Hunting And Outdoor Sports
Alan Liere’s hunting and fishing report for Aug. 28, 2025
Late summer trout fishing tips and changes in hunting regulations for the Idaho Panhandle.
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Idaho Panhandle
Tip of the week: For late summer trout fishing, a small fly or lure will do much better than a larger one. Consider downsizing your fly dry or running lighter nymphs with the low and clear water. The clear waters make smaller offerings more effective as they mimic the smaller, natural prey fish that trout feed on at this time of year. Its essential to match the fly or lure size to the current conditions. This change is critical for anglers looking to catch fish during this period of low stream flows and high temperatures. Overheard: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has closed fishing on the entire Big Hole and Jefferson Rivers due to low stream flows. This closure highlights the ongoing environmental challenges faced by rivers in the region, affecting both recreational and professional anglers. With stream flows being lower than usual, the closures are part of a broader strategy to protect the fish population and prevent overfishing. As waters run low, fish are more susceptible to stress, and these rivers are particularly known for their trout populations, which are at risk during such conditions. Heads up for hunters in the Idaho Panhandle: significant changes are taking place in the Elk Zone B tag rifle seasons. The three-day rifle cow season scheduled for Oct. 15-17 has been removed from the hunting calendar. This change is in response to shifting wildlife management goals. The removal of this season will impact hunters who traditionally target cow elk during this time. Its a critical adjustment as it helps the region manage elk populations more effectively, allowing the herd to stabilize while limiting overhunting. Additionally, hunters in this zone should prepare for updates to the Dworshak B-tag for 2025. The new regulations now restrict antlered harvests to brow-tined bulls only. This regulation aims to help the elk population grow and maintain a healthy balance between mature and younger bulls. It also targets trophy hunting by encouraging hunters to focus on older animals, which in turn helps the population's genetic health by avoiding the overharvesting of prime-aged bulls. Meanwhile, recreational salmon fishing season in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) opens for a one-day event on Saturday. Although this is just a brief one-day opening, it provides a vital opportunity for anglers to catch some of the early-season salmon. This single-day event is expected to draw many anglers eager to get a jump on the salmon run before the full season begins. The limited window will make it a competitive environment for anglers, as the harvest window is narrow, but its an excellent opportunity to catch the first batch of migrating fish.