CREEL CENSUS 



Using the methods explained on page 84 , 365 parties of anglers were in- 

 terviewed in 1975 and 423 in 1976 (table 40). Shore fishermen were more num- 

 erous than boat fishermen in 1975, contributing 53.2 percent of the total; 

 boat fishermen were dominant in 1976, adding 65,0 percent. Anglers expended 

 more time in 1976 than in 1975, and caught almost three times more fish. Ang- 

 lers nonresident to Montana traveling less than 50 miles made up the majority 

 of the fishermen (50.4 percent), followed by Montana residents traveling more 

 than 50 miles (38.7 percent). 



TABLE 40. Miscellaneous statistics of Tongue River Reservoir creel census, 



1975-76. 



Parties interviewed 

 Length of trip (hrs) 

 Total hours fished^ 

 Total fish caught^ 



1975 1976 



365 423 



4.42 6.05 



12,522 20,053 



4,088 11,538 



^These are estimated figures for the entire season, all anglers. 



An estimated 2,802 anglers expended 12,522 hours of fishing pressure on 

 the reservoir in 1975. In 1976, the pressure increased to 3,315 anglers and 

 20,053 hours. The estimated annual fishing pressure for the summer was 8.84 

 hours/ha (3.58 hours/acre) and 14.16 hours/ha (5.73 hours/acre) in 1975 and 

 1976, respectively. Monthly, the pressure varied in 1975 from a low of 0.28 

 hours/ha (.11 hours/acre) in October to a high of 1.59 hours/ha (.64 hours/ 

 acre) in May and in 1976 from 0.45 hours/ha (.18 hours^cre) in October to 4.43 

 hours/ha (1.79 hours/acre) in June (figure 36). Fishing pressure fell off 

 during the late summer both years, increasing again with cooler temperatures 

 in the fall . 



Pressure on the Tongue River Reservoir is less than reported on other cool 

 water lakes in northern latitudes. Kempinger et al • (1975) summarized fishing 

 pressure on other northern latitude lakes and showed a range of 42 hours/ha 

 (17 hours/acre) to 462 hours/ha (187 hours/acre). The low pressure estimates 

 on the Tongue River Reservoir suggest that it is a lightly used fishing re- 

 source. However, as coal development expands in the Decker area and new rec- 

 reation areas are developed, fishing pressure will increase. Continued efforts 

 must be expended to ensure that fish populations will be able to withstand 

 the added pressure. 



Estimated angling effort and harvest rates for the sport fishery are 

 summarized in table 41. Crappie dominated the catch both years, contributing 

 66.3 and 75.3 precent in 1975 and 1976, respectively. All sport fish showed 

 an increased total catch from 1975 to 1976. The catch rate for crappie in- 

 creased from 0.172 fish per hour in 1975 to 0.382 fish per hour in 1976. The 

 increase of crappie in the angler's creel is consistent with other sampling 

 conducted in 1976. Catch per hour for northern pike decreased from 1975 to 

 1976. 



107 



