01-10-2007, 04:27 AM
Below I pasted an interesting read that I found on the F&G website. I have a lot of good memories fishing Island Park Reservoir when I was younger. I've fished it a few times the last 3 or 4 years and have not done very well. Even ended up skunked a couple times. In the mid to late 90's I had some very good days at IP reservoir. There were even a few days that we caught 100+ fish. I remember argueing with a friend that the fishing at IP Reservoir was better than Henry's Lake. I wouldn't even think of trying to argue that same arguement the last few years. Anyone have any opinions they would like to share?
There is only thing I wouldn't agree with in the article. I thought the fishing at IP Reservoir was much better after it was rotenone. It may have had more to do with good snow pack than the rotenone though. IP reservoir certainly has potential to be a great fishery. I hope it comes back.
[font "Times New Roman"][size 4][black]IDFG biologists fishing for answers in Island Park Reservoir for ways to improve the fishery[/black][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]ISLAND PARK - The fishery in Island Park Reservoir, just like the water level, has seen its ups and downs over the years. That's not surprising given the two are related. The fishery has suffered since the onset of the most recent drought in 2000, leaving many anglers wondering what can be done to improve it. In an effort to answer that question, the fisheries staff at IDFG has been examining the fishery's history and identifying various management options. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]The Island Park Reservoir fishery is not an easy one to understand. Combine the highly variable water levels with an inconsistent stocking program over the past several decades, and then throw in a few rotenone projects and it's pretty tough to tease out the recipe for a great fishery. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Suckers and chubs have been fingered as the main impediments to a good fishery in the past. In fact, the reservoir has been treated with rotenone to kill the unwanted fish on several occasions, most recently in 1992. While non-game fish may have an affect on the fishery, it's not the driving factor, according to Jim Fredericks, Regional Fishery Manager for IDFG. Instead, Fredericks points to water levels and drought as being the bigger issue. "There's little question that the single most important factor in the fishery is the carryover, or the amount of water held in the reservoir after irrigation season" he said. On average, Island Park Reservoir is about 45% full going into the winter. However, from 2001 through 2003, it averaged only 11%. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Besides winter carryover, the stocking rates have confounded the picture. Over the past 50 years, IDFG has managed the reservoir with a wide range of stocking strategies. Varying numbers of fingerling rainbow trout have been stocked in the spring, summer, and fall, in addition to a lesser number of "catchable" or 10-12 inch sized fish. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Furthermore, as part of a statewide effort to minimize risks of interbreeding with native fish, IDFG has been stocking only triploid (sterile) rainbow trout in Island Park Reservoir since 2003. "The triploid program really wasn't aimed at Island Park or the Henrys Fork" Fredericks said, "Obviously the vast majority of reproducing fish in the system are already rainbow trout, so the triploids were stocked more as a matter of consistency than a native fish concern". [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Upwards of one million fingerling rainbows were planted until the late 1990's, but that was decreased by about two thirds, coinciding with the drought. "The decreased stocking rates haven't helped the fishery in recent years" Fredericks said, "but planting a half million or a million fish into the reservoir when it gets taken down to 15% full in the winter would just be a waste." [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Fredericks believes now that water levels have improved there's an opportunity to rebuild the fishery. "The approach we're taking is to go back to the last time we had a good fishery and see if we can't duplicate what we were doing" Fredericks said. The biggest change would be to switch back to late spring fingerling stocking and increase the plants to at least 750,000 fish. Additionally, IDFG could stock diploid (reproductively viable) rainbow trout, as opposed to the sterile triploid fish that have been stocked since 2002. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]In addition to going back to a stocking program reminiscent of that in the late 1980's, IDFG has identified other alternatives. One possibility is to stock the reservoir heavily with a type of fish that would take advantage of the extensive non-game fish population. Splake, a cross between a brook trout and a lake trout have been used widely in the eastern United States. They tend to live much longer than a brook trout, and have a lake trout's appetite for fish. They were stocked in a few waters in Idaho in the 1990's, including Island Park Reservoir with some success. In 2006 a 10 lb 12 oz state record splake was caught from Ririe Reservoir. "There's some potential that they could be used to take advantage of the chubs and suckers and create a unique trophy fishery" Fredericks said, "but there's no evidence that they'd do anything to improve the rainbow trout fishery". [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]One last management alternative is chemical treatment. Despite rotenone being used several times in the past, it hasn't lived up to expectations in the benefits to the fishery. According to Fredericks, in 1982, following a 1979 treatment, IDFG concluded that it had not improved the fishery. Similar conclusions were drawn in 1994, two years after the 1992 treatment. "Rotenone isn't off the table" Fredericks said, "but from a biological, social, or economical perspective, it's not jumping out right now as the logical solution." [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3]Interested public is invited to learn more about the fishery and management options. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be holding a meeting in Rexburg on Jan. 18th at the Madison County Senior Citizen Center located at 40 South 2nd West to present information on the fishery and discuss management options for the reservoir. The meeting will run from 7 PM to 9 PM. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Jim Fredericks ([/size][/black][/font][url "mailto:jfredericks@idfg.idaho.gov"][font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3]jfredericks@idfg.idaho.gov[/size][/black][/font][/url][font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3].) at the Idaho Department of Fish & Game at 525-7290 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529(TDD).[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3][url "http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=3655"]http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/...view.cfm?NewsID=3655[/url][/size][/black][/font]
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There is only thing I wouldn't agree with in the article. I thought the fishing at IP Reservoir was much better after it was rotenone. It may have had more to do with good snow pack than the rotenone though. IP reservoir certainly has potential to be a great fishery. I hope it comes back.
