If you like fish and wildlife content, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future videos. Officers with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game were patrolling when they observed an individual fishing along the Big Canyon Creek. Because steelhead trout use this creek for spawning, there is no open season for targeting them. The officers stopped to make contact with the individual. >> Good. How are you doing? How's the fishing today? Are they? They being what? What are you fishing for? What are you targeting? >> Uh I've seen all kinds of fish in here though. >> Okay. It's a steelhead right there. Okay. They're not biting though? >> No. No. >> Gotcha. >> Well, they're busy. >> Yeah. >> I thought I'd try. >> Yeah. >> I live right here, so it's like, oh, kind of think it's open water. >> Sure. Yeah. Cool. Well, do you have a fishing license on you? >> I do. And then That's got to be my hunting. Yeah. Yeah. Who pisses you off? >> Second elk elk tag. Proxy statement there. >> I know I got a fishing license here because I always get them together. >> Okay. Get the combo. >> Yeah. >> Do you just rent this place or do you own it? >> I own it. >> This little house right here on the corner? >> Yeah. >> Okay. It's a nice little spot. >> Yeah. Well, you tell me if I'm overlooking this. I know I had a Oh, there's the one. >> Yep. >> Oh, these are all 2024. >> Yeah, that's what I'm seeing. I see a 24 hunting license there and then a 24 elk tag. >> Yeah. Yeah, sh- >> Did you buy anything after January 1st this year? >> No, I don't think I did. >> Okay. >> my birthday. >> January 1st is? >> Yeah. >> Okay, got you. All right. >> it. Gosh, I was sitting there going, well, I got everything. Yeah, you know, I'm so busy I'll forget about things, so >> Sure. All right. Um well, so the the license year does start January 1st every year. >> Right. >> Um so Yeah. Um do you have your driver's license on you? >> Yeah. >> All right. How long have you lived here? >> 4 years. >> 4 years? Where'd you come from? >> Paradise, California. >> Oh, cool. >> I know, California. >> That's all right. >> California, though. >> Hey, most most of people that are coming up here from California are trying to leave California. >> Yeah. Well, I didn't mi- I didn't mind where we lived, but the problem is is they all got burned up. >> Oh. >> they And then there's like more and more regulations. I mean, three times as much regulations. You can't even have a fifth wheel on a lot unless you have um what? Building permit in place. And then you got to have all your vegetation can't be over 18 in Yeah, there's just >> Oh, jeez. >> It It goes on and on and on and on, so. >> Yeah. >> a contractor there. And we My family bought this place. We had my sister running the cafe. And she pretty much ran it in the ground, so I'm just starting back out with just a bar, which >> Got you. >> Yeah, but I'm only open like 3 days a week, so >> You're getting some business though, at least? >> Yeah, the locals are really good about it, you know. And luckily I kind of created a relationship with them, you know, and they knew what I was going through, so I just wasn't even involved, you know, at first. >> Um so, have you been fishing down here like over the last, you know, ever since these steelhead have been in here? Have you been >> watching them, yeah. >> Okay, got you. >> Yeah, I know this is the first time I've actually had my rod out. I was like, "Man, I'm going to put something in there and see if they even go for it." >> Yeah. >> And they just looked at it like they're busy doing this spawning thing or whatever. >> Yeah. Well, and the other thing is um this creek is actually closed to steelhead fishing. >> Oh, is it? >> Yeah, so it's it's unlawful to even target them. >> Oh, that's why nobody's here. >> Right. Yeah, you got all the boats out on the river. >> I have like guys come through, you know, and they'll they'll stay on that side and they'll try to, you know, get the trout or whatever else they're after. >> Yeah. >> And uh but yeah, that I never seen anybody in here at this time of year, so. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, and yeah, the other thing too is even if you were targeting steelhead like out on the main river, you've got to have a special permit to do that as well. >> you when you get your license, your fishing license, you ask for that? >> Yep. Yep, so you can buy what's called a sportsman's package, which will give you like your deer tag, your elk tag, your steelhead permit, salmon permit, all that stuff together. Or you can buy them, you know, ala carte, so to speak. You can buy them whatever you want, so you could buy like a deer tag and a steelhead tag, but in any case, to target steelhead, you have to have the permit because just like with hunting deer and elk, every steelhead or salmon that you catch actually has to get um validated on a tag. >> Okay. >> So, you've got to notch it out, write the the date and river location and all that kind of stuff. Um and it's it's something we take seriously because here, I'm sure you've been up to Orfino and seen the Dworshak Hatchery and all that stuff up there. Like to put these fish in the river annually cost tens of millions of dollars. Um so it's something we manage pretty heavily, which is why we do the permit system for them. Um >> Yeah, and then in creeks like these ones, there's not a lot of fish that come back up them. >> Yeah. >> Uh most of the fish are hatchery fish that uh go back to the hatcheries, but some of these fish that are still going up these small tributaries are wild fish. >> Okay. >> And so we don't allow fishing in these tributaries because we're trying to protect them. >> Right. >> Cuz this is their they're coming up here to spawn. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's funny because like the first year I was here that it was kind of like we were going through a drought, so it was really low. And I didn't see any of this happening. >> Yeah. >> But then I heard stories. They're like, "Oh yeah, there was like a crazy steelhead like coming up this creek." And I'm like, "Really?" I mean, it's just barely running, you know what I mean? >> Right. >> Plus this is in the summertime. That's when I came was like June or July. >> Okay. >> first year, so I was like going, "Wow, that's hard to even fathom, you know, even wrap your head around that." >> Sure. Well, and this year especially we're having one of our best steelhead returns in the last decade. >> Yeah, it was >> Um so there's you're going to see more fish this year than historically you would have just cuz I mean, we've got almost 110,000 steelhead over Lower Granite Dam now. >> Right. >> Um which is, you know, way above what we normally see. So it's really good, but yeah, we're trying to protect these streams so that they can they can spawn. Um so anyways um >> I think I'm poorly educated because the locals only let you know so much. >> Sure. >> You know, >> And that's the danger in trusting the locals rather than going to the source. >> you know, they've been pretty good about it, but it's like you know, they were telling me, "Oh man, that used to be really good fishing down there, you know, and the steelhead." And I'm just just going, "Okay." Well, now you're telling me it's totally closed, so >> Yeah. >> Yeah, totally missing thorn. Of course, you know, I There's been a lot of things that they say you could do, but then now you can't. >> Right. >> Maybe uh, you know, back in the cuz they're all old-timers, which from like the '40s and '50s, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and a lot of that was back when we didn't have to have all these protections. We had lots of natural protection and >> Well, these these dams that they have to go over now weren't even in until the '60s and '70s. >> right. >> So, if they were fishing before that, they had completely unobstructed runs from the ocean, so >> A lot's changed, but in any case, you know, we >> Yeah, cuz I didn't see these in here till like April last year. >> Yeah, which is about right. >> was nothing like this year. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, that goes to show that it's definitely gotten better. >> Yeah. >> But uh >> Well, but at the end of the day, you know, you you were fishing without a steelhead permit and you're fishing without a license. We do need to address that. >> Okay. >> And on top of that, it's also closed season for this creek since there's no open season to actually fish steelhead. >> Is there Is it So, this is fine for trout? >> It is fine. Yeah. >> But >> And even like bass, like in the summertime, I bet you the bass fishing will be pretty good in here. >> hit the bass real good with Oh gosh, up by Aquarius. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah. >> in the summertime, you know. Of course, the end of the summer. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> So, >> which I was like blown away cuz I'm up there and I'm like Bass up here? And he's Everybody's like, "Oh, yeah, they They go up that way. They follow the food, you know." >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> Yep, they come out of the >> You wouldn't think that they would be in the you know, the river there, but they are. >> Well, their food sources are the trout and the kokanee that run up the river, so they're just chasing the food. So, well, um you know, we are going to issue some paperwork today for this. So, we're going to run back to the truck. I've got your driver's license with me. Um You know, because you don't have a license you're done fishing for today. >> Yeah, I don't know. I just was like day off. I'm like doing some stuff. My girlfriend works at night, so she's sleeping. So I'm like kind of stay out of the house. So I was like oh >> Yeah. >> you know. And that's when I get to fish. It's like >> And it's sunshine and yeah. >> Yeah, I like going wild. It was raining a little while ago. >> I know. >> Anyways, So what do you think the fine's going to be? >> Well, so most of our fishing game violations are actually