ABSTRACT 



A fishery inventory of the Blackfoot River from headwaters 

 to mouth was conducted during 1988 to evaluate angler concerns of 

 a declining fishery in recent years. Sampling of young-of-the- 

 year trout throughout the mainstem, repeating fish population 

 surveys conducted in the headwaters during the early 1970 's, 

 establishing three new population inventory sections, conducting 

 a voluntary creel census, and evaluating species of special 

 concern in the river were completed in 1988. 



Fish populations in the Blackfoot River vary greatly in 

 terms of species composition and overall fish density. The 

 differing fisheries of the Blackfoot River are a product of 

 habitat characteristics, recruitment sources, and human 

 influences such as environmental degradation and fishery 

 exploitation. Fisherman concerns over a declining fishery are 

 centered in the middle and lower reaches of the river, from 

 roughly Nevada Creek to the mouth of the Blackfoot River. This 

 report addresses possible reasons for angler dissatisfaction, and 

 identifies potential management strategies to remedy fisheries 

 problems in the Blackfoot River. Special consideration was given 

 to effects of the current drought and resulting record low stream 

 flows on fishing opportunities. 



Fishery management tools including stock enhancement 

 (naturally or artificially), harvest regulation changes, and 

 habitat improvement appear to have potential to improve low fish 

 densities in some reaches of the river. Due to the complexity of 

 the fishery, and the factors that influence it, no single 

 management tool is likely to be successful in correcting 

 problems. In addition, future fish management decisions should 

 consider specific reaches of river which vary in fisheries 

 potential. Given that fishing pressure continues to increase, 

 more restrictive harvest regulations will likely be necessary to 

 maintain catch rates and abundance of spawning aged fish. This 

 is particularly true for the native trout species, cutthroat and 

 bull trout, present in the Blackfoot River. 



11 



