Liberal limits at Silver Creek?

Proposed rule changes for a fishing destination that draws anglers from around the country could damage the fishery, anglers say.

The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve, a spring creek in central Idaho near Ketchum, could see significant changes for the 2008-09 fishing seasons under proposals the Idaho Fish and Game Commission will vote on in November.

The changes would standardize the creel limit throughout the creek system, allowing a daily bag limit of up to six brown trout of any size.

“It’s too unique a place,” said John Huber, a fishing guide author who lives near Silver Creek, told the Idaho Mountain Express. “(The Idaho Department of Fish and Game) should be going the exact opposite route.”

Fish and Game said the changes will simplify rules at the creek, which is now split into different segments with different rules. The agency also said it could help increase the rainbow trout population by removing some of the predatory brown trout.

“One of the ways to reduce the impact on rainbow is to reduce brown trout,” said David Parrish, supervisor of Fish and Game’s Magic Valley Region.

Currently, only fly fishing with barbless hooks is allowed at The Nature Conservancy’s 880-acre Silver Creek Preserve, where all fish must be released unharmed, including the trophies that attract many anglers. Under the proposed new rules, large brown trout could be kept.

Brian Burnett of Lost River Outfitters in Ketchum said he’s fished Silver Creek for decades. He said brown trout have become much more common in the creek while rainbows have diminished.

“From a fisherman’s standpoint, we want to catch fish, and we want to catch big fish,” he told the Associated Press. “We don’t necessarily want the rules changed.”

Fish can be kept in other parts of the creek, which some anglers say has led to a lack of trophy fish in those areas.

“The reason most people fish in the preserve is because there are those bigger fish,” said Burnett. “The lack of big fish in the lower part of Silver Creek is because people are allowed to keep them there.”

Another possible change would permit angling from boats. Currently, in the preserve, fishing is only allowed from float tubes in which anglers are partially in the water.

Some anglers are concerned that boats will spook fish.

“You put boats on top of them and it will change things for the worse,” said David James, another angler who fishes the preserve. “You might as well sit on the bank for 45 minutes until the fish come back.”