The Results of Planting Brook Trout of Legal Length in the Salmon Trout River, Northern Michigan

Abstract

Abstract A creel census and tagging study was conducted on the Salmon Trout River in northern Michigan for a 3-year period to determine the most effective method of planting 7- to 9-inch brook trout. The creel census indicated that the fishing load was relatively light and that the average yield in the different years varied from 4.3 fish to 5.2 fish per rod per 4-hour day. Recoveries of jaw-tagged brook trout planted in the fall and in the spring of 3 succeeding years showed that a maximum of 1.0 per cent of fall-planted fish was returned to the fisherman's creel, and that a maximum of 19.6 per cent of spring planted fish was returned. Tagged fish were returned throughout the entire season instead of being exhausted during the first few weeks. The movements of planted fish were not extensive but had a tendency to be down-stream. In three successive seasons hatchery-reared trout contributed 44.0 per cent, 38.6 per cent, and 24.9 per cent, respectively, of the total catch.