Idaho Fishing Chronicles

Canned Fishing & Hunting In Idaho?

2006-08-06T15:40:00.000-06:00

Just picked up on some information that, frankly, concerns me as an Idaho outdoorsman. Seems the State of Idaho is considering sectioning off parts of public land (our land!) and then placing big game (Elk) in these sections of land. Secondly, then the proposed plan is too charge a fee for hunters to use the land and bag these big elk. Something doesn't taste right here! First of all, public land is public land, or am I missing something here? It just seems ethicly wrong to use public land to make some financial gain for the government, and in addition, spoil a long standing american right to hunt for big game on public land. Now private property is different. Not much we can do there. There are private land owners all over the country who rake in the dough catering to hunters of deer, elk, other big game, turkeys, birds of all sorts etc. Great opportunities to get your quarry, and, excellent quality to boot! However, it just doesn't seem the same when you think of greedy state government folks determining which sections to use, what game are going to be the biggest lure on the land, and, finally how much to we want to make on it! Fishing wise, I know there are a lot of very nice private land fisheries cropping up all over the place. I have visited and fished some of them. That's a blog for another day. However, it does not take too much of an imagination to see that if the State of Idaho proceeds with this kind of thought process for hunting, that plans like this for the anglers are not to far behind. How about sharing some thoughts here with me on this proposal before it becomes a "Canned Fishing & Hunting" season in Idaho?

Fishing Forum!!!

2006-07-25T21:34:00.000-06:00

GrandpaGrub's Fishing Forum

Some of you may have noticed that I had previously posted a link to a new forum here on my blogsite. As an update, I had some techinical difficulty getting it off the ground. I have since changed my server and am ready to announce my new forum for fishing friends. Would really appreciate all my readers taking a moment to check out our forums. I think they will be enjoyable and informative for those that use them to learn more about fishing in SouthEastern Idaho and fishing in general for that matter! However, it takes a few of us to regularly post to get a forum started. Then if you enjoy the forum, it takes you telling some of your fishing friends where to find it on the 'net. We don't have to have a large forum with hundreds of posts, just some dedicated "fish talkers" like me to start an information pool on fishing. Is "fish talkers" another label for story tellers or liars. Well, maybe some of both. That is fishing, right. Anyway, here is a link to Grandpa Grub's new forums. Hope to talk to you over there soon.

GrandpaGrub's Fishing Forum

Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass?

2006-07-19T07:59:00.000-06:00

My son-in-law told me about a fellow that had came into the sporting goods store where he works carrying about a six pound bass that he just taken from Ririe Reservoir. The angler wanted to have his "Smallmouth" put on an official scale for weight. Seems the folks at the store obliged, but the discussion turned to rather the fish was a Smallmouth Bass or was it a Largemouth Bass. Well, I won't cover the rest of the discussion. Just to say that they did not agree to which Bass was before them. My point is that a good Bass is a good Bass no matter what the take is! Neither fish would have been a state record at that size. Just a very nice fish and something to be very proud of! If my readers sometimes struggle with this idenity crisis with the Bass family, you might want to look closely at the pictures of the two types entered with this post. That is the Largemouth to the left and the Smallmouth to the right. Notice there are some distinct differences in the coloration and markings on the sides of the fish as well as eye coloration and the ending position of the mouth itself. Therefore, one is the "Large" mouth and one is the "Small" mouth. Have fun chasing those bass around SouthEast Idaho.

Disabled Anglers Benefit From New Law!

