Fish and Game stocks 11,000 trout ahead of Free Fishing Day
More than 11,000 rainbow trout are headed for Panhandle waters, including easy-access Kootenai County spots. Free Fishing Day on June 13 will let families fish without a license.
Kootenai County’s easiest summer fishing spots are about to get a fresh shot of catchable trout. Idaho Fish and Game is stocking more than 11,000 rainbow trout across the Panhandle Region in June, and several of the fish are headed for simple, family-friendly waters near Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum.
The early-June stocking forecast lists Clee Creek Pond, Day Rock Pond, Elsie Lake, Gene Day Pond, Lucky Friday Pond and Rathdrum Park. The planned numbers range from 300 trout at Clee Creek Pond to 1,500 at Gene Day Pond, with 600 at Day Rock Pond, 810 at Elsie Lake, 810 at Lucky Friday Pond and 600 at Rathdrum Park. Each fish is about 10 to 12 inches long, a size that puts a quick catch within reach for beginners and kids.
That stocking run leads directly into Free Fishing Day on June 13, the second Saturday in June. On that day, no fishing license will be required for most fishing, though all other rules still apply. Idaho Fish and Game says the annual event is meant to welcome new anglers, with employees and volunteers bringing fishing gear to fishing spots and loaning rods, reels and tackle.
For families who keep fishing after Free Fishing Day, the agency’s current fee page lists a resident adult fishing license at $30.50, a resident junior license for ages 14 to 17 at $16 and a nonresident adult fishing license at $108. Youth under 14 may fish for free. Idaho Fish and Game says simple bait can work well for trout, including worms, marshmallows or commercial options fished near the bottom or under a bobber.
A recent photo from Fernan Lake showed Brandon Osusky of Coeur d’Alene fishing there after already catching two fish, a familiar scene for North Idaho when stocked trout hit local water. For anglers looking for the shortest drive and the best shot at easy action, the county’s ponds and park waters are the first places to watch.
Idaho Fish and Game says stocking dates are tentative and can change because of water conditions, angler-safety concerns, weather or staffing constraints, but the June lineup still points to a strong start to the season for nearby families.
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