Laserfiche WebLink
<br />verify age and growth determinations from scale analysis. <br />Calculation of fishery statistics was computed using Fire I, a computer <br />program designed by Hesse (1977). Length-weight relationships, backcalcul- <br />ated growth, condition (K), length frequency, and mean weight and length per <br />age group were among the computed statistics. Lee's corrected formula was <br />used to determine length-weight relationships, and condition(K) was deter- <br />mined using total length. <br /> <br />Analysis of Spawning Habitat <br /> <br />The Blue River study area was divided into 25 150-m-long sections. Aver- <br />age width and total area of spawning habitat were estimated in each section. <br />Three indicators were used to identify spawning habitat: 1) presence of suit- <br />able gravel, 2) presence of brown trout nests, or 3) presence of spawning <br />brown trout. Total area, mean current velocity and mean depth were calculated <br />for each identified spawning site. <br />Substrate samples were collected from 23 spawning sites to determine size <br />range and percentage composition of gravel utilized for nest construction. <br />Each sample was collected using a 305-mm-diameter pipe, which was driven <br />approximately 75 mm into the substrate. Substrate within the pipe was removed <br />and stored in plastic bags. Each sample was air dried and separated into size <br />groups described by Cummins (1961). Percentage composition by size group was <br />calculated by weight. <br />Measurements taken on individual trout nests included length, width, <br />depth of depression, water depth, current velocity and distance from cover. <br />Dimension of redds and number of nests per redd could not be determined be- <br />cause it was not known whether the nests in one area were constructed by <br />one or several females. <br /> <br />Determination of the Effect of Harvest <br /> <br />A stratified random sampling creel survey modeled after one designed by <br />Neuhold and Lee (1957) and described by Sealing and Bennett (1980) was used <br />to estimate angling pressure and total number of brown trout harvested from <br />Dillon Reservoir in 1979 and 1980. The creel survey was conducted from <br />Memorial Day through Labor Day each year between the hours of 6:00 A.M. <br />(0600) and 9:00 P.M. (2100). A creel survey also was conducted from dark to <br />dawn during September-October 1980 to estimate brown trout harvest at night. <br /> <br />RESULTS <br /> <br />Age, Growth, Condition, Sex Ratio and Number of Brown Trout <br />in the Spawning Migration, 1979-1980 <br /> <br />Age group III was the most abundant group collected from the spawning <br />migration (Fig. 1). Length-frequency distribution (Fig. 2) verified age <br />groups determined from scales. Otolith analysis was also used for verifica- <br />tion; 97% of the cases compared were in agreement. <br />Average lengths and weights of aged fish (Table 1) in 1979 were larger <br />than in 1980 (independent sample t-test indicated a significant difference <br />for both lengths and weights, P < 0.001). <br /> <br />38 <br />