Record Rescue: 170 Volunteers Save Over 4,000 Fish Trapped in Irrigation Canals

Each year, as the irrigation canals in the area shut down for the winter, fish are trapped when the water levels in the canals lower, preventing them from returning to their native waters. For the past 25 years, the East Yellowstone Trout Unlimited chapter has organized a fish rescue. Using electroshock to stun the fish, the volunteers can then gather them in nets and move them back to the rivers. This effort helps maintain healthy population numbers. Below is the report from EYTU about the 2025 Fish Rescue Project.

Fish Rescue Wrap-Up:

East Yellowstone TU with the help of multiple volunteers completed another successful fish rescue campaign netting and returning to their home river 4,061 trout and whitefish. Cody canal led the way with 2,875 fish followed by Garland canal with 911 fish and Willwood canal with 275 fish. Bob Capron, who has participated in fish rescue for over 30 years, noted that many larger fish were netted this year. A 25.5 inch brown trout from the Garland canal won the top prize while many fish in the 20 inch range were captured and released.

Volunteers delivered again as 170 rescuers contributed 1,332 hours for the autumn ritual. Volunteer groups included the Cody High School Fly Fishing Club, Powell High School Environmental Studies Class, Northwest College Rodeo and Wrestling Clubs, Cody FFA. and Cody Outdoor Club as well as many individuals from the Cody and Powell area. In addition to the satisfaction of saving many trout, each volunteer was rewarded with a buff (neck gaiter) and a catered lunch. Contributions from the Wyoming Community Foundation, Wyoming Outdoorsmen, Black Hills Energy, and East Yellowstone TU covered the food and gift costs.

Fish rescue would not be possible without the dedicated help of EYTU volunteers. Dave Sweet led the overall effort planning each day and organizing gear, backpack shockers, aeration tank, and conducting daily briefings. Cathy Sweet ensured the volunteers were well fed each day with excellent catered lunches. Ted Richmond helped organize volunteer groups and Jerold Vincent organized individual volunteers. Bob Capron kept track of rescued fish and Jeff Theisen tracked total rescued fish and volunteer days. Overall, a very successful campaign.

Dave Sweet noted that this was the most fish rescued and the most volunteers participating in many years. He further noted that fish rescue has been a project of the East Yellowstone Chapter for over 25 years and highlights the issue of fish being entrained in irrigation systems throughout the Big Horn Basin. The campaign would not be possible without the cooperation of the irrigation districts who have supported the work and are striving to avoid fish entrainment in their systems.

The chapter along with Wyoming Game and Fish Supervisory Fish Biologist Sam Hochhalter recently surveyed several irrigation canals in the Clarks Fork drainage to determine if fish rescue is warranted. We released 100 fish back into the Clarks Fork but need to do more surveys next fall to see if a full-scale operation is needed.

Len Fortunato with the 25.5 inch brown trout from the Garland canal.

Powell High School Environmental Studies Class plus TU volunteers.

Northwest College volunteers work the Garland Canal

Join EYTU at their November meeting:
“Choosing the Right Fly”

All are welcome at the next chapter meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 at 6 PM at the Wyoming Game and Fish Conference Room. Our featured speaker is Spencer Durant, a fly fishing writer, guide, and bamboo rod builder from Utah who now lives in Basin, WY. He’s also the host of the weekly podcast Untangled: Fly Fishing for Everyone and has authored numerous articles in Hatch, Mid-Current and Flylords magazine. Spencer will share his fishing experiences and focus on choosing the right fly.

Learn more about the East Yellowstone Trout Unlimited.

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