No IDFG fishing events for Saturday’s free fishing day
Saturday’s Free Fishing Day is a good time to try some small streams for brook trout, or any other fishery because no license is required.
Erik Evensen photo
Anglers can fish for free Saturday in Idaho, but once-staple Idaho Fish and Game hosted events have been canceled.
Fish and Game said it usually stocks easily-accessed ponds and lakes that are popular places for the June 13 fishing day, but that will not happen this year.
That means no stocking will occur at the Ponderosa Springs Golf Course, Rathdrum City Park, Priest Lake Golf Course and the Lion’s Den Park — also called Snow Creek Pond at Bonners Ferry.
In the past, during the Free Fishing Day, Fish and Game traveled to ponds and lakes to play host to fishing events that included a Fish and Game trailer packed with fishing items. Youngsters could learn from biologists and volunteers how to cast, bait hooks, set up fishing gear, and borrow poles, reels and lures from the trailer.
“We won’t be out helping kids learn to fish this year,” Kiira Siitari, Fish and Game spokesperson said. “Which is a bummer.”
The events were canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.
Fish and Game did however stock a number of Panhandle lakes and ponds Tuesday with rainbow trout in preparation for the no-license-required fishing day.
Family fishing waters such as Fernan Lake, Falls Park Pond in Post Falls, Spicer Pond in St. Maries and Smith Lake near Bonners Ferry — which was stocked with rainbows, triploids and cutthroat trout — each received 1,000 to 15,000 fish in the catchable, 6-inch-or-larger size range for Saturday’s free fishing event.
A complete list of stocked waters in the Panhandle is available on the Idaho Fish and Game website at idfg.idaho.gov/stocking.
Although Free Fishing Day allows people to fish in Idaho without a license, the state’s other fishing regulations including bag limits apply.
Children under the age of 13 years old are allowed to fish for free year-round.
Additional lakes stocked by IDFG include Kelso Lake northwest of Athol, which was stocked with 2,500 rainbow trout and Elsie Lake in Shoshone County received a shot of 1,350 rainbow trout.
In the Clearwater Region, Deer Creek Reservoir near Orofino was stocked with 2,500 Tiger Trout and the Spring Valley Reservoir east of Moscow got 4,200 rainbow trout.