Fishing rules meeting set for today

COEUR d'ALENE - Local sportsmen and women are invited to an Idaho Fish and Game open-house meeting today at the IDFG Panhandle Region office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave.

The meeting runs for most of the day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fish and Game officials will accept public comments on proposed changes to Idaho fishing rules. Meetings are being held this month throughout the state, according to an IDFG press release.

"(The public) can come in and talk to a fish manager directly," said Melo Maiole, IDFG regional fishery biologist.

Possible rule changes include: Allowing hatcherysalmon and steelhead to be filleted under certain conditions; the use of a gaff hook while archery fishing for non-gamefish; and making it illegal to mark and release fish.

One amendment would modify the definition of a "steelhead" in the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater river drainages, IDFG said. Another would alter the definition of a fishing contest - events organized wholly for youth under 14 years of age would not need a Fishing Contest Permit.

IDFG has also recommended some changed wording and verbiage in the 2011-12 fishing rules booklet.

The changes are all non-biological, Maiole explained.

"They're mainly definitional things; they're not fish seasons and fish limits," he said. "They're largely non-contentious things."

All proposed rule changes are now available on the Fish and Game website. Log on to the home page at fishandgame.idaho.gov, click on the "Meetings Set on Proposed Fishing Rules" link and scroll down to the rules link.

Public comments may be submitted online or sent to the IDFG Fisheries Bureau, P.O Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.

Deadline for all comments is July 8.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission will act on the proposed rules at a July 28 meeting in Salmon. Adopted rules would not take effect until April 2012.