Friday, August 31, 2007

Public invited to comment on Silver Creek rule changes

Open house in Hailey set for Tuesday, Sept. 11


By JASON KAUFFMAN
Express Staff Writer

Courtesy photo-- The Idaho Department of Fish & Game is taking public comment on a set of proposed changes to the rules for fishing in Silver Creek, above.

Officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Magic Valley Regional Office have scheduled an open house in Hailey next month to discuss proposed statewide and regional fishing rule changes.

Among the changes that will be discussed is a controversial set of rules specific to Silver Creek that would increase the bag limit for the renowned stream's wily brown trout and expand what types of watercraft from which anglers can fish.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. The gathering will be held in rooms 301 and 302 at the Hailey Community Campus, 1050 Fox Acres Road, Hailey.

The proposed changes on Silver Creek, which are included in a long list of draft modifications to Idaho's statewide fishing regulations, are being proposed for the 2008-2009 fishing seasons. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will consider the changes at its quarterly meeting in Sandpoint in November.

Specific to Silver Creek, the draft changes would standardize the creel limit throughout the entire creek system. While rainbow trout would be placed under catch-and-release rules, a daily bag limit of up to six brown trout of any size would be allowed.

In its draft list of regulation changes, Fish and Game's stated rationale for the change to bag limits is rule simplification. Under existing rules, the Silver Creek drainage is split into six different segments with varying exceptions and daily bag limits. The change would protect rainbow trout throughout the drainage, but still allow harvest opportunities on brown trout, the agency said.

An existing flyfishing-only restriction on The Nature Conservancy's 880-acre Silver Creek Preserve would remain in place under the changes.

Another proposed change would eliminate existing boat restrictions on Silver Creek, except that the "no motors" exception would remain in place. Again, Fish and Game's stated rationale for the change is rule simplification. In their draft list of regulation changes, the agency states that many anglers are confused why they cannot use single occupancy pontoon boats.

In a mid-August interview, David Parrish, supervisor of Fish and Game's Magic Valley Region, said the draft rule changes are meant to get people talking about Silver Creek and how it should be managed. Parrish said they're also based on comments Fish and Game has received from the public.

He said some anglers have asked the agency to consider ways to better protect rainbow trout in Silver Creek.

"One of the ways to reduce the impact on rainbow is to reduce brown trout," Parrish said.

Realistically, brown trout numbers wouldn't likely be changed much at all if the proposed changes are approved, he said. Fishing for the wily species of trout isn't easy.

"You have to know what you're doing," Parrish said. "You have to target them."

The Magic Valley Region has also proposed to eliminate the two-fish daily trout bag limit on Lime Creek, a small stream 30 miles west of Fairfield that drains into Anderson Ranch Reservoir. Under the change, the stream would revert to general regulations allowing a six-fish daily trout bag limit.

Those unable to attend the Sept. 11 meeting can e-mail comments to MVFishery@idfg.idaho.gov, or by calling (208) 324-4359.




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