Fish & Game Lifts Horsethief Reservoir Bag Limits

Horsethief Reservoir will soon be drained and treated to improve future angling opportunities, and beginning Saturday, September 9 and continuing for the next few weeks, bag limits at the popular fishing spot have been eliminated. Until the treatment is complete or the order rescinded, anglers can take home as many fish as they can carry. All other fishing rules, including a valid fishing license, remain in force. Yellow perch were illegally stocked in the reservoir where they quickly reproduced. Their numbers are now severely limiting Horsethief's rainbow trout population. Three times since 1983, stunted perch have left anglers with six-inch long, skinny perch, and an unsatisfactory trout fishery. The scheduled treatment will restore the popular fishery by Memorial Day next year. Horsethief should be drained by late October, at which time the reservoir will be treated to kill any remaining fish. After refilling in the spring, the reservoir will be stocked with rainbow trout, just in time for the summer fishing season. For more information regarding the lifting of fish bag limits or the salvage operation, contact Fish and Game's McCall office (634-8137) or Nampa office (465-8465).