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<br />twice, with all zones sampled once before tagging in a zone was repeated. A standard daily set <br />consisted of six nets, run every 2 hours, three times per netting day. Lake trout were located with the <br />use of an electronic fish locater before nets were set. Every fish from each net was freed and placed <br />in a live-well before any fish from that net was tagged. In 1981 and 1982, fish were placed in <br />number 3 metal tubs; while in 1985, a 75 gallon tank was utilized. <br /> <br />Captured lake trout were weighed and measured, tagged and then released in the area of <br />capture. In 1982, the left pelvic fm was clipped from each tagged fish and in 1985, scale samples <br />were taken from each tagged fish for age-growth determinations. The left pelvic clips of the 1982 <br />fish were used to determine tag loss. <br /> <br />Detailed records were kept for each tagged fish. Records included tag number, length, weight, <br />specific area captured, depth of water, condition of fish upon release and date of capture. Fatally <br />injured fish were weighed, measured and used to provide food habits data. A fish was released only <br />if the biologist was confident it could survive. <br /> <br />All tagging records from the 1981 and 1982 studies were sent to the Utah Division of Wildlife <br />Resources office in Salt Lake City, Utah, where 1981-1982 tags were returned by anglers for <br />processing and payment. Letters were sent to each angler returning a tag. Records from the 1985 <br />tagging were kept in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where 1985 tags were to be sent for processing and <br />payment. All lake trout tagging and return data were placed on the word processor in Cheyenne. A <br />letter was drafted and stored in the word processor to be sent to each angler returning a tag. Upon the <br />return of a tag, the tagging data were typed into the appropriate spaces of the letter and a prompt reply <br />returned to the fishermen. The $5.00 reward check was sent later, after processing by the Fiscal <br />Division. Payments for rewards for each fiscal year were divided equally by the two states. <br /> <br />Printed signs were placed at all access points on the reservoir, visitor information areas, <br />sporting goods stores, license vendors, etc., describing the study and requesting angler cooperation. <br />News releases were periodically dispersed to inform the angling public of the study. <br /> <br />Concerns were expressed about survival of lake trout gill netted at depths ranging from 40 to <br />over 90 feet. Survival of fish which bled from the gills, because of the cutting of gill filaments from <br />entanglement in the net was also of concern. In order to evaluate these fears, a short term survival <br />and general condition experime!lt was undertaken in 1982 and 1985. Several tagged lake trout in the <br />poor, fair and good condition categories were placed in a framed-net live car. The live car was <br />suspended by an inflated tire overnight at approximately the same depth the fish were captured. The <br />general condition of the fish was noted and their tag numbers recorded before release. <br /> <br />RESULTS <br /> <br />A total of 711ake trout were tagged during the months of October, November and December <br />1981. The fish ranged in weight from 0.37 to 20.8 pounds. During the months of April and May <br />1982, a total of 214 lake trout were tagged. These fish ranged in weight from 2.9 to 18.2 pounds. <br />Utah and Wyoming biologists hoped to tag at least 400 lake trout during 1981 and 1982. <br /> <br />Wyoming assumed the responsibility for the study during the months of April and May of <br />1985. A total of 400 lake trout were tagged ranging in weight from 0.7 to over 33.0 pounds. Lake <br />trout tagging began on April 17, 1985 and was completed May 24, 1985. Only eight full days and 10 <br />half days of netting in conjunction with the spring trend netting were required to tag 400 lake trout. <br />All live lake trout from the trend netting were also tagged and released. The trend netting was <br />responsible for 62 of the 400 lake trout tagged. <br /> <br />18 <br />