Clark Fork, Pack River angler survey underway
(Photo courtesy IDAHO FISH & GAME) Anglers take part in a creel survey being conducted by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and Avista.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with Avista, began conducting a 10-month angler creel survey on the Clark Fork River from Lake Pend Oreille to Cabinet Gorge Dam on Feb. 1.
Additionally, IFG began surveying anglers fishing the Pack River, Grouse Creek, and Lightning Creek on March 1, according to Andy Dux, regional fisheries biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish & Game in Coeur d’Alene. The department plans to continue these surveys through Dec. 1, 2018.
Surveys are conducted by counting anglers on randomly selected days at randomly selected times, Dux said in a press release. Additionally, anglers are interviewed to find out how long they fished, what they were fishing for, and what they caught.
The goal of these surveys is to obtain estimates of angler effort (total hours fished), catch rates, and harvest rates for all commonly targeted species in these waters. In other words, Dux said IDFG is attempting to determine how popular these fisheries are, how good the fishing is, and what levels of harvest are occurring. This information helps IDFG manage these fisheries, including determining appropriate fishing rules.
Two species IDFG is particularly interested in are rainbow trout and walleye. There is a catch-and-release season for rainbow trout in these waters from Dec. 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day. Large rainbow trout from Lake Pend Oreille migrate into these rivers and streams to spawn and a popular fishery has developed in recent years. Dux said the survey will provide more information about how many anglers are targeting rainbow trout and how successful they are. Additionally, walleye are increasing in abundance in Lake Pend Oreille and the Clark Fork River. IDFG officials are interested to know how effective anglers are at catching and harvesting walleye in the river.
Conducting these surveys throughout the year will allow IDFG to better understand how fishing is for all species. Repeating this survey in future years will allow the department to monitor trends over time.
Uniformed IDFG and Avista staff will be out counting anglers and conducting short interviews, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ken Bouwens at 208-769-1414 or at ken.bouwens@idfg.idaho.gov.