State and federal fish stocking in full swing
BY MARIA PREKEGES
Fishing is a sport enjoyed by many in the Wood River Valley as well as statewide. There are many choices and places to fish, and federal and state trout-stocking programs are now underway to make sure there are adequate stocks for the area’s anglers.
April is a busy time for the fish-stocking programs, and tanker trucks loaded with trout have been passing through the Wood River Valley to stock ponds, streams, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
Some trucks are from the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery, while others are from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. These two programs vary from what they stock, to where and when.
Trucks bearing the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery logo have been passing through the valley throughout April, and hatchery manager Craig Eaton told The Weekly Sun that the program is intended to shore up steelhead populations in the region.
“They are releasing steelhead trout into the Salmon River below the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery near Stanley, Idaho,” Eaton explained in a written statement. “This federal program is part of the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan (LSRCP) to mitigate for fish and wildlife losses caused by the construction of four dams on the lower Snake River.
“These fish migrate to the ocean and, after two to three years, return as adults to spawn near where they are released, in our case below another LSRCP hatchery called Sawtooth Fish Hatchery.
“The adults will return there and that hatchery crew will spawn the adults and Hagerman NFH will receive the eggs once they eye up,” Eaton stated. “Hagerman NFH has been doing this annually since the mid-’80s.”
With spring runoff comes high and murky waters, which some might think would delay the federal stocking program, but Eaton explained that murky water is not a hindrance.
“Murky water does not delay stocking; in fact, it’s better for the fish because piscivorous-eating predators are less likely to see them swimming in the river,” Eaton stated. “Spring runoff helps move steelhead downriver, expending less energy than if they had to swim the entire way.”
The federal program differs from the state program in that trout stocked by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) stay in the area and do not migrate to the ocean.
“We request an early stocking with a condition that says check water conditions first,” said Doug Megargle, IDFG regional fisheries manager. “They’ll hold out until water levels are more appropriate for stocking. The runoff comes plus or minus four weeks. We’re poised to stock early, in case the runoff comes off early so we have the fish in the water for folks, so we’re prepared.”
Information on local trout stocking is available from the department at its website at fishandgame.idaho.gov.
“The historical stocking dates are pretty close to when we will stock again this year,” Megargle said.
Most of the rainbow trout stocked in the area come from the Hayspur Fish Hatchery near Picabo. Megargle said stocked fish are typically about 10 inches long and are released in what the department refers to as “put and take management.”
“We put them, and they take them,” he said, referring to anglers who like to keep fish for eating. “We put them out with the goal that anglers will catch them, and put them in areas that are high use.”
