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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />12 <br />in 1980 estimated angler use at 29,000 hours with a catch-per-angler hour (CPAH) of 0.83. <br />Most of the trout caught were quality-sized (14 inch) fish. Many anglers put a high value on <br />the opportunity to catch and keep quality-sized trout. They may react negatively to an <br />introduction of a species that they think would interfere with this opportunity. <br />If the conservation pool could be reestablished, an obvious option would be to take <br />advantage of the high productivity and manage the reservoir as a put and grow Snake River <br />cutthroat trout fishery. This management strategy has a track record of success and angler <br />acceptance. Planted tiger muskie could establish a population in the reservoir and at least some <br />fish would be expected to recruit to trophy size. In this case, tiger muskie predation of the <br />fingerling Snake River Cutthroat trout would be significant and may increase fmgerling stocking <br />costs as well as damage the trout fishery. A conservation pool would allow the density of white <br />sucker to increase to the point that it would become a significant tiger muskie food item also. <br />If no conservation pool can be negotiated, then there remains the option of stocking creel-sized <br />trout during the summer months when the reservoir would normally have sufficient water to <br />provide a fishery. Under the put and take management scheme the creel sized rainbow trout <br />would be the mainstay of the tiger muskie diet. However, without a conservation pool it is <br />unlikely that sufficient permanent habitat would exist to recruit many trophy sized tiger muskie. <br />Further, reservoir drawdowns would flush tiger muskie downstream at an unacceptably high rate <br />of escapement. <br />Because Continental Reservoir is located in the Rio Grande drainage, tiger muskie would <br />be unable to escape into waters occupied by endangered fishes of the Colorado River basin. <br />However, during annual summer spills and managed drawdowns, tiger muskie could access <br />North Clear Creek and the mainstream of the Rio Grande River. They would have opportunity <br />to emigrate to areas occupied by longnose dace and Rio Grand Chub (a Species of Special <br />Concern in Colorado) (Table 5). In addition, tiger muskie would have access to portions of the <br />Rio Grande supporting brown and rainbow trout fisheries in the Rio Grande National Forest that <br />are managed for quality angling with special fishing regulations. Part of the special regulation <br />water is on four large private ranches near Creede that cater to summer trout anglers. It is <br />unlikely but remotely possible that tiger muskie would also have access to privately managed <br />Santa Maria Reservoir and Seepage Lake. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />