In general, estimated numbers of brown trout have declined 

 since 1971. No estimate was made on YOY in 1988 because of poor 

 capture efficiency and/or low densities (Figure 10) . Similar to 

 the Poorman-Dalton section, yearling densities declined 

 significantly between 1971 (21/1,000 ft) and 1988 (3/1,000 ft) in 

 the Canyon section. Although not significant, the density of 

 adults (age II and older) was slightly lower during 1988 

 (15/1,000 ft) compared to 1971 (19/1,000 ft). 



A limited number of cutthroat and bull trout (designated as 

 species of special concern) were present in reach 2. Two bull 

 trout (12 to 15 inches) were captured in 1988 and four (7.2 to 

 7.8 inches) in 1971 in the Canyon and Poorman-Dalton population 

 inventory sections. Four westslope cutthroat trout (8.9 to 15.1 

 inches) were captured in 1988, and 12 (3.5 to 11.6 inches) were 

 captured in 1971 (Appendix Table 2). Bull and Westslope 

 Cutthroat trout each account for about 1% of the total trout 

 catch in reach 2 . 



Reach 3 : Nevada Creek to Monture Creek 



(RM 67.8 to RM 45.9) 



Trout populations were sampled in a 1.1 mile electrof ishing 

 section in reach 3. The Raymond Bridge section (RM 58.9 to 60.0) 

 is located about six miles above the mouth of the North Fork of 

 the Blackfoot River. Fish sampling was not conducted in this 

 reach prior to 1988. 



Brown trout were the dominant trout species in this section, 

 comprising 71% of the electrof ishing catch. This was the 

 uppermost section where rainbow trout were observed during 1988. 

 A trout population estimate was not obtained after three 

 electrof ishing runs in the Raymond Bridge section due to very low 

 densities of trout and apparent movement of fish out of the 

 section. In three sampling trips through the Raymond Bridge 

 section, only 32 brown trout, 9 rainbow trout, and 4 cutthroat 

 trout were captured. 



Reach 4 : Monture Creek to Belmont Creek 



(RM 45.9 to RM 21.9) 



Trout populations in reach 4 were sampled in the Scotty 

 Brown Bridge section (RM 45.6 to 41.8) during 1988. No fisheries 

 inventories were conducted in this reach prior to 1988. 



The upstream boundary of reach 4 (Monture Creek) marks the 

 beginning of the lower Blackfoot River fishery which is dominated 

 by rainbow trout. Although brown trout accounted for a 

 significant portion of the electrof ishing catch (38%) in the 

 Scotty Brown Bridge section, the majority of fish were observed 



20 



