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fishery. Creel rates and harvest reached a peak in 1965 (Schmidt et al. 1980b) <br />and a general decline in the rainbow fishery has occurred since that time. Utah <br />chubs (Gila atraria) and later, white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) became <br />established in the reservoir. Competition for food and space with these two <br />rough fish species, especially the Utah chub, resulted in the decline of the <br />rainbow trout fishery and prompted the first stocking of brown trout (Salmo <br />trutta) in the Inflow Area during 1966. The brown trout grew rapidly in the <br />presence of a rapidly expanding Utah chub population. By the late 1970's a <br />nationally acclaimed trophy brown trout fishery had been established with a 33 <br />pound 12 ounce fish establishing a new North American record. <br />Flaming Gorge has been managed primarily as a rainbow trout fishery since <br />1963. In 1982, management of the reservoir turned to include the trophy brown <br />trout fishery, as well as the developing trophy lake trout fishery. Lake trout <br />(Salvelinus namaycush) became established naturally in the reservoir through <br />downstream drift from the Finger Lakes on the upper Green River. Lake trout did <br />not appear in gill net sampling until 1977, although lake trout were reported in <br />the creel as early as 1971. Other species of fish which have been introduced <br />to fulfill specific management objectives include kokanee salmon (Oncorhyncus <br />nerka), several sub-species and strains of cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki), <br />smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomi_eui), largemouth bass (M. salmoides), and <br />channel catfish (Ictaluras punetatus). <br />Flaming Gorge Reservoir has been cooperatively studied and managed by the <br />Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources since <br />1963. During this time, investigations leading towards specific fishery manage- <br />ment practices have been supported by the Bureau of Reclamation (Section 8 <br />Funds), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Dingell-Johnson Funds), and <br />state funds. Funding by these agencies has created a wealth of publications by <br />both state agencies dealing with various facets of the fishery resource. <br />This report deals with fishery management investigations from July 1, 1977 <br />through June 30, 1983. The report summarizes all the annual reports from 1977 <br />through 1982 and includes data collected during the spring of 1983. These <br />investigations were funded.by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(Dingell-Johnson Funds) and state appropriations. <br />The report summarizes creel surveys leading to harvest; age and growth ana- <br />lysis and utilization estimates; gill netting, electrofishing, and purse seining <br />activities to determine population trends; food habits and other life history <br />data of fish species in the reservoir; the marking and stocking of game fish to <br />meet specific management goals; yearly enumeration and surveillance of kokanee <br />and brown trout spawning in the Green River above Flaming Gorge Reservoir; and <br />recruitment from reproduction in the Green River; the monitoring of the lim- <br />nology of the reservoir and review of environmental impact statements and plans <br />which would affect the fishery resource in the reservoir; literature reviews <br />which were pertinent to the research and management of the reservoir; and the <br />analysis of data and preparation of annual reports on the Fishery Management <br />Investigations of Flaming Gorge Reservoir (F-44-R). <br />The fisheries management objectives for Flaming Gorge Reservoir are as <br />follows: <br />