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General Fishing Season Begins Saturday

Posted on: May 24, 2007

POCATELLO – Grab your fishing poles, bait, and coolers of snacks—it’s time to go fishing!

This Saturday marks the opening day of general fishing season in Idaho, and if the weather cooperates, it should be a great day for dunking a worm or wetting a fly. The yard work can wait.


Not sure where to go? Richard Scully, regional fisheries manager for Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s southeast region, says that the rivers and smaller streams should be promising this weekend due to lower flows. “With lower flows, we can expect to see clearer waters, and that should make for good fishing.”

Reservoirs throughout southeast Idaho should also provide good opportunities to reel in fish. Though moisture levels were low last winter, there is sufficient carryover of water in southeast Idaho’s reservoirs from 2005 and 2006.

Some of the reservoirs in southeast Idaho are classified as Family Fishing Waters, which are intended to provide more family-oriented fishing opportunities and simplified rules. At these waters, anglers have year round fishing opportunities with limits of 6 trout and 6 bass per person per fishing trip. No limits on other species. No length limits on fish. The Family Fishing Waters in the southeast region are Alexander Reservoir near Soda Springs, Crowthers Reservoir near Malad, Twin Lakes Reservoir north of Preston, and McTucker Ponds between Aberdeen and American Falls.

If you are itching to try somewhere new, why not head out to Crystal Springs Pond located at the Springfield Hatchery off Highway 39 between McTucker Ponds and Springfield. This 4-acre pond is part of the new hatchery that Fish and Game will be operating, and is open for the first time this Saturday. Since the pond has been stocked with catchable rainbows, it should provide a fun experience. General fishing rules apply, and the pond will remain open all year. Who knows, you might even catch one of the lunkers that has been calling Crystal Springs Pond home for a few years now.

And if you want to know what the fishing has been like at your favorite fishing hole, then check out the regional fishing reports found on Fish and Game’s website at fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Don’t forget that Free Fishing Day is just around the corner, and once again the Southeast Regional Office of the Idaho Fish and Game is sponsoring an event at McTucker Ponds. The Free Fishing Day Event is free and runs from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm on June 9th, though anglers are welcome to fish all day at the ponds. Remember on Free Fishing Day, a fishing license is not required for those who want to fish.

The event at McTucker Ponds is geared toward anglers of all ages—especially new ones— and is a perfect activity for the family. Fish and Game personnel and volunteers will be on hand to help with fishing basics, from baiting a hook to reeling in a catch. There will also be fun and educational activity stations for kids, and items to be given away at a free raffle. And no fishing experience is complete without hot dogs and soda pop! If you don’t have a fishing pole, we will have poles and bait available for the day while supplies last.

For more information about fishing opportunities in the region or the upcoming Free Fishing Day Event at McTucker Ponds, contact Fish and Game at 232-4703 or checkout our website at fishandgame.idaho.gov.


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About Dave Langston

Outdoor writer Dave Langston resides in Chubbuck. He grew up in the Midwest and south fishing and hunting across the country.

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