2006-07-01T11:36:00.000-06:00

Please note my personal comments are in bold print here. The rest is an actual press release from Idaho Fish & Game.
Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday morning, June 22, adopted amended rules for disabled hunting and fishing licenses.
Commissioners adopted rules that would grant reduced cost licenses to hunters and anglers with "permanent disabilities," as directed by new state legislation that takes effect July 1.
The law adds "certified as permanently disabled by a physician" to the list of qualifying criteria for a reduced fee license. Under the new law, once a hunter or angler is certified as permanently disabled, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game must keep that certification on record permanently so the license holder would not be required to prove their disability each year.
Commissioner Wayne Wright, a Twin Falls physician, pointed out that some people who qualify as "permanently disabled" at one point in time may not qualify later. Some conditions, considered by physicians as having "no expectation for a fundamental or marked change at any time in the future," may not last forever.
"People do get better," Wright said. He suggested, instead that the rules require recertification ever five years or 10 years.
Department Director Steve Huffaker agreed but noted that the definition was adopted by the Legislature, citing the example of an amputee as permanently disabled. The Legislature was clear that once a person is classified as having a permanent disability they should not be required to prove it every year, he said.
That would make it impossible to require periodic recertification and still comply with the legislation.
Under current law, certification for a reduced fee disability license is based on eligibility for federal supplemental income or Social Security disability income, railroad retirement board disability, a nonservice connected veterans pension, or a service-connected veterans disability of at least 40 percent.
But to qualify for a reduced fee license, a person must provide documentation of their disability each year. That requirement will be dropped under the new rules that take effect July 1.
A disabled combination hunting and fishing license costs $5. A regular hunting and fishing combination license costs $33.50; a hunting license alone costs $12.75 and a fishing license costs $25.75.

As someone who has committed his life to working with individuals with disabilities (Permanent Disabilities), I feel a little taken back by the comments made by Dr. Wright. In my thirty some years in the field of support for individuals with permanent disabilities, I know of no one who recovered to the point of being classified as "Non-Disabled". Perhaps he has! But, I would think that you could name those incidents on one hand, maybe even one finger! His response seems very self serving too me. If you follow his reasoning a disabled angler would need to see a doctor every few years to get re-authenticated his "Permanent Disability". Maybe a little cash cow for him!

Sturgeon & A Little Smallmouth Bass

2006-06-26T22:38:00.000-06:00

Check out this link on my Idaho fishing Chronicles Forum for a little synopsis on what not to do while fishing in the presence of Idaho Fish & Game officers or at any other time for that matter. Ouch!!

http://www.aokforums.com/idahofishinglin/idahofishinglin-post-11.html#11

Keep On Fishing!

2006-06-22T21:53:00.000-06:00

Just a few pictures of some of my BlogBuddies this early season with a keen eye on the fish!

The picture to the right is my son, Matt. From his view, he reminded me of an eagle or oprey just waiting for a cruising fish. This technique wworks well on mountain lakes where the water is very clear and you do not want to spook the fish!

The picture in the center is my son-in-law, Zane. Let's see, he rowed the boat, brought the bait, caught some fish. All in a day's fishing!

The picture to the left would be me, Countdown (aka dad). Don't I look good in the ol' boat. I can almost see my bobber dancing! I will just fish, keep on fishing, thats the way I am.

Railroad Ranch & Opening Day Henrys Fork

2006-06-15T20:56:00.000-06:00

Yes, it is time! Another opening day on the fabled Railroad Ranch stretch of the Henrys Fork has come today. If you are ready to step to the head of the class in bug identification and fishing small dries is your calling with a fly rod, then by all means the "Ranch" is where you need to head. The true trout hunter fishes here! Did I go today? No. Just thinking about it makes me weak in the knees. I am sure they didn't need me there flailing a way, disturbing the fish and my fellow fishers both. This is fly fishing for the truly skilled fly fishers. Now years back, I spent a day or two on the Ranch thinking I might fit in. Wrong, I was totally schooled on those two days on the intricate parts of fly fishing. What did I learn from my trip? Well, the two things I remember about the trip the most was getting back to the parking lot and realizing how many vehicles and how many different state license plates were represented there. Simply amazing as too the call of this great water from across the United States and beyond. I think I did catch a smaller fish or two on a Pale Morning Dun, but, back at the parking lot I talked with a fellow who had caught several fish in my general area. I had to know what exactly he was using for a pattern! The older fellow took a small duffle bag out of the back of his pickup truck and showed me several fly boxes. Each of them were full of a different size fly and only one fly pattern per box. What? Yes, the old-timer went on to tell me that he fishes everywhere he goes with just one fly. The Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph was his fly! He said if you can't catch them on a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph, then they more than likely are not going to get caught. Time to think about how elaborate we have to be when fishing for trout. He was hooking them left and right on a nymph in classic dry fly water. What a humbling experience for me.

