Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited

09/08/2026

09/04/2026

We're excited to have completed construction on our Hudlow Meadow Restoration Project in conjunction with the US Forest Service. This project on the Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River was heavily impacted by off-road use and the wide floodplain was disconnected from the river channel with little instream habitat. The addition of a lot of large wood in the channel as well as lowering of the floodplain and reconnection through swales, will improve and increase the amount of available habitat, particularly for westslope cutthroat trout.

To complete the project, we will be having several volunteer days to install Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) in the newly constructed swales, and to do lots of planting! We could use your help. Our first volunteer day will be Wednesday, September 16, 8 am-5 pm. Contact Cathy at [email protected] to RSVP.

* Meet at USFS Fernan Ranger Station to work on the Little North Fork CDA River.
* Construct BDAs with natural materials to engage floodplain.
* Bring your waders and gloves.
* Lunch provided!

08/17/2026

We are excited for our partner project on Saturday, September 19 at Kootenai River Walk. Unfortunately, so far we only have three volunteers signed up. We’ll need a few more in order to keep the project on the schedule, and otherwise we may have to cancel. If you want to volunteer, please sign up here by Friday, August 21: https://idahotrailsassociation.org/event/2026-kootenai-river-walk/

Details: A day of trail maintenance on the Kootenai River Walk, a scenic trail that follows the river and showcases the natural beauty of the surrounding area. This partnership project with Trout Unlimited will focus on clearing brush, removing fallen trees, and making minor trail repairs to keep the path safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all who visit.

This project is a perfect opportunity to get outside, connect with fellow volunteers, and make a tangible impact on an important local trail. Whether you’re new to trail work or an experienced steward, your efforts will help ensure this trail remains a welcoming and well-maintained route for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

08/06/2026

As folks go out swimming, they may be tempted to build pools in streams or rivers that can unwittingly trap and kill fish. As you interact with our waterways, please keep the 4Cs in mind:

Clean: Bull trout need clean water with very little fine sediment in the stream bottom. Fine sediment fills up the spaces in the spawning gravel, restricts oxygen flow and can smother Bull trout eggs.

Cold: Cold water temperatures are very important for bull trout. If water temperatures rise above 59 degrees F, it creates a thermal barrier that restricts migration and use of available habitats.

Complex: Native trout need complex streams with intact shoreline vegetation to provide shade, woody debris, bank stability, and deep pools.

Connected: Connected watersheds allow the fish to migrate. Bull trout spawn and in stream habitats. At about two years of age they migrate from their spawning stream to mature in lakes or rivers, traveling up to 150 miles. They return to their natal stream to spawn, but unlike salmon, make the journey between stream and lake many times in their life.

08/05/2026

Fishing reminders for everyone out there:
1. A valid fishing license is required in Idaho for everyone age 14 and up.
2. Keeping Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout is illegal. Keeping Bull Trout can result in a $1,000 fine.
3. If you're fishing, it's your job to be able to identify what fish species you can keep. Idaho Fish and Game has a guide on fish identification here: https://idfg.idaho.gov/fish/identification/resident

06/18/2026

Idaho's Free Fishing Day is a day to celebrate fishing in Idaho and no fishing license is required.

05/30/2026

Want to help kids learn to fly fish?

What: Youth Fly Fishing Clinic
Where: Waterlife Discovery Center, Sagle, Idaho
When: Saturday, June 6, 2026, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm

This educational activity teaches basic fly-fishing skills and fish ecology to 20 students (grades 7-12). Participants have the opportunity to catch stocked rainbow trout in the pond. Sponsors include the Idaho Master Naturalists, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game and Panhandle Chapter – Trout Unlimited. Volunteers are needed to instruct basic fly casting and basic fly-fishing techniques. You do not need to be a certified fly-casting instructor to volunteer.

05/29/2026

Lindsay Morgan interviews PCTU president Chip Corsi and TU North Idaho Program Manager Cathy Gidley about the work Trout Unlimited has been doing in North Idaho.

us for another exciting episode of A Little Birdie Told Me where host Lindsay Morgan introduces you to the inc...

05/21/2026

We just published our Spring Newsletter with some updates and news. Sign up if you haven't already: https://www.northidahotu.org/contact/

As we mention in the newsletter, we're celebrating five years of healthier fish and forests in the Idaho Panhandle. Over the last five years, TU and the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (IPNF) have partnered on a series of ambitious restoration projects and set the stage for important work during 2026. Their successful collaboration builds on TU’s national agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and helps the IPNF deliver on a backlog of prioritized projects that support healthy rivers and fish populations, durable water supplies, fire resilient forests and important recreational opportunities.

Read more about these past, current, and future projects here: https://www.tu.org/magazine/conservation/five-years-of-healthier-fish-and-forests-in-idahos-panhandle/

In North Idaho, TU’s Panhandle Chapter has been active for several decades, but Trout Unlimited didn’t have full time staff in the

05/08/2026

In Idaho, support for keeping public lands in public hands isn’t just strong—it’s overwhelming. Recent polling shows roughly 96 percent of Idahoans back the idea that public lands should remain accessible to all of us.