By Ben Romans
Last week, the Idaho Fish and Game Department (IDFG) announced anglers fishing Meadow Reservoir near Lewiston can catch and keep as many fish as they can between September 1 and October 31, 2013, by any means possible, with one caveat—no electricity, firearms or explosives.
A press release from the IDFG says that illegal fish introductions have caused the fishery to decline to the point it’s now dominated by bullhead, yellow perch and crappie. While anglers still need a valid fishing license to wet a line on Meadow Reservoir, the IDFG’s salvage order eliminated bag limits and allows anglers to cull fish nearly any way they can, so long as it didn’t pose other risks—hence the reminder not to use methods involving chemicals, poisons, explosives or electricity.
What fish aren’t caught will eventually be killed. The agency plans to begin rehabilitating the reservoir in early November when water levels will be low, reducing the amount of the chemical rotenone needed to kill remaining fish.
“We heard angler's concerns about the declining fishery, and it is time to do something about it,” said Robert Hand, regional fisheries biologist. “By using rotenone, we can completely start over and develop a good fishery that will bring anglers back to Soldiers Meadow Reservoir.”
Source : fieldandstream[dot]com
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