Idaho Department of Fish and Game News
June 9 Free Fishing Day in Idaho
Saturday, June 9 is Free Fishing Day in Idaho, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game invites veteran and novice anglers of all ages, residents and nonresidents alike, to celebrate the day by fishing anywhere in Idaho without a license.
Though fishing license requirements are suspended for this special day, all other rules, such as limits or tackle restrictions, remain in effect.
Free fishing day provides a great opportunity for novices to give fishing a try and perhaps develop it into a lifelong pursuit. Parents are encouraged to bring their children out for a day of fun fishing excitement.
Lack of fishing experience is no excuse. At special locations around the state, equipment will be available for use, and fishing experts will be on hand to help novice anglers learn the ins and outs of fishing. In addition, most of these locations will be stocked with hatchery rainbow trout prior to the special day. Look for the nearest event, and "Take a Kid Fishing."
For information about regional events, contact local IDFG offices.
Boy rescued by IDFG search dog
A 2-year-old Rogerson boy, Rudy Kasel, wandered lost for about three hours two miles from home, before being found by Pepper, a 3-year-old black Labrador trained for wildlife detection and human tracking.
Pepper was trained by Jim Stirling, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game senior conservation officer in the Magic Valley. Pepper is certified for article searches and human tracking by the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Academy.
Rudy had been playing outside with his sibling when his family realized he was missing about 4 p.m. Monday, April 30. They called for help after efforts to locate him failed. Rudy's parents initially thought he had wandered away with other family members.
Searchers were concerned because of the approaching darkness and storms forecast for the area.
Stirling received a call at 5 p.m. from the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office requesting the use of Pepper.
Rudy's father marked the area where he thought he located a possible footprint. By 6 p.m. the search was organized, and Pepper led Stirling through the dry sagebrush for about an hour.
"The dog was struggling in the heat and pollen, so we took a short break to re-hydrate," Stirling said. "The dog looked up, and that's when we saw Rudy's head bobbing in the sagebrush about 100 yards away."
It was just after 7 p.m.
About 30 people from the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office, County Search and Rescue, IDFG and other agencies took part in the search east of Rogerson.