8057

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8057
• Author: Bennett, J. R., D. A. Krieger, T. P. Nesler, L. E. Harris and R. B. Nehring.
• Title: An Assessment Of Fishery Management And Fish Production Alternatives To Reduce The Impact Of Whirling Disease In Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

The other source of demand, of course, is angling recreation. DOW's sportfishing
programs have benefitted from maximizing hatchery production over the years. For example,
during 1992-94, our hatchery system produced an average of 4.87 million catchable trout and
10.3 million subcatchable. trout per year. An annual average of 13.8% of catchable production
and 50% of subcatchable production was free of WD during this time.
Demand for Native Cutthroat and Wild Trout Fisheries
Six surveys were conducted from 1982 through 1995 to determine public and angler
opinions, preferences, and use patterns concerning fishing recreation in Colorado. It is difficult to
make direct comparisons between these surveys since questions were not standardized, but it is
instructive to examine the results for those questions of a similar nature to assess possible trends
(Table 9). Fishing in coldwater lakes and streams, with a preference for trout, characterized more
than 801/o of the angler days over five surveys in a 13-year period. Much of the fluctuation
observed in angler use of coldwater fisheries was due to coldwater lake fishing. A preference for
catch-and-release fishing appears to have increased dramatically since 1982. In 1990, 87%
surveyed wanted the DOW to continue this management strategy; while in 1994, 68% indicated
they wanted to see more catch-and-release opportunities. The preference for wild trout fishing
increased from 18% in 1982 to 70% in 1994, while the preference for catchable trout fishing
appeared to remain constant between 1982 and 1994. It also appears that recreation days spent
fishing for catchable trout has increased, or at least that the number of participants in this type of
fishing has increased from 1982 to 1994, while participation in wild trout fishing has not changed
as much. There was a strong increase in support for reduction in the bag limit to four fish in the
1980s, which was still apparent in 1995. Reduction in the bag limit below four fish was opposed
in 1982. Anglers using primarily bait appear to have decreased steadily from 47% in 1986 to 15%
in 1994. Participation in warmwater fishing appears to have increased twofold from 1982 to
1994, but a preference for warmwater fishing has dropped from 24% to 9% over the same period.
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