followed by a marked increase in 1987. Much of the increased 

 catch consisted of yellow perch, squawfish, and coarsescale 

 suckers. Brown trout increased during 1982-87 probably due 

 to improved natural reproduction. Bull trout and rainbow 

 trout numbers have remained relatively stable, while large- 

 mouth and smallmouth bass appear to be increasing. The 

 stabilization of reservoir levels appears to have improved 

 benthic populations and enhanced populations of forage fish 

 species, such as redside shiners, yellow perch, peamouth, and 

 pumpkinseed. Burbot have not been taken in the gill net 

 samples, and special sampling efforts will be required to 

 determine their success. 



Growth rates of brown trout and yellow perch have 

 increased during the 1980s. The drawdown restrictions of 

 Noxon reservoir is expected to result in both improved growth 

 rate and greater fish numbers in the future. 



Fisherman Use and Benefits 



The number of fishermen using a body of water is one 

 measure of its value as a recreational resource. Fisherman 

 use, or "fishing pressure," on Montana waters has been 

 estimated by the DFWP each year since 1982. The Montana 

 Fisheries Survey uses a questionnaire mailed to a sample of 

 fishing license holders to determine where and how often they 

 have fished. The data are compiled for individual lakes and 

 streams and summed to provide a measure of fishing pressure 

 in an entire drainage. 



The estimated total fishing pressure on all lakes and 

 streams within the Clark Fork Basin (excluding the upper 

 Flathead River drainage) has ranged from 215,272 to 242,691 

 angler days per year in the four annual surveys conducted 

 since 1982. The fishing pressure statistics indicate 

 resident fishermen accounted for 83 percent of the total, 

 while 17 percent were nonresidents from various locations in 

 the region (McFarland 1988). 



A comparison of fishing pressure between streams and 

 between segments of a stream is an indication of relative 

 recreational importance. Table 2-21 provides a breakdown of 

 the 1985-86 fishing pressure statistics for streams in the 

 Clark Fork Basin and for some selected Montana rivers. The 

 data indicate that all segments of the Clark Fork sustain 

 significant fishing pressure. Fishing pressure on individual 

 segments of the river (upper and middle river) are comparable 

 to pressure on the Blackfoot River and Rock Creek. Much 

 higher fishing pressure occurs on Montana's more famous 

 trout streams such as the Madison and Big Hole rivers. 



2-38 