[font "Times New Roman"][size 4][black]IDFG biologists fishing for answers in Island Park Reservoir for ways to improve the fishery[/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]ISLAND PARK - The fishery in Island Park Reservoir, just like the water level, has seen its ups and downs over the years. That's not surprising given the two are related. The fishery has suffered since the onset of the most recent drought in 2000, leaving many anglers wondering what can be done to improve it. In an effort to answer that question, the fisheries staff at IDFG has been examining the fishery's history and identifying various management options. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]The Island Park Reservoir fishery is not an easy one to understand. Combine the highly variable water levels with an inconsistent stocking program over the past several decades, and then throw in a few rotenone projects and it's pretty tough to tease out the recipe for a great fishery. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Suckers and chubs have been fingered as the main impediments to a good fishery in the past. In fact, the reservoir has been treated with rotenone to kill the unwanted fish on several occasions, most recently in 1992. While non-game fish may have an affect on the fishery, it's not the driving factor, according to Jim Fredericks, Regional Fishery Manager for IDFG. Instead, Fredericks points to water levels and drought as being the bigger issue. "There's little question that the single most important factor in the fishery is the carryover, or the amount of water held in the reservoir after irrigation season" he said. On average, Island Park Reservoir is about 45% full going into the winter. However, from 2001 through 2003, it averaged only 11%. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Besides winter carryover, the stocking rates have confounded the picture. Over the past 50 years, IDFG has managed the reservoir with a wide range of stocking strategies. Varying numbers of fingerling rainbow trout have been stocked in the spring, summer, and fall, in addition to a lesser number of "catchable" or 10-12 inch sized fish. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Furthermore, as part of a statewide effort to minimize risks of interbreeding with native fish, IDFG has been stocking only triploid (sterile) rainbow trout in Island Park Reservoir since 2003. "The triploid program really wasn't aimed at Island Park or the Henrys Fork" Fredericks said, "Obviously the vast majority of reproducing fish in the system are already rainbow trout, so the triploids were stocked more as a matter of consistency than a native fish concern". [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Upwards of one million fingerling rainbows were planted until the late 1990's, but that was decreased by about two thirds, coinciding with the drought. "The decreased stocking rates haven't helped the fishery in recent years" Fredericks said, "but planting a half million or a million fish into the reservoir when it gets taken down to 15% full in the winter would just be a waste." [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]Fredericks believes now that water levels have improved there's an opportunity to rebuild the fishery. "The approach we're taking is to go back to the last time we had a good fishery and see if we can't duplicate what we were doing" Fredericks said. The biggest change would be to switch back to late spring fingerling stocking and increase the plants to at least 750,000 fish. Additionally, IDFG could stock diploid (reproductively viable) rainbow trout, as opposed to the sterile triploid fish that have been stocked since 2002. [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]In addition to going back to a stocking program reminiscent of that in the late 1980's, IDFG has identified other alternatives. One possibility is to stock the reservoir heavily with a type of fish that would take advantage of the extensive non-game fish population. Splake, a cross between a brook trout and a lake trout have been used widely in the eastern United States. They tend to live much longer than a brook trout, and have a lake trout's appetite for fish. They were stocked in a few waters in Idaho in the 1990's, including Island Park Reservoir with some success. In 2006 a 10 lb 12 oz state record splake was caught from Ririe Reservoir. "There's some potential that they could be used to take advantage of the chubs and suckers and create a unique trophy fishery" Fredericks said, "but there's no evidence that they'd do anything to improve the rainbow trout fishery". [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][black]One last management alternative is chemical treatment. Despite rotenone being used several times in the past, it hasn't lived up to expectations in the benefits to the fishery. According to Fredericks, in 1982, following a 1979 treatment, IDFG concluded that it had not improved the fishery. Similar conclusions were drawn in 1994, two years after the 1992 treatment. "Rotenone isn't off the table" Fredericks said, "but from a biological, social, or economical perspective, it's not jumping out right now as the logical solution." [/black][/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3]Interested public is invited to learn more about the fishery and management options. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be holding a meeting in Rexburg on Jan. 18th at the Madison County Senior Citizen Center located at 40 South 2nd West to present information on the fishery and discuss management options for the reservoir. The meeting will run from 7 PM to 9 PM. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting Jim Fredericks ([/size][/black][/font][url "mailto:jfredericks@idfg.idaho.gov"][font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3]jfredericks@idfg.idaho.gov[/size][/black][/font][/url][font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3].) at the Idaho Department of Fish & Game at 525-7290 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529(TDD).[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3][url "http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=3655"]http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/...view.cfm?NewsID=3655[/url][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
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