Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for April 2

April 1, 2020 Updated Wed., April 1, 2020 at 5:05 p.m.

By Alan Liere spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Tip of the week

Making homemade jerky, sausage or snackin’ sticks as a family can be an entertaining and nutritious thing to do at home. Hi Mountain Seasonings has kits that make it simple and delicious to process any type of meat. I’ve used the company’s products for years and I’ve never had better jerky. You can dry it in the oven, as no smoker or dehydrator is needed. I get my kits at Cabelas/Bass Pro Shops, but it can be ordered at himtnjerky.com/.

Braggin’ rights

The Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce held its annual trout derby on March 7 at Quincy Lake. It was a big success with 90 adults and 46 kids participating in the one-day event in which $5,000 in money and prizes were given away or raffled off. The winner of the derby was Joshua Shew of Quincy, who caught the biggest trout of the day, a 17.5-inch rainbow. His first-place prize was a kokanee fishing trip for four on Lake Chelan with Washington Guide Services.

Heads up

The LPOIC Board of Directors has canceled the Spring K & K Derby on Lake Pend Oreille and at this time has no idea when or if this annual event will be held this year. Call (208) 448-1365 for information.

Consistent with the governor’s statewide, stay-at-home order to aid in reducing the spread of COVID-19, Idaho Fish and Game public offices will be closed through April 15. Some services will remain available by appointment by calling the office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services will include sale of items that cannot be bought online, or by telephone, such as bear bait permits and outfitter tags. Checking in harvested black bears, mountain lions and wolves per big game regulations also will require an appointment. Fish and Game offices are no longer accepting cash payments. Only debit cards and checks will be accepted.

The Farragut Public Shooting Range and Blacks Creek Range in Idaho will be closed through April 15, unless extended by governor’s order. Fish and Game’s Garden Valley shooting range, which is not staffed, will remain open, and all visitors should adhere to social distancing guidelines. For more information about other changes to Fish and Game operations, see the department’s COVID-19 webpage.

Randal Friedlander, Fish and Wildlife Director for the Colville Tribe says the reservation is closed to nontribal members. Lakes like Omak, Buffalo and Upper and Lower Twin are among more than two dozen that are off-limits. Rainbow Resort on North Twin said it will forgive cancellation fees for those who want to cancel reservations.

Overheard

In a letter I received from Dr. Patrick Soto of Spokane:

“As a fellow fisherman, the closure of the state recreation access was heartbreaking. At first I was upset, but after reading wdfw.wa.gov/news/wdfw-closes-recreational-fishing-statewide-wake- governors-order-stay-home-stay-healthy I realize why it was done. Still so many people in this country and state have not taken this pandemic seriously.

“The scary part in Inslee’s proclamation is, ‘I continue to order into active state service the organized militia of Washington State to include the National Guard and the State Guard, or such part thereof as may be necessary in the opinion of The Adjutant General to address the circumstances described above, to perform such duties as directed by competent authority of the Washington State Military Department in addressing the outbreak. Additionally, I continue to direct the Department of Health, the Washington State Military Department Emergency Management Division, and other agencies to identify and provide appropriate personnel for conducting necessary and ongoing incident related assessments.’

“I hope people’s ongoing dismissal of the pandemic does not come to the above. ... If we cannot practice social distancing ... and crowding is witnessed at boat ramps, shorelines, river system, etc., then another closure is likely to take place for an indefinite amount of time. I am hoping that with more education and clarity, people will take the responsibility of the freedoms granted to us in this country. May they soon realize that ignoring these guidelines will lead to certain freedoms being stripped away as they currently have been (e.g. closing our access to fishing.) And whining about it after the fact does nothing to change it.

“May this COVID thing end sooner than later. Unfortunately, I know that it will be at least several months and I would like to go fishing during most of that period.’’

From a letter from WDFW biologist Randy Osborne to Spokane Fly Fishers:

“... please stay home and stay healthy. You have a role in saving lives in your community and statewide. We wish for you and your friends and family to stay healthy too, so that you can return to the waterways and lands we all value once we return to normal. We will revisit the closures to our land’s recreational fishing on April 6, 2020. For the latest information around our response to impacts from the spread of COVID-19, please continue to visit wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates.’’

Fishing

Fishing seasons have not been closed in Idaho. Anglers seeking solitude can fish Idaho rivers such as the North Fork Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe. Rivers like the Clark Fork in Montana are also good options. The latest on the Clark Fork River was that BWOs, gray drakes and nemoura stones were working. Nymphing with Pats Rubber Legs, San Juans and pheasant tail style patterns are always good choices this time of the year.

Silver Bow Fly Shop has provided some educated guesses on how the fishing could be if you were to find yourself alone on the St. Joe River in Idaho: Levels are good, temperatures are fine. As temperatures warm up next week, the fishing can and probably will kick on more. Lately, the streamer/nymphing has been the most consistent.

Dry fly activity has been BWOs, midges and nemoura stones. Some March browns have been sighted. Warmer temperatures next week would normally kick off some skwala activity. Dry flies should include parachutes, cripples and sparkle duns in the BWO and March brown variety, as well as small Chubbies or stones in peacock, olives or black colors.

For big smallmouth bass, April is prime time on Dworshak Reservoir. Some huge fish have been caught already.

Hunting

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has canceled the youth turkey hunt previously scheduled for this coming weekend. In addition, six game management units that were scheduled to open Wednesday for spring bear hunting are closed pending further evaluation and may reopen if conditions allow. Youths who were planning to hunt this weekend may still use their tags in the regular spring or fall turkey seasons, pending further impacts. The general spring turkey season is scheduled to run April 15 through May 31. On Monday, WDFW will reassess its ability to open the impacted hunting areas, as well as several other upcoming hunting seasons.

Idaho Fish and Game has not closed any hunting seasons in response to COVID-19, and the department is providing guidelines in accordance with the governor’s orders for social distancing at least 6 feet apart, including while fishing and at access sites and boat ramps. Anglers are advised to launch boats quickly, minimize dock time, maintain space between people and don’t gather in crowds.

Growing turkey populations and expanded hunting opportunities in Idaho should make for a good spring turkey season in 2020. Youth turkey season opens April 8, and the general turkey season and many controlled hunts open April 15. Hunters will find most general hunting opportunity in the Panhandle, Clearwater and Southwest and Southeast regions, while most other areas are limited to controlled hunts.

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com

Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report for April 2

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