misdemeanors in Idaho, which is a criminal charge. And so it actually is up to the judge. You're we're going to give you an arraignment date where you'll have to go to Nez Perce County and and enter a plea in front of the judge. You know, if he finds you guilty, he can assess a fine up to a thousand dollars. It's usually not what we see with fishing stuff. But just so you're aware like that it ranges from $25 to $1,000, but it's at the judge's discretion. For our really egregious violations like more more on the hunting side of things with people illegally like poaching moose and elk and stuff, you know, they can assess jail time for that as well, but you know, that's not what we're dealing with here. So but I can't give you any answer on what the fine would be. That'll be up to the judge. So But yeah, we're going to run run back to >> Another thing another hurdle to jump over. >> Well, since since we're actually back here on the other side of your house, do you mind if you walk up to the river with us? Okay, perfect. Yeah, so that's actually I'm the the KMI officer. >> Oh, are you? >> Yeah, we're our office is in Lewiston, so we're we're heading back that way, but yeah, that's >> you guys see me down there? >> I actually just going down the highway, I could see you standing down there. So we we flipped around in the turnout right there. So. >> Maybe they were up on the hills or something. >> No. No. >> [laughter] >> Nope. Just being observant. >> All right. Oh, darn. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I wasn't getting anything. I got it in there. And And you I'd watch them. They just kind of like try to move away from it, you know? So, I was like going, "Okay. This >> Yeah. Well, and that's the tough part about steelhead fishing. When they're coming up running like this to spawn, they're not really thinking about feeding anymore. So, even when you're even when you're out on the river where you can fish, a lot of times like you're Of course, you don't see it, but your jig is going right past the faces of those steelhead. And unless you're you're basically hitting them in the face and creating a reaction strike, they're not going to go after your lure. Cuz their mind's on just going up there and dumping their eggs. And, you know, pass on the next generation. >> I mean, they're so beat up. It's like But I guess that's good for you know, all the other animals. >> It is, yeah. Well, and that's something that's really changed about the ecology around here. Before all these dams were in, the salmon and steelhead runs were, you know, tenfold what they are now. >> Right. >> And when all those fish died, it it put a bunch of nutrients into the river. >> Oh, now you got it. >> So, the all the aquatic bugs, all the other predatory fish, all the scavengers, you know, they had so much more food than than what's available now. Um so, it's really changed a lot of that stuff. Um I always picture, you know, 100 plus years ago when we still had grizzly bears around. I'm sure they were just bears up and down the banks. All right. >> All right. Thanks for your patience there. Can you just drive us back to the back before I forget that? Um so, we we we had several violations, right? Um that we needed to address. So, we did catch a little bit of break. Um so, we ended up giving a verbal warning for steelhead fishing without a permit without having a valid steelhead permit. >> I'm not ever going to fish again. >> [laughter] >> I mean I don't usually fish. It's like shut >> So So there's there's tons of resources out there for you. We have fishing regulations. You can get them anywhere you can buy licenses. You can get them on your phone. You can download it on your phone right now. Um you can buy your fishing license on your phone right now if you wanted to. Like you can call the office if you have questions about you know seasons or where you can can't fish or what you can can't fish for. Like there's tons of resources out there for you if you want to go fishing. Like we want you to go fishing. >> Right. But we want you to do it lawfully. So >> have just I should just do it before my license expires. >> So what would it be if like my license >> To To buy a fishing license? >> No, if I had my license I would just get I would just >> Just for the closed season the closed season and steelhead fishing. Yeah. So if you had your license that would be one less documentation. So >> Well, that's a nice thing to have because if you know sometimes in the summer, you know, people come like I said when we saw you right right now I could tell hey, you can't fish that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. So that's good information for you too, right? Okay. So for your warning here's your information up here. Here's our location coordinates. And again it's a warning for you fishing without a valid steelhead permit. Okay. >> Oh so just >> This one This one you don't have to do anything with. If we were to cite you for this one this would also be a misdemeanor. >> Okay. >> So but we did issue