Idaho Fish Report

Apply for your spring bear tag

The spring bear controlled hunt season will open April 1, but the deadline to apply for your tag is Feb. 10. That deadline will be here before you know it! Learn more about how to apply.

Best bets for fishing 

This weekend’s best bets include trout, winter steelhead, ice fishing and crabbing.

• On warmer winter days, fishing for holdover trout can be good in places like Lost Creek, Applegate and Cooper Creek Reservoirs. And don’t overlook popular east side rivers that offer year-round fishing – including the Deschutes, Fall, Metolius and Blitzen.
• Many rivers have been running low and clear. But with rain in the forecast, look for winter steelhead fishing to pick up on the coast.
• Ice fishing for trout and/or yellow perch has been good and ice conditions have been improving in many locations thanks to a recent cold snap.
• With recent drier weather, look for an uptake in your crab count.

Check out the zone reports for more details.

Sign up to take, and teach, hunter education

Now is a great time to complete your hunter education requirements and there are several ways to do it. It’s also a great time to consider becoming a hunter education instructor. If you enjoy working with young people and sharing your passion for hunting, check out these 10 reasons to volunteer.

Find big game statistics

Find all the numbers you’ll need – big game populations, harvest and point summary reports – to plan your tag application strategy.