Idaho Fish Report

Highlights from this week’s Recreation Report:

Hunters have just two weeks to report their 2019 hunts

Hunters have until Jan. 31 to report their 2019 hunts. If you purchased a tag, reporting is mandatory even if you didn’t hunt or harvest an animal.

Ways to report your hunt.

Register your new hunter for a hunter education class/course

Hunters 17 years old and younger need to complete a hunter education course and field day before they hunt this fall. Traditional classes and field days are available now, and online courses can be taken anytime. Taking care of hunter education now will be one less thing to worry about as hunting season approaches.

Deadline to apply for a spring bear tag is Feb. 10

The controlled spring black bear season opens April 1.

Ways to apply for a tag

Best bets for fishing

Think winter steelhead and ice fishing (not necessarily together)

• This will be a good weekend for steelhead fishing on the north and mid coasts. Recent rains have brought more fish into the rivers. While several rivers are still running high, they are on the drop and should be fishable later this week and into the weekend.
• In the Rogue, the first winter steelhead are starting to move upriver. A few have been reported in the Galice area, and the wet weather should encourage more to move in.
• The North and South Umpqua should be dropping into shape for some steelhead fishing this weekend.
• It’s getting to be prime time for winter steelhead on the Sandy, and fishing conditions for the weekend should be good.
• Recent rains have fish on the move in the Clackamas River, which is running a bit high. Look for fishing to pick up as water levels start to drop.
• The first winter steelhead are just beginning to return to the Hood River.
• Anglers have been catching fish through the ice on several waterbodies including Kinney Lake, Lofton Reservoir, Magone Lake and Phillips Reservoir, Unity Reservoir and Yellowjacket Lake. Recent cold temperatures have improved ice conditions on other waterbodies as well. Check out 14 tips for ice fishing in Oregon.