Boise (670 KBOI News) – As things are now, Idaho Fish and Game plans to shut down the steelhead fishing season Wednesday. But, that might, maybe, possibly be one step closer to changing.
Idaho Rivers United is one of five groups threatening to sue Fish and Game, because the state doesn’t have a steelhead management plan, approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
But John Kruse, host of Northwestern Outdoors, which you can hear Saturday mornings from 5:00-6:00 on 670 KBOI, says NOAA has issued a draft management plan, and therefore Idaho Rivers United is backing out of the threat to sue.
“But there’s a problem,” said Kruse. “There are still four other groups that are part of the lawsuit, that could sue, so they’re kind of in the same boat. As long as there’s any group that says we’re going to sue you for not having that permit, and they don’t have a signed permit, they’re (Fish and Game) liable, in their (the conservation groups) view.”
The closure of the steelhead season would cause economic damage to towns like Riggins, Challis and Orofino, which depend on steelhead fishing for a large chunk of their revenue.
