Trout Stocked In Time For Fourth

Tributaries to prime North Idaho trout streams, including the St. Joe and Coeur d’Alene rivers, open for fishing today, and some stretches are getting a boost.

Just in time for the Independence Day holiday, hatchery rainbow trout are being stocked this week as part of a semi-weekly effort to give anglers a better chance of catching fish for the table.

Fish are being stocked in portions of the South Fork, North Fork and Little North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. The St. Maries River is being stocked, as well as the St. Joe and tributaries such as Marble Creek the North Fork.

Also opening today is the stretch of the Coeur d’Alene River downstream from the confluence of the South Fork, plus the catch-and-keep fishery on several quality bass lakes in the Panhandle.

Exact locations of the trout plants are available from the Idaho Fish and Game Department.

Stocking hatchery fish in streams prized for their native cutthroat fisheries is not without controversy.

“Rainbows and cutthroats can hybridize, and there’s also problems with competition and the potential for spreading disease,” said Ned Horner, department regional fisheries manager in Coeur d’Alene.

“We’re evaluating the viability of stocking sterile rainbows,” he said, noting that anglers who catch tagged fish should report the tag number, location caught and the date.

“But even if we stocked all sterile fish, we’d still have to deal with the issues of competition and disease,” he said.

The areas in which hatchery trout are stocked in wild trout streams have been narrowed considerably since the 1970s, Horner said.

“This year, we’ll stock 48,000 trout over the course of the summer in specific areas of the Spokane drainage rivers and the Moyie River,” he said.

Researchers have found that anglers catch only 25 percent of the trout stocked in streams. “Our guidelines call for a 40 percent minimum return,” Horner said.

“From an economic standpoint, we’re seriously looking at reducing or discontinuing the program.”

“We’re moving in that direction, but we haven’t gone cold turkey.”

“An alternative we’re considering would be to create ponds near some of these rivers where fish could be stocked and anglers could harvest fish in a river setting.”

Bear, cougar tags available

Black bear and cougar tags are available now at most major license dealerships and all Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regional offices throughout the state.

“Prices are down and populations of both species are up,” said Steve Pozzaghera, department carnivore specialist.

Bear tag prices have been reduced this year from $18 to $15. Cougar tags also have dropped in price from $24 to $5.

Tag sale deadlines for black bear have been dropped and tags may be purchased throughout the hunting season for both species.

In another development, the bear bag limit has been increased to two animals.

Bear hunting seasons also have been modified slightly. Details are in the 1998 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet.

Hunter education courses filling

Young hunters have no time to procrastinate for fulfilling their hunter education requirements

Today is the deadline to register for classes the Idaho Fish and Game Department will offer this summer in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Hayden areas. In Eastern Washington, courses are filling fast.

“People who wait until fall often are disappointed they can’t get into a class before the hunting seasons start,” said Joe Ford, certified hunter education instructor in Pullman.

Idaho hunters must register today by 7 p.m. at the Fish and Game office at 2750 Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1975, must complete a hunter education course before they can buy an Idaho hunting license. In Washington, hunters born after Jan 1, 1972, must satisfy the requirement.

Pullman-area students can register for a course set for Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from July 13 through 26. Call Ford at (509) 334-7665.

Spokane-area hunters should call the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department at 456-4082.

Running adventurer comes to town

Tales of extreme adventure can be found at Auntie’s Bookstore tonight at 7:30, when ultramarathoner Richard Benyo reads from his new book, “Running Past 50.”

Benyo is a former executive of Runners World magazine and author of three books on the sport.

Among the stories in the latest book is his account of the Death Valley 300, a run from Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states.

Fireworks prohibited in forests

Discharging fireworks is prohibited in national forests, the U.S. Forest Service reminded this week in a news release.

Don’t delay on getting updates on roads and campgrounds in your favorite forest areas for the upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend. Most federal offices, including those of the Forest Service, will be closed Friday to mark the holiday.