were willing to be interviewed. All individuals that were fishing or intending to fish were 

 interviewed. 



Because we did not intend to estimate the amount of use, it was not necessary to 

 conform to a structured randomized or stratified sampling scheme typically used in 

 traditional creel surveys or recreation use surveys. Although we attempted to visit each 

 site on each sampling day, survey technicians were scheduled to maximize the number of 

 angler contacts. All interviews were conducted from shore. This biased our sample 

 toward bank anglers at sites on the main stem where float fishing is common. However, 

 many float anglers were interviewed when they stopped to fish our sampling locations. 

 Bank anglers were those that accessed the river by walking or wading fi-om the bank. 

 Float anglers were those that accessed the river with some type of boat. All surveyed 

 anglers were asked if they intended to harvest fish. Those that did not were assumed to 

 be catch-and-release anglers. 



Angler interviews consisted of five major components: 1) background and 

 demographic information; 2) fishing methods; 3) fish identification; 4) knowledge of 

 regulations and compliance; 5) catch information; and 6) perceptions of access and level 

 of use (crowding). A copy of the actual survey form is to the end of this paper. For the 

 fish identification portion of the survey, we developed a single sheet with five colored 

 illustrations depicting the five common trout species in western Montana: westslope 

 cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, bull trout, brown trout and brook trout (see attached survey 

 form). These are the same color plates used in the Montana fishing regulations. Anglers 

 were given the sheet and asked to identify each of the trout species. The survey 

 technician recorded a correct or incorrect response for each species. Hooks were visually 

 inspected to assess whether the angler was fishing with barbed or barbless hooks. 

 Finally, anglers and guide/outfitters licenses were checked for regulation compliance. 



Table 17. Survey locations and number of interviews in 2004 Blackfoot River angler 

 survey. 



Site Number of interviews (%) 



Upper Gold Creek oTO) 



Johnsrud (FAS) _ " 19(7.3) ' . - 



Belmont Creek (mouth) 1 1 (4.2) 



Clearwater River (FAS) 35(13.4) 



Russell Gate (FAS) -^^ 27(10.3) 



Scotty Brown bridge |^ 46(17.6) 



River Junction (FAS) Xs ■... 40(15.3) ' ' 



Monture Creek (FAS) 21(8) 



Monture Creek @Hwy 200 1 (0.3) • v 



Monture Creek bridge 4(1.5) . • 



Monture Creek trailhead 1 (0.3) 



NFBLKFT @ Harry Morgan (FAS) 16(6) 



NFBLKFT @ Ovando-Helmville Rd bridge 1 (0.3) ^ 



NFBLKFT @ Hwy 200 4(1.5) 



NFBLKFT @ USFS bridge 18(7) 



NFBLKFT trailhead 9 (3.4) . 



Landers Fork @ Hwy 200 2(0.8) 



Copper Creek bridge 3(1.2) 



BLKFT @ Aspen Grove 4(1.5) 



85 



