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I' ASURE 4047 OF RESERVOIR FISHERY HARVEST, <br />PRESSURE AM SUCCESS <br />Job F-I <br />Background <br />A creel census program has been in effect on Flaming Gorge Reservoir <br />since fishing began in 1964. Information on annual harvest, age-growth, <br />angling pressure, and creel composition has been collected, analyzed <br />and presented in appropriate annual performance reports. <br />The purpose of the creel census has been documr;nting the euality <br />and quantity of the fishery as it has developed so that wise management <br />decisions can be made. Creel censuses and pressure counts were confined <br />to major access points around the lake from 1964 to 1966. An access <br />point-traffic index was used from 1967-1969. Counts were made at the <br />four major access points and pneumatic traffic counters were used at <br />other access points. In 1970 an intensive creel census was adopted <br />because of the continued increase in access roads, campgrounds and <br />boat-ramp construction. Day-long road blocks and boat-ramp checks were <br />made during the year on a stratified random schedule. Total fishermen <br />use was projected from car counters located on all of the reservoir <br />access roads. This method was further modified in 1972 to use U. S. <br />Forest Service electronic car counters at four major access points <br />around the lake. Road blocks were used at these points to project the <br />percentage of "fishing vehicles" headed for Flaming Gorge. Pressure <br />estimates were obtained using this procedure through 1976. <br />Fishing pressure estimates from 1964 to 1976 varied between 500,000 <br />and 2,234,000 angler hours per year. Total harvest of trout ranged