West Virginia Trout Stocking Survey: Catch Expectations Vs. Reality Considering Angler Effort

Lindsey Hartzell*, Ross Andrew, Mary Allen, Kyle Hartman and Robert Burns, Division of Forestry & Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Environmental Science & Sustainability-Wildlife & Fisheries (Oral-Science & Technology) 

Student’s Major: Wildlife & Fisheries 

From January to June each year, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) stocks trout into 200+ lakes and streams across the state. As the public agency responsible for fisheries management in West Virginia, the WVDNR strives to achieve high levels of angler satisfaction with its hatchery program and stocking efforts. Therefore, understanding perceptions of anglers utilizing these stocked resources is important to achieving optimal benefits while recognizing realistic expectations. Researchers at West Virginia University conducted in-person interviews (n=303) of anglers from March to June 2019. The survey questions assessed the anglers fishing experience that day versus their expectations. The angler’s outcome of expectation versus experience was quantified based on the number of fish caught and the number of fish expected to be caught that day. These outcome values were compared across angler groups defined by # of days fished/year and % of weekend fishing effort. Using analysis of variance, no significant differences in expectation-reality outcomes were observed across three groups of # of days fished in a year (1-60, 61-180, 180+ days) or across three groups of % weekend fishing (0-30, 31-50, 51-100%). Using regression, a significant (p<0.001) positive relationship between the expectation-reality outcome and overall angler satisfaction was observed. A significant (p=0.03) negative trend was also observed between expectation-reality outcome and angler crowding perception. These results indicate that these expectationreality outcomes may be driven by other factors outside of angler effort across annual and weekly frequencies, but outcome may predict satisfaction and perceptions of crowding. 

Funding: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: My efforts were mainly voluntary.