Hagerman WMA Ponds Placed on Fish Salvage

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commission has issued a salvage order on Hagerman Wildlife Management Area's, Anderson Pond #3, Anderson Pond #4, and Riley Pond. Anglers can keep all the fish they wish in these three ponds, with the exception of White Sturgeon. Fish may be taken by any method except firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current effective July 31 through September 30, 2015. A valid fishing license is required to salvage fish. White Sturgeon may not be harvested during the salvage effort. There is no legal way to be in possession of a White Sturgeon in Idaho unless legally purchased from a commercial fish production facility. The IDFG will make every effort to capture and transplant sturgeon prior to the treatment. These ponds are scheduled for chemical treatment to remove common carp from the ponds to eliminate competition with largemouth bass, bluegill, and hatchery stocked rainbow trout. The Ponds area being drawn down now to minimize the amount of water that needs to be chemically treated, and to assure a complete treatment. The treatment, scheduled for early September, is part of a 5-year effort to restore the fisheries to what they were before being overrun by common carp. Idaho Fish and Game will restock the ponds with Largemouth Bass and Bluegill in late 2015 or early 2016. For more information, call 324-4359.