Idaho Falls and fishermen work to allow night fishing along Greenbelt

Local fishermen have called to action for the City of Idaho Falls to allow night fishing in parks along the Snake River. They cite accounts of fishermen being chased off the park because of an ordinance not allowing activity in parks between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The concerns started on Facebook, where posts received hundreds of comments. Concerned fishermen posted that night was the best time to catch crawfish and sturgeon. Posts claimed police had been aggressively enforcing the ordinance.

Jessica Clements, public information officer for the Idaho Falls Police Department, said officers seldom patrol parks at night as they are busy responding to other calls. A private security company hired by parks and recreation handles it. Their uniforms and vehicles look very similar to police, so people often think they have encountered police when it is private security.

Eric Grossarth, public information officer for the city, said following the concerns the city informed the private security company to allow fishing along the river.

The parks curfew was passed by the city council in 2022 to address concerns of vandalism and people experiencing homelessness staying at a park gazebo for all hours of the day. The ordinance made parks off limits during the night, but still allowed travel along designated bicycle and pedestrian pathways and on park roads that provide direct access to residences.

However, Idaho law makes streams and rivers public right of way up to the high-water mark.

Grossarth said because of this fishermen should be allowed along the river at all hours of the day. He said the city was glad to hear fishermen speak up about the concerns as officials didn’t know this was occurring. The city has informed their privately hired security company to allow fishing along the river and allow those traveling to and from the water to place traps.

“This does not change the fact that the parks do close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” Grossarth stated in an email. “Fishing is allowed, though, in the high-water mark.”

Adam Yawin is a local fisherman. Yawin said he was night fishing with his father last year when police officers told him to leave, or he would be arrested for trespassing.

Yawin believes the ordinance will still have to change despite Idaho law making water public right of way. He said without a clear high-water mark fishermen will have to be in the river to legally fish along the Greenbelt at night.

“You’re really opening yourself to liability because you’re now telling people if they’re with their family or their kids you have to be in water that has a current,” Yawin said.

Yawin said the city has been very cooperative to find a resolution to concerns about night fishing.

“Everything needs to be done peacefully, and I want to make sure it’s known this is going to be done peacefully,” Yawin said.