4.2 Creel Results for 1996 

 4.2.1 Catch Rates 



In 1996 a much shorter section of the Madison River was creeled due to budgetary restraints; 

 therefore, it is difficult to do direct comparisons between this year's creel and 1995. However, a 

 general comparison does suggest that catch rates for rainbow trout were slightly higher in 1996 

 than those recorded in 1995 on the upper or lower river sections (Figure 8). Catch rates for 

 brown trout were much lower in 1996 than those seen in 1995, and were much lower than catch 

 rates for rainbow trout in three of the five sections surveyed. A total of 1,444 interviews were 

 completed during the 1996 creel survey, a number comparable to the total surveyed during the 

 upper river work in 1995. 



e 



(J 



6 



0.9 7 

 0.8 

 0.7 

 0.6 

 0.5 

 0.4 

 0.3 

 0.2 

 0.1 

 



E] Rainbow 



B Brown 



D Mountain whitefish 



D Cutthroat 



Slide Inn Raynolds $3 Bridge Pine Butte Squaw Creek 



Section Name 



Figure 8. Catch rates in fish per hour for the five sections surveyed between Slide Inn and Windy Point 

 on the Madison River during the 1996 creel survey. 



4.2.2 Angling Pressure 



Angling pressure was significantly lower in 1996 than in 1995. However, it is important to 

 remember that the 1995 survey was much more comprehensive and derived its pressure 

 estimates fi-om air-based counts as well as on-the-ground interviews, while the 1996 survey used 



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

 In the Madison River, Montana 



Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parka 

 March 12, 2002 



19 