Fishing Gem Lake Harbor!

2006-06-07T22:19:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's good news for anglers. Once again we are being allowed to fish Gem Lake Harbor. The bad news is that we won't be able to fish from shore there! Lets see if I can sort this out for my readers. Seems private property owners had put up signs in the area indicating "No trespassing". Bonneville County wasn't sure what was right. Fish & Game joined in and collectively, property owners, Bonneville County, and Fish & Game decided to ask what was the legal rights and who has access. So off to the Idaho Attorney General went the information for a review and a ruling. In late May, the Attorney Generals office ruled that since water from the Snake River flows into the harbor, the general public must have access to it! Since the owners of property in the area voluntarily allowed the innundation of the area from waters of the Snake River which is a navigable water then the public must have access to navigate or use the water as allowed by law. Gem Lake Harbor is located south of Idaho Falls and northeast of Gem Lake Marina. A subdivision was built around a former gravel quarry with the idea of being a "private lake" for home owners. However, the Attorney General's office has ruled that because the water in the harbor is indistinguishable from that which flows in from the Snake River, Gem Lake Harbor will be recognized as a man-made reservoir!

Anyway, here is the bottom line! You can navigate the waters in a floating device of your preference, but, standing on the bank is "not legal" since the land is private property. So no bank fishing folks! In the winter time the area is accessible as long as you are willing to walk over frozen ice. Remember, the land is private property. So lets comply by the law as directed and catch us a "Brown or a Smallmouth or two". I am going to go give the Harbor a cast or two.

Idaho Anglers Survey

2006-06-02T22:48:00.000-06:00

Here is a link to a survey presented by Idaho Fish & Game for anglers to give their feedback on fishing in Idaho and fisheries management in Idaho. Filling out the survey on-line will take you about (25) minutes. Here is your chance to be heard from!

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/surveys/aos/

Idaho Fishing Line Add-ons!

2006-05-31T08:05:00.000-06:00

Just a quick update this morning to encourage everyone who visits my blog to look down the left sidebar of the blog. I have added a couple of interactive things that I hope readers will use. First of all, notice the "hot or not" button. Here readers can rate my blog for quanity & quality with a score of (1 - 10) based on your impressions. Just click on the button and it will take you to a screen where you can enter your rating. Secondly, a little further down the sidebar, you will find a link to my Idaho Fishing Line Guestbook. I would appreciate it if you have a moment that you sign my guestbook and let me know who you are and what brought you to my blog. Thirdly, there is also a new counter on the blog that identifies how many current readers are on the blog and where they are from country wise. Just interesting information for me to determine if anyone out there is checking in. More fishing stuff to come!

Catfish In Roberts Pond

2006-05-26T19:16:00.000-06:00

Ok, so last summer the Idaho Fish & Game stocked 1000 Catfish in Roberts Pond located south of Roberts, Idaho. When I first heard the news, I thought what the heck. Catfish might be interesting in the small pond and add to a fishery that is close to my home. Not being a fisheries biologist, I figured must be Catfish of decent size and let's go catch Mr. Whiskers. However, as summer and fall went by no reports came of anyone catching catfish. Could they have not survived the planting. I doubted that thought.

Roberts Pond is a relatively small pond. Those catfish can't be that tough to catch. Catfish like bait, minnows, and other smelly type stuff on a hook. What could be the problem? Well, according to Idaho Fish & Game Fisheries Manager, Jim Fredricks, in Idaho Falls, the initial plant of Catfish were 6 - 8" fingerlings. He feels that the fish have probably doubled in size since the plant. He feels that Catfish, unlike a Trout, is not a "Put & Take" type fishery. Catfish are a "Put, Grow, and, then Take type fishery. He feels that if the Catfish survive in Roberts Pond that anglers will start catching them in the summer of 2007.

