Little has changed, and the fishing is excellent in the Southeast Region. But in many areas fishing is best in the cooler parts of the day, early and late.

The Upper Blackfoot River opened for catch-and-release fishing for cutthroat trout on July 1. The cutthroat spawning run out of the reservoir was about 540 cutthroat trout – that’s the biggest run since 2003 and should provide for some exciting fishing this year. The river is running high and cloudy.

The summer temperatures have turned the fishing on near Challis. The trout fishing at Mosquito Flats Reservoir and Bayhorse Lake has slowed a little bit because the fish are going deeper with the warmer weather; however worms and bobbers are working well. Fly fishing is really coming on and as the water drops, it keeps getting better. Mackay Reservoir is good for trolling deep.

Idaho Fish and Game and federal officers are investigating three wolf killings. A June 27 investigation showed a wolf killed by a sheepherder on June 21 on Thorne Butte in Boise County was determined to be legal under state law. The wolf was attacking the sheepherder's two border collies.

Q. Can I buy a Chinook salmon from a Nez Perce Tribal member even though the salmon sport fishery is closed?

A. Yes. In the Snake River Basin, a Nez Perce Tribal member may sell hatchery Chinook salmon only, as indicated by a missing adipose with healed scar. Nez Perce Tribal regulations require a receipt for all sales. Receipts must include name and identification number of Nez Perce Tribal member selling fish, name of the fish buyer, number and species of fish sold and where it was caught and the Nez Perce Tribe Conservation Enforcement phone number 208-843-7143. The buyer of salmon is required to have this valid receipt and present the fish and receipt for inspection when requested by a conservation officer or other authorized persons.

Chinook salmon
Salmon season is closed in the Clearwater Region.

Bass
Bass angling is picking up since the water level in the Snake River dropped this past week. Try using bait, baited jigs, and crankbaits near rocky structures. Bass anglers are also doing okay on Dworshak Reservoir.

In classrooms, libraries and even under tents and shade trees, a small army of volunteers work tirelessly each year to help prepare thousands of Idahoans for their first hunting excursion.

"Since the inception of the hunter and bowhunter education programs, instructors have been the heart and soul to the success," says James Reed, hunter education coordinator for the Clearwater Region of Idaho Fish and Game. "More than 9,500 new hunters go through the programs each year. They learn about everything from how to safely cross a fence with a firearm to the importance of respecting wildlife, landowners and other hunters. And of course, we couldn't do it without them."

Don't be late. The deadline to enter this year's second Super Hunt drawings is just over a month away.

Entries in the second Super Hunt and Super Hunt Combo drawing must be received at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game headquarters by August 10 for the drawing set for August 15. Tickets will be drawn for two elk, two deer and two pronghorn antelope hunts as well as one moose hunt. And one Super Hunt Combo ticket will be drawn that will entitle the winner to four hunts - one each elk, deer, pronghorn and moose.

Is your child planning on hunting this fall?

Seats are available at several hunter and bowhunter education course scheduled July through September throughout the Lewiston area.

Students can view a list courses being offered and register online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/education/hunter_ed or visit the Clearwater Regional Office at 3316 16th Street in Lewiston.

The legislature this winter amended existing law to allow anglers exempt from buying a fishing license to buy a two-pole permit.

The change went into effect July 1 and allows children who aren't required to have a fishing license to fish with two poles, similar to provisions for steelhead and salmon permits.

Q. I'm a resident and I didn't draw in any controlled hunt; when can I pick up a general season tag?

A. Most resident general season deer, elk and pronghorn tags can be picked up after the controlled hunt drawings are over, except for seven elk zone tags that are subject to a quota and go on sale August 1. Quota elk tags are Lolo B, Dworshak B, Elk City B, Selway A and B, and Middlefork A and B.

Thane Anderson of Salmon was the first angler to catch a legal Chinook salmon in the Upper Salmon River in more than three decades.

On July 1, he caught a 22 inch "jack." Boise resident C.W. Hurliss caught the second salmon, this one a 32 inch adult Chinook.

A phone call from a fisherman led to the recent sentencing of Mark H. Hansen of Draper, Utah, for poaching a deer near North Fork in the Salmon Region.

The incident happened on November 13, 2006. The angler had taken a day off from work to enjoy fishing for steelhead on the Salmon River. Deer season was closed and he might have expected a quiet day. Instead, his casting was interrupted by two rifle shots on the hill above him.

Rivers are creeks are still running high and fast, although water levels are beginning to drop. The main Salmon River is still fairly high and muddy making fishing difficult for those hoping to land a salmon. So far, only one of the big fish has been caught, but dropping water levels over the holiday weekend may help anglers. Fisheries biologists report that the salmon run has just begun and they expect harvest rates to improve soon.

Rigby Lake - Fish and Game just stocked Rigby Lake, which is new to the region's stocking rotation. It is located between Idaho Falls and Rexburg, just west of highway 20. 5300 trout were stocked there on Wednesday (7-2-08) most were 9-10" catchable rainbows, but 500 were 14-18" "banana" trout (a rainbow trout that lacks the melanin pigment, giving the appearance of an albino). This provides another quality fishery in the region, and helps expand local urban fishing opportunities.

Little Salmon River: Closed July 1.

South Fork Salmon River: Summer Chinook were few the first week of the season but began showing up strongly just in time for the July 4th fishing crowd.

Little Salmon River: Lots of folks fishing, lots of fish hooked (but not necessarily landed) in the last week. The Chinook season will close July 1.

South Fork Salmon River: Only one Chinook showed up in the first three days of the season. This run has been slow in coming since the beginning of it but expectations for the July 4th weekend are running high.

Did you know that Southern Idaho is a cold desert?

Join the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center in exploring the lives of desert animals. Find out about the fascinating and diverse desert animals that call Idaho home. Each session learn about a different desert animal and make art to take home.

Salmon Fishing: Closed
Salmon fishing is closed on these rivers:
Clearwater River mainstem downstream of the South Fork Clearwater River.

Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of Lochsa and Selway rivers.

Winners in the first of two Idaho Super Hunt drawings were picked June 16.

One Super Hunt Combo ticket was drawn that entitles the winner to hunt for one each elk, deer, antelope and moose. Twenty-five other winners were picked for single species with tags for eight elk, eight deer and eight antelope hunts as well as one moose hunt. Winners can participate in any open hunt this fall, following the rules for the hunts they choose, for example, archery-only or muzzleloader-hunts.

Q. When can I find out whether I was drawn in the controlled hunt drawing?

A. Idaho Fish and Game is compiling big game controlled hunt applications. Results of the drawings for deer, elk and pronghorn controlled hunts will be available by July 10. Fish and Game will announce when the results are available. Winners will be notified by mail. Hunters also may check the Fish and Game Website for drawing results at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/ch/results.cfm.