France First In Fly Fishing Championships

American anglers can’t shake a stick with European fly fishers.

A team of anglers from France caught and released 179 fish over three days in northwestern Wyoming to capture the gold medal in the 17th annual World Fly Fishing Championship.

The French team earned 111,675 points in the competition Friday through Sunday to take the gold. Belgium followed with 87,060 points and 137 fish released and Italy was third with 161 fish released and 99,588 points.

Each team of five anglers was awarded points based on a combination of the number and size of trout caught and released and overall consistency.

The multi-day competition was held on portions of the Snake River in Wyoming and Idaho and the Greys River in Wyoming.

Team USA finished a dismal No. 15 out of 18 teams, with 75 fish and 46,680 points.

Idaho seasons discussed

Proposed elk hunting and fishing seasons are the topic of Idaho Department of Fish and Game meetings throughout the Panhandle Region this week.

Public comment is being sought on 1998 elk season and fishing seasons for 1998 and 1999.

All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

The elk meetings are the culmination of an 18-month period of public involvement. Preliminary fisheries meetings were held last spring.

The fishing regulation proposal includes elimination of barbless hook requirements for all state waters. General elk hunting, beginning in 1998, will operate through a dual tag zone system with the state divided into 29 elk-hunting zones. Hunters will choose a zone and select one of two tags, depending on which season they want to hunt.

Persons unable to attend a meeting may send written comments to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2750 Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 before Monday.

The remaining schedule:

Tonight, Osburn, Silver Hills Middle School (elk); Priest River, VFW (fishing).

Thursday, St. Maries, Eagles Hall (elk); Bonners Ferry, Boundary County Extension Service (fishing).

Cross-border conference

Experts on mountain caribou, sturgeon and grizzly bears will present discussions at a conference Saturday dealing with endangered species that cross the border between the United States and Canada.

The Wild Idaho! North, Cross-Border Conference on Endangered Species begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Seven Oaks Center in Bonners Ferry.

Biologists from both nations as well as conservationists from both sides of the border are invited to the sessions.

Pre-registration is required for the conference, which is sponsored by the Idaho Conservation League and the North Idaho Audubon Society. Info: (208) 267-7374.

Forest access limited

Hunters anticipating Monday’s opening of the High Buck Hunt and recreationists planning fall excursions may find a lack of access along a number of forest trails in the Wenatchee National Forest.

“We are particularly concerned about hunters traveling with stock who may get a few miles up some of our wilderness trails only to find their travel blocked by fallen trees farther on,” said forest supervisor Sonny O’Neal.

O’Neal said heavy winter snowstorms and declining trail-maintenance budgets have left some trails, most of them in high-country locations, impassable.

, DataTimes