a citation for fishing [clears throat] without a valid license and also for fishing during closed season. So again there's no open season to target steelhead in Big Canyon Creek, okay? And it comes back to we're protecting the fish to go up the tributaries to try to spawn. That's that's usually a pretty a pretty easy one for us to say like nobody can fish for these and we're trying to protect them for for reasons. We want these steelhead to persist. We want them to keep coming up these creeks. If people are in here fishing for them there's not very many. It wouldn't take very many guys to clear out that Bobby fish. Okay. So, again, your your information on the stop, the location coordinates, and fishing without a valid license, and unlawful fishing. You're targeting steelhead where there's no open season. So, we're in Nez Perce County. So, your arraignment date is anywhere between March 19th and April 2nd. At the courthouse. No, so you have to show up and and you go in there and you go into the courthouse and say, "I have this arraignment. This is my citation." You'll take this with you and you'll give them the citation number and you'll say, "I'm here for arraignment." Um >> So, do that >> So, it's before 4:00 p.m. Between 8:00 and 4:00. >> 8:30 and 4:00. >> Between the 19th and April 2nd. >> Oh, I can do it any day of the week. >> through Friday anytime between then. >> Yeah, cuz I got to do something on the 18th. >> Yeah. What What That's That's the nice thing about the the bigger counties. They're giving you a window. Whenever it's convenient for you during that window, you go in, present that ticket, and say, "I'm here for arraignment." >> Yep. >> I'll go in. >> And then the judge will see you. >> Yeah. >> And if you have any questions for them on that, um about if, you know, there's busier times of days or a better time, there's a phone number right there for them, the 799-304-0. You can give them a call before you go. >> Okay. >> Um Down here there's a little bit more information. Again, these are misdemeanor citations. So, if you don't show up for your arraignment within this time period, they could issue a warrant for your arrest. So, make Make sure Make sure you get it taken care of. And, you know, like like he said before, usually these violations it's it's not the end of the world. You're not going to lose your fishing license. You're not going to go to jail. It's usually a few hundred dollars in fines and that's it. Um but again, you go to your arraignment and if you're not familiar with it, the arraignment is where you go in front of the judge and you plead guilty or not guilty. And if you want to plead not guilty, that's completely up to you. You can hire an attorney. You can contest this in court. That's your right. Um but otherwise, you go in front of the judge, plead guilty not guilty. If you plead guilty, the judge will talk to you about it and then he'll determine his sentence. >> Mhm. >> So. And that's where you don't >> what they usually get fined for? >> So, like he like he said, we we both live in Kamiah, so we both deal with Idaho County. We don't deal with Nez Perce County a lot, but typically across the board violation for fishing is usually just a couple hundred dollars in fines. >> Yeah. >> But we can't guarantee anything, so. >> All right. >> Yeah. >> All righty. Well, thanks for the break. Appreciate it. >> questions for us? >> Appreciate it. Not a problem. It was nice meeting you. I appreciate the way you handled it, so. >> Yeah. >> So, and if you have questions, just just call our office or, you know, if you know your local officer or up here, just bug him. Yeah. >> I don't know them. I mean, I met a couple of them that were in this parking lot once and I just asked them, "Hey, what's going on?" >> Yeah. >> And they said they were just hanging out. Anyways. >> Yeah. >> Um. Probably John John and Cannon are probably the two that >> Yeah. >> Blondish hair. And then there was another guy cuz he thought somebody was approaching deer in the back community there. >> Yeah. Okay. >> We ran into them. I guess they were thinking people were hunting and approaching deer, but so I went ahead and let them in the shop and everything. Just showing Oh, there's Mom. >> [laughter] >> Hi, Mom. >> We won't tell her anything. >> I just said it was close to >> [laughter] >> All right. >> All righty. >> Thanks, Aaron. >> Take care. >> In the end, the angler was ultimately charged with fishing without a license and unlawful fishing. He was appointed a public defender and pled not guilty to both charges. Before the case made it to trial, the case was dismissed by the prosecutor. We called the courthouse to obtain additional information and they said they did not have any additional information they could provide. We then called the county prosecutor's office, but we were told they could not provide us any additional information as we were not directly involved in the case. If you like this video and want to see more like it subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.