You Can Help Collect Fish at C.J. Strike Reservoir on Saturday

BRUNEAU, Idaho – This Saturday, you can help the Idaho Department of Fish and Game re-establish fish populations in a couple of regional waters.

What happens at the fish transfer?

Fish and Game biologists will be at C.J. Strike Reservoir this Saturday, May 13, to collect from anglers largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and yellow perch for transfer to two reservoirs.

The reason: “The winter’s heavy snowpack has filled many small lakes and reservoirs throughout southwest Idaho including Blacks Creek Reservoir and Indian Creek Reservoir,” reads a news release from the department.

“We have a dedicated group of anglers that have agreed to volunteer their time to give back to the resource,” fisheries biologist Mike Peterson said in the prepared statement. “But we want to encourage all licensed anglers to join us for the capture event.”

The event goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To register, anglers should stop at the Air Force boat ramp just north of Strike Dam.

“Because it is illegal to transport live fish without a permit within the state, we will provide participants with a permission slip to transport live fish during the event,” Peterson said.

Holding pens will be placed adjacent to the Air Force boat ramp, where participating anglers can drop off their live fish. At the end of the day, the fish will be loaded into hatchery trucks and delivered to the reservoirs.

Peterson said with anglers help the department will be able to move fish into the reservoir much sooner than it’d be able to otherwise. Transferred fish grow quickly.

“If the reservoirs continue to hold water,” he said, “they should provide great fishing opportunity in two to three years.”