Field reports: Idaho tiger musky record smashed

FISHING – Idaho’s 12-year-old tiger musky record has been smashed by Edward Kalinowski of New Meadows, Idaho, while fishing on Little Payette Lake on Aug. 6, Fish and Game Department officials have confirmed.

Kalinowski landed the 44.26-pound lunker on a 12-pound test line with a Neon Magic lure. The fish is 50.5 inches long with a 25-inch girth.

The previous record was 38 pounds, 7 ounces, 48.25 inches with a 22.5-inch girth, caught June 16, 2001, in Hauser Lake by Douglas Butts of Eureka Mont., on a Mepps Bucktail Yellow lure.

Tiger muskies have been stocked for trophy fisheries in about 10 Idaho lakes and seven in Washington, including Silver, Newman and Curlew.

Snake River chinook fishing opens Sept. 1

FISHING – The hatchery fall chinook catch-and-keep season will open Sept. 1 on Washington and Idaho stretches of the Snake River.

Washington fish managers are predicting another strong return of upriver bright chinook salmon to the Snake River this year and have expanded the daily catch limit to include three adult hatchery chinook, plus six hatchery jack chinook under 24 inches in length.

Anglers may also catch and keep up to three hatchery steelhead, but must stop fishing for the day for both hatchery chinook and steelhead once they have taken their three-fish steelhead limit.

Bass-fishing derby proposed for Badger

FISHING – The EWU Sportsman’s Club is trying to organize a fishing derby for bass and perhaps trout on Badger Lake for mid-September.

The lake is proposed for a rotenone treatment in late fall to restore its traditional trout fishery. A decision on the proposal by Washington Fish and Wildlife officials is expected in September.

For updates on plans for the fishing derby, contact Nick Barr at nicktbarr@hotmail.com.

Clinics, hunts planned for youth waterfowlers

HUNTING – Three mentored waterfowl hunts for youth ages 10-15 are being organized for Sept. 28, the opening day of Idaho’s youth-only waterfowl hunting season. 

Clinics are free, but space is limited and preregistration is required:

• Boundary Creek and Heyburn hunts, contact JJ Teare, (208) 769-1414. 

• Clark Fork hunt, contact Ray Millard, (208) 264-5252.

Free clinic details traditional bowhunting

HUNTING – A free traditional archery-bowhunting workshop will be held starting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Idaho Fish and Game Department office in Lewiston.

“If you’re thinking about making the switch to traditional gear, or simply curious, this workshop is a good place to start,” says Clay Hayes, habitat biologist and traditional archer. 

Preregister: (208) 799-5010.

Roosevelt fishing derby

FISHING – The annual Two Rivers Fall Trout Fishing Derby on Lake Roosevelt is set for Sept. 7-8.

Tickets are available at White Elephant stores, Two Rivers Casino and Tobler Marina.