? I went to the internet to explore this question and found an interesting article by a gentleman named Alan Bisbort. He reports that Keep America Beautiful, a national nonprofit organization has studied litter and littering for the past 47 years. More than anything else, the organization feels that it’s just “apathy”. A national study conducted by the group in 1999 showed that 75 percent of Americans interviewed admitted to littering in the past five years. Yet 89 percent saw tossing out trash while driving was absolutely wrong.

One professor of environmental psychology from Knox College in Illinois has studied littering for many years. He feels that people litter for the simple reason that it is the easiest way to get rid of unwanted things. McAndrew has also found the following: young people litter more than older people, men litter more than women, people living in rural areas litter more than urban residents, and people who are alone litter more than people in groups. He also points to studies that show bird watchers, nature walkers, and canoeists litter very little while hunters, fishermen, campers, motorboaters, and waterskiiers litter a lot. Ouch, did anyone wince a little.

A psychologist at Weber State feels that those who litter do more than show a casual disregard for the environment. For many, littering may provide a means of asserting personal freedom, setting territory, and even soothing fears. People may mark the wilderness to make it less threatening. The psychologist thinks that littering in the wilderness may in part be a deeply embedded, “ancient” need to establish territory.

This psychology stuff is kind of interesting, but I am still not certain why people litter in the Clearwater Region. I just know that littering is a serious problem on many Idaho Department of Fish and Game properties and across the Clearwater Region. In addition to being an eyesore, litter can be hazardous to wildlife. Squirrels and other animals can get their head trapped in aluminum cans. Fishing line can entangle osprey and ducks so badly they can’t move. Sometimes animals eat litter thinking its food. Wild animals can be choked by plastic six-pack rings.

Several years ago, the Idaho legislature gave Idaho Fish and Game Conservation Officers and classified employees additional authority to enforce provisions of Title 18, Idaho Code, related to littering. All classified employees of Fish and Game can and do issue citations for littering. Based on Title 18, littering can result in up to 6 months imprisonment in a county jail or by a fine not exceeding $300, or both. In addition, a litterer might receive between 8 and 40 hours supervised public service, cleaning up debris on public land. Picking up litter for 40 hours during 100 degree days in August will certainly provide lasting memories.

In the Clearwater Region, Fish and Game provides trash cans and dumpsters at many boat ramps and fishing lakes. Even with the availability of trash receptacles, many access sites are still magnets to litter, and we spend much time and sportsman’s dollars managing litter and trash.

At a recent tour of Clearwater Region access sites and fishing lakes, we were surprised to learn that most other regions in the state have had great success with a strict “pack it in, pack it out” approach at access sites and fishing lakes, alleviating the need for trash cans and dumpsters. We plan to slowly implement a strict “pack it in, pack it out” approach in the Clearwater. Less money spent on litter and trash management will mean more funds available for cleaner toilets, better docks, and better access to hunting and fishing areas.

So if you bring it, please don’t fling it.

Jerome Hansen is the Regional Habitat Manager in the Clearwater Region.

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Noxious Weeds - A Growing Problem
By John Nelson – Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Every outdoor enthusiast has encountered noxious weeds on their outdoor excursions. Whether wading through Yellow Starthistle hunting upland game or looking for grass for elk-packing stock and finding only knapweed, hunters know how annoying weeds can be.

While annoying to us, weeds can ultimately be lethal to wildlife. Weeds can negatively change plant composition and vegetation communities, replacing important forage and cover species wildlife rely on. Literally hundreds of thousands of acres of big game winter range have been replaced with knapweed or starthistle in Idaho. This drastically reduces the availability of needed forage for deer and elk and reduces the number of big game these ranges can support. Many wildlife species also tend to avoid weed infestations, which may cause wildlife to use areas where they are more susceptible to predation and harvest.

Through partnerships created by concerned private property owners, conservation organizations, and local, county, state, tribal, and federal government entities Idaho is leading the way in fighting these invasive species. Millions of dollars are spent combating noxious weeds around the state annually. Through grants, cost sharing, and other programs managers are fighting to limit the spread of the invaders.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) also recognizes this increasing weed problem, and expends significant effort and money annually to combat noxious weeds. On the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management Area south of Lewiston, new invaders like Whitetop, Hawkweed, Leafy Spurge, and Dalmatian Toadflax are treated with the highest priority goal of complete eradication. For established species such as Yellow Starthistle, Scotch Thistle and Knapweed, the goal is to stop the spread and contain the infestations. If they occur in an isolated patch, eradication is the goal.

IDFG utilizes several management techniques used to fight weeds, including mechanical, chemical and biological control methods. Mechanical methods include mowing, burning, and hand pulling of weeds. Bio-control agents (insects) that target certain species of weeds have been released to control weeds such as yellow starthistle and Dalmatian toadflax. Other species are mechanically treated by pulling, chopping, or disking. However, chemical treatment is the most commonly utilized option where feasible.

This year Idaho Department of Fish and Game received a grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to control whitetop on Craig Mountain. Whitetop is currently expanding its range and spreading into important big game wintering areas. Without control measures, the once healthy winter range becomes a monoculture with little or no wildlife value.

This grant allowed Fish and Game to aerially treat 630 acres of whitetop in early May. It would have taken approximately five months to treat this acreage from the ground which is impractical due to the limited time when chemical treatment of this species is effective and the ruggedness of the terrain.

While noxious weeds may seem to be an insurmountable problem, all outdoor enthusiasts and good neighbors can help stop the spread of weeds by following the below suggestions.

• Be weed savvy and recognize that there is a problem.
• Learn to identify weed species and report new weed locations to your local county weed superintendent, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or IDFG.
• Be good neighbors. Control weeds on your land and assist others on theirs.
• Clean your equipment. When entering public and private land check to make sure your vehicles, animals and gear are free of weed seeds.
• Use weed free hay and feeds for your livestock.
• Tread lightly. Try to minimize any ground disturbance by staying on established travel routes and use low impact camping techniques.

With cooperative efforts between everyone, we can make a difference. The worst thing is to do is to do nothing. We may not be able to eradicate all weeds but we can reach a level where the problem is manageable and both people and wildlife can live with.

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Area Trout Fishing Provides Great Family Adventures

Taking a kid fishing is a wonderful way to spend time together outdoors, and with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game recently stocking several area waters with rainbow trout, a host of angling adventures are available.

“Grab your family and fishing poles and go fishing,” says Robert Hand, fisheries biologist with Fish and Game. “The fish are biting and the kids will love it.”

Since May 1, over 74,050 catchable-sized rainbow trout have been released at the following locations:

• Campbell’s Pond 2,000
• Deer Creek Reservoir 6,250
• Elk Creek Reservoir 7,500
• Levee Ponds 200
• Mann Lake 12,500
• Moose Creek Reservoir 4,000
• Soldier's Meadow Reservoir 9,800
• Spring Valley Reservoir 14,700
• Waha Lake 7,500
• Winchester Lake 9,600

IDFG also plans to re-stock these waters throughout the summer. The number of trout actually released may be altered by weather, water conditions, equipment problems or schedule changes. If delays occur, trout will be stocked when conditions become favorable.

Anglers can view the stocking schedule to their favorite Idaho fishing water by visiting Fish and Game’s website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/stocking/

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