Stranded fish are a sad, but regular occurrence in Idaho as reservoirs get drained, ponds dry up and irrigation canals get shut down seasonally, and Fish and Game usually provides a salvage season so anglers can catch the fish. But a salvage season probably wasn't the best option when a stocking truck got stranded on a busy section of Interstate 84 near Mountain Home earlier this spring.
Hagerman State Fish Hatchery staff had 4,000 pounds of 12-inch rainbow trout loaded on the transport truck and destined for Mann Lake near Lewiston. Seven miles west of Mountain Home, the truck broke down and could not be immediately repaired.
Fortunately, Fish and Game had empty stocking trucks available to ride to the rescue. With traffic control provided by Idaho Transportation Department and Elmore County Sheriff’s office, who directed traffic into the passing lane, the hatchery trucks got close enough to transfer the fish. Crews from Nampa, Niagara Springs, and Hagerman hatcheries were able to net all of the fish and put them into smaller two trucks from Hagerman hatchery.
Although it was a challenging and potentially dangerous situation, the operation went smoothly, and all of the fish were rerouted and stocked into Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir, which was also in need of 12-inch rainbow trout. Thanks to Idaho Transportation Department, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, and quick thinking from hatchery personnel, a potential significant fish loss was averted.
Spring is the busiest time for Fish and Game's stocking crews, but it's a year-round endeavor. Fish and Game will stock about 1.7 millions catchable rainbow trout (8 to 14 inches) in 2018, in addition to 15 million fingerling (juvenile) trout and kokanee salmon for anglers.
To see where and when these fish are getting stocked, visit our Fish Stocking webpage.
The broken truck was towed to Boise, repaired, and back on the road the following week, and crews delivered the promised load of fish to Mann Lake a week later.