the anglers. The presence or threat of whirling disease (7%) was the 5* most common probl 

 cited. 



em 



Table 3. Six most common problems perceived by anglers during the 1995 Madison River angler 

 satisfaction survey. The question was free response. A total of 904 distinct responses were tallied for the 

 833 respondents to the survey. 



Other responses that were listed in the report included regulations (2.7 %), development (2. 1%), 

 access (1.9%), water levels (1.5%), outfitters (1.3%), anchor drag (0.4%), and grazing (0.3%). 

 An additional 1.7% of respondents cited a variety of "other" concerns. A total of 904 distinct 

 responses were tallied out of the 833 surveys completed. 



Anglers were also asked how long they had been fishing the Madison River. This question, along 

 with the results fi-om previous years of resident versus non-resident use, shed light on who uses 

 the river. The largest group of respondents had fished the Madison for one year or less (41%) 

 (Figure 7). Residency data were collected in 1981, 1995, and 1996. In all three years, nearly 

 90% of all anglers were non-residents, which may explain the many "one year or less" 

 respondents. However, the resident- non-resident composition was markedly different in the 

 upper river, with 89%» non-residents compared with only 59% in the lower river. The upper river 

 also had a higher proportion of guided anglers (26%) than the lower river (17%). 



Evaluation of 1995 and 1996 Creel Data and its Implications related to Whirling Disease 

 In the Madison River. Montana 



17 



Montana Fish. Wildlife and Paries 

 March 12. 2002 



