As irrigators draw down water from manmade reservoirs this time of year for agricultural uses, some rivers can dry out, leaving fish populations high and dry.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has ordered a “fish salvage” opportunity for anglers on the Big Wood River and Richfield Canal below Magic Dam so the trapped fish will not go to waste.

“With warm days it will dry out pretty quickly,” said Idaho Fish and Game Regional Fisheries Manager Mike Peterson. “Fish trapped in that lower end typically will perish as the system dries out.”

Peterson said anglers can stock up on rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass and perch that are not expected to survive a reduction of water spilling over Magic Dam that started on Aug. 27.

“The birds and coyotes will eat what’s left,” he said.

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