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.002 J 4 3 rate of 0.86 greenbacke and 0.40 brook trout per hour. In 1983, anglers caught an average of 0.78 greenbacks per hour and 0.25 brook trout per hour during the first week of angling. This demonstrated that althcugh greenbacks were the minority of the fish in the ponds, they. represent the majority of the fish caught. Fifteen percent of the greenbacks captured in fyke nets during September 1983 exhibited visible damage attributed to angler's hooks. It was hoped that anglers would keep all brook trout caught, but interviewed anglers reported releasing 60 percent of all brook trout caught in 1982 and 1983, and 45-100' of all brook trcut caught from 1984-1993. Although anglers must release all greenbacks, as many as seven percent cf the greenbacks were kept due to mistaken identificaticn of subspecies in 1986. Although the trapping and angling prcgram appeared to reduce brock trout numbers and improve the condition of greenbacks by September 1983, there has not been a significant long term imprcvement in the Hidden Valley greenback population abundance. However, the program may have prevented a faster decline in the greenback population I such a decline was'observed in Black Hollow Creek where no trapping or angling programs occurred. South Platte drainaae. areenback-cnlv fisheries. Several lakes and streams within the Roosevelt National Forest and RMNP are open tc catch-and-release angling fcr greenbacks (see Tables 1-4). Greenback biomass in restoration projects is usually greater under catch-and-release regulations than that found under the previous catch-and-kill regulations. Ang1.er success rates for greenbacks ranged from 0.3 to 6.4 fish per hour in streame within RMNP in the period from 1.986-1.989, and ranged from 1.7 to 1.2 fish per hour on National Forest and RMNP waters in the period from 1990 to 1993. Arkansas River drainaae. The first catch-and-release greenback fishery in the Arkansas River drainage. opened at the 0.4 ha Lytle Pond on Ft. Carson in 1989. A limit of 25 annual greenback permits are sold at a cost 'of $20.00 for this pond. Prior to cbtaining a greenback permit, all greenback anglers are required to hold a $10.00 Ft. Carson general fishing permit, a Colorado State fishing permit and attend a Ft. Carson safety briefing. Angler success, satisfaction and experience was measured by a self-conducted cree1. census. In this census anglers ranked themselves as "experienced" anglers, and indicated the following angler success and satisfacticn. Year Average Fish/Hour Length , Anglers Satisfied with. Number Length OVerall Program 1990 1991 1.52 0.47 307 mm 353 mm 72 52 78 77 I 81 100 AS in RMNP, about 16' of ~he fish examined showed some signs of hooking or hocldng damage. Although brook trout are present in Lyt1.e Pond, none were reported caught in the 1990-1991 creel census. This again demonstrates the greater susceptibility to angling exhibited by greenbacks. 16