Hmmm!! Don't smaller Catfish need to eat too! What do the readers here think about the analogy provided by Fish & Game?

Best Place To Fish In Idaho!

2006-05-23T14:01:00.000-06:00

Just ran into an acquaintance of mine while browsing the fishing section at my local Wal-Mart. After a short discussion about what each others plans were for opening day of fishing season in Idaho, I came to my annual conclusion. That is, the best place to fish in Idaho on opening day is --------
"In Montana".

Record Fish At Ririe Reservoir!

2006-05-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

Once again, an incidental catch at Ririe Reservoir sets the Idaho state splake record. On May 22, 2006 while trolling near Ririe Dam, Brian Allison of Idaho Falls caught the new state record splake, measuring in at a hefty 10 pounds 12 ½ ounces. It was 28.5 inches long and had an 18 7/8 inch girth.
Splake are a non-native hybrid fish. They are a cross between a female lake trout and a male brook trout. Their name is a composite of speckled trout (the nickname of brook trout and lake trout. These hybrids feed on forage fish populations, such as chubs and perch. According to Regional Fishery Manager Jim Fredericks, "Brook trout typically don't live more than three or four years, but the splake in Ririe are at least seven years old and likely older. They live much longer and get much larger than brook trout, and are more easily caught than lake trout."
Splake identification is not straightforward, because there are no consistently defining characteristics that distinguish them from lake trout or brook trout. However, there are some features anglers can look for. Splake look a lot like brook trout, but have more of a fork to their tail. They also have more worm track markings, called vermiculations, on their backs than a lake trout. Splake spouts also have pinkish hue and often have a white, then black leading edge to their pelvic fins. In Ririe Reservoir the biggest tell-tale characteristic is going to be their size.
According to Fredericks, "We stocked splake in Ririe from 1993-1999, with the majority being stocked in 1996. The previous record and this fish are likely both eight to ten year old fish. It's difficult to say how many are still in the reservoir." The previous 10 pound 3 ounce state record splake was caught in Ririe Reservoir by Lee Davidson back in June of 2004.

Fishing Blog & Old Worn Out Memories

2006-05-21T00:10:00.000-06:00

In hindsight, I wonder how we ever got by back in the pre-computer era. I tried to make some effort at keeping a fishing log of my various trips, fish caught, time of day, favorite lure/bait/fly etc. I even attempted to keep up with a few good fishing photos of my fishing friends. I have a photo album full of pictures and a case of old slides that I dig out now and then to relive those fun days and times. The truth is, I always seemed to forget to write something down or keep my fishing journal as up to date as I should. Old photos seem to turn out to be just that after awhile. Now days we have the computer and internet to log our fishing memories on and websites designed to store our photos in volume with just the click of a button. Everyone is pretty much using digital camera technology these days and the photo quality is quite superb compared to those older photos I already mentioned. My hope with publishing the Idaho Fishing Line Blog is that I will have a space to write about my fishing activities, a place to share some photos if I can find some cooperative fish, and keep track of some of the fishing news that perks my interest these days. I am looking forward to this blog and the opportunity to interact with those that visit and read what I have to offer. I only wish that I had the technology back in my younger days to work with that I have now. I have a lot of old worn out memories of great fishing times and friends that would have added great character to this blog if the technology was available. I guess that just means I will have to go fishing and work on building some brand new memories. Happy hooks ups to you all this coming opening day here in Idaho.

Idaho Fishing Line "First Cast"

2006-05-16T10:34:00.000-06:00

This is a small Brookie caught on a dry fly from my favorite small "Sink" stream in Eastern Idaho. Birch Creek provides loads of family fun. The trout are many and fishing fun on bait, lures, and flies. Why do I refer to it as a "Sink" stream. Well, here in Idaho that is exactly what it does. It flow off into the Idaho desert and sinks into the ground!