Radio News Release

Contact: Vicky Osborn
Date: March 28, 2007

Anglers Have New Tool To Help 'Land The Big One'
Newly designed Fish and Game weekly fishing reports gives anglers what they want to know.

CUTS #11, 12, 13, 14
BACKGROUND: As spring approaches, Idaho anglers begin the annual ritual of dusting off their fishing poles and restocking their tackle boxes. All in preparation for another summer spent casting a line in one of Idaho's many world class trout streams or majestic mountain lakes.

But before you flip the coin on where to go, visit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's website for a new tool that may help you land the big one. This new weekly fishing report gives anglers inside information on where the fish are biting, what bait is getting the most hits and when they are primarily active.

This new report tailored to Idaho angers will be updated weekly and is just one of the Department's goals to provide timely, customer-oriented information to Idaho's outdoor enthusiasts. Other statistics will include ice conditions, runoff concerns and other potential hazards as well as steelhead and salmon counts when hatchery conditions are right.

The Idaho Fish and Game website includes regional reports from Idaho's Panhandle, the Clearwater, McCall and Nampa sub regions, the Magic Valley, Southeastern Idaho, the upper Snake and Salmon area and include links to stocking dates and counts as well as Idaho's family fishing waters. The data will be updated every Wednesday year-round.

For more information on Fish and Game's regional weekly fishing reports, visit the department's website at
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/reports.

CUT #11 - Mike Keckler, Idaho Fish and Game Communications Bureau Chief describes what the new weekly fishing reports are.
IN: "The newest Idaho Fish and Game..."
OUT: "...catching a fish."
TRT: :16

CUT #12 - Steve Yundt, Idaho Fish and Game Fisheries Bureau Chief explains where the information for the fishing reports comes from.
IN: "We are getting information..."
OUT: "...catching more fish."
TRT: :15

CUT #13 - Mike Keckler describes the Department's overall goal in for the Idaho Fish and Game website.
IN: "This is just the first...."
OUT: "...and many more ways."
TRT: :15