the need for continuation and enhancement of angler education efforts in bull trout 

 recovery-recreational conflict areas. '- ■- . ' 



Anglers that successfiilly identified 4 of 5 trout in our survey were asked how 

 they learned identify these species. Most anglers responded through angling experience 

 followed by MFWP provided information, fishing regulations and posted signs at fishing 

 access sites have contributed significantly to educating anglers to fish identification and 

 regulations. Schmetterling and Long (1999) also reported that angler fish identification 

 skills are positively related to angling experience. 



Regulations and Compliance - ■' ' - . ■ =; ,: 



During this study, no fishing violations were observed. All anglers and guides 

 interviewed were in compliance with fishing regulations and possessed licenses. 

 However, warnings were issued to five anglers not carrying their licenses on them at time 

 of their fishing activities. Non-resident anglers accounted for 57% of all anglers 

 surveyed. The majority of non-resident anglers fly-fished and practiced catch-and- 

 release, but only 63% possessed a copy of fishing regulations and an average of 57% 

 knew the special angling regulations for bull trout and WSCT. Future management 

 action may include increasing efforts toward educating non-resident anglers. 



Amount of public access 



When asked to rate the amount of public access on the Blackfoot River or 

 tributary stream they were fishing, results indicate that the majority of anglers surveyed 

 were satisfied with the level of availability of public access. 



Amount of Angling and Recreation Use at All Locations 



Anglers and guides in our survey were asked to rate the amount of use by other 

 anglers and recreationists at the location they were fishing and quantify the number of 

 each type they observed. Results show that most survey participants rated the amount of 

 use as light (Table 20). This percepfion of low crowding was likely influenced by 

 angling restrictions and other attempts to discourage use of the Blackfoot River and bull 

 trout spawning streams during the summer of 2004 due to drought concerns. 



Total and (Average) Number of Users Observed 



Level of 

 Reported 



Use 



Number 

 Responses 



by Surveyed Anglers and Guides 



Very light 98 

 light 134 



Slightly crowded 23 

 Very crowded 1 



Bank Anglers 



29 (0.3) 

 107 (0.8) 

 17(0.7) 

 



Float Anglers 



60 (0.6) 

 541 (4.0) 

 158 (6.9) 

 



Other 

 Recreationists 



74 (0.8) 

 216(1.6) 

 35(1.5) 

 25 (25) 



Table 20. Number of different types of recreationists observed by anglers and guides 

 asked to rate the level of use at the location they were fishing during 2004 Blackfoot 

 River creel survey. 



91 



