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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, in partnership with the
North Shore Steelhead Association, took this opportunity to initiate a
landowner agreement and began a long-term steelhead assessment study
to evaluate the potential recovery of this steelhead stock. Each year anglers
and OMNR staff worked together collecting biological data and
conducting population estimates through clipping and tagging during
the spring spawning migration. From 1994 to 2003 half the estimated
adult population was randomly sampled through angling. This stream
realized a dramatic increase in population size to 1,600 adults during
the study period. The study revealed a number of important findings:
namely, the benefits of reduced harvest, the importance of repeat spawners,
and that catch-and-release really works.
Primarily, the study showed how a wild steelhead population can
recover if exploitation (angler harvest) is totally removed. Additionally,
George’s study showed that repeat spawners—fish that spawn in
consecutive years—are vital to the preservation of the population in an
environment where harsh winters, flash floods, and hot, dry summers
can sometimes decimate entire year classes of steelhead progeny. And,
consequently, since many of these repeat spawners had been caught in
consecutive years (as many as seven times!)—and some several times
in a single season—the study also showed, quite vividly, that catchand-release
does work.
Do you know a steelhead stream in trouble? Here’s the case for releasing
your catch and reducing harvest. You be the judge.
Scott Earl Smith is FFA’s Canadian Field Editor, and lives in Thunder
Bay, Ontario. Scott also contributes to our sister publication, On Target.
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