Getting the Idaho Steelhead Groups Back to the Table?
Interesting idea from Zack Williams, editor of Swing the Fly magazine (that’s the cover of the current issue below) –
As many of you know, I am personally a Clearwater river steelhead guide in Idaho. Tonight, Idaho’s steelhead season closes as a result of the threat of a lawsuit from 5 conservation organizations. I supported this lawsuit and found it necessary due to Idaho Fish and Game’s apathy over the struggles of it’s wild steelhead population. They refused to take any measures to further protect the fish over two of the worst returns in many decades.
The downside of this closure has been the harm it is doing to small businesses and guides in the region. Some of them very good friends of Swing the Fly and wild fish.
I have personally started a petition (not related to Swing the Fly) asking Idaho Fish and Game to sit back down at the table with the conservation groups and compromise.
We are asking for:
-Single point, barbless hook only
-No bait
-Keeping Wild Fish in the Waterand as a compromise, asking that if those measures are enacted through 2026, then re-open the fishing season this year.
I strongly believe that some good can come from all this drama. It is not just fly fisherman who are in support of additional protections for the fish, if both sides can agree to this, then we all (including the fish) can benefit.
Read more details and sign here.
Digging a Little Deeper into the Idaho Story
I’ve reached out to the largest three organizations (of the five plaintiffs) who have filed against IDFG to halt the steelhead season, asking a simple question about their action related to what appears to be a critical flaw in their approach.
Not surprisingly, I’ve received no response thus far, though will reach out today to the one group (of the five) whose intent appears to be actually fixing issues instead of making complex issues and arguments measurably worse. More to come.
