Guidelines for Selecting Regulations to Manage Open-Access Fisheries for Natural Populations of Anadromous and Resident Trout in Stream Habitats

Abstract

Sustained health of a trout resource should not depend upon the vagaries of access and fishing effort. General ideas, concepts, and potential problems relating to the subject of comprehensive stream trout management are presented. These are organized into sections dealing with Washington State's recent management experience, important biological characteristics of trout populations, and practical tools available to a trout resource manager. Washington's current program consists of certain broadly applied basic regulations plus special controls on named stream segments. Attempts to achieve an even more comprehensive program were blunted by a change in agency administration and by actions of the state legislature. The important biological factors that need to be considered are inherent characteristics of the species themselves, as well as details of the species' life histories in the specific waters that are being considered for management. The aggregate of methods available to the manager is adequate to address any conceivable situation, but limitations of each component must be fully recognized.