Subject: Creel Surveys

From: [email-masked] (D. Walker)
Date: 22 May 1995 12:36:36 GMT

Does anyone have any general information on doing "Creel" surveys
(Catch per unit effort) for river(Bar) recreational fisheries.

Just looking for general tips on methodology and potential problems,
secondary (i.e. environmental measurements) and data management.

Any important cites or contacts would be helpful as well.

[email-masked] (Nanaimo, BC)

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From: [email-masked] (James J Montgomery)
Date: 26 May 1995 02:58:24 GMT

D. Walker ([email-masked]) wrote:
: Does anyone have any general information on doing "Creel" surveys
: (Catch per unit effort) for river(Bar) recreational fisheries.

: Just looking for general tips on methodology and potential problems,
: secondary (i.e. environmental measurements) and data management.

: Any important cites or contacts would be helpful as well.

: [email-masked] (Nanaimo, BC)

	You may want to stratify sampling schedule by weekday/weekend, 
weather, time after stocking, to increase precision.
	Make sure to always sample at different times of day.  How large 
is the study area?  You may have problems contacting all anglers present 
during sampling period.
	Pay attention to behavioral protocol on behalf of your surveyors.
	Important environmental measurements: air temp, water temp, river 
discharge,  water clarity.
	Get data as to fishing method (fly, lure, or bait).

	Also, I know, make sure there is adequate fishing pressure to get 
sufficient sample size for analysis!!

	email me personally or over the group with more specifics of your 
situation and I may be able to help you further.  I have some citations.

				-jamie ([email-masked])

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From: [email-masked] (D. Walker)
Date: 29 May 1995 14:30:59 GMT

>weather, time after stocking, to increase precision.

Yes, I did manage to come up with a bit of info on creel census and it 
appears that the "stratification" of sampling is very important, however
it was a liitle oblique on how best to approach randomizing the sampling 
schedule.

>is the study area?  You may have problems contacting all anglers present 

ibid (same as strat of days ?); The sampling area is the (lower) Fraser 
river, from Sumas to Coquihalla R. ( Hope). Apparently we will have two
people in the field sampling at four sites ( 2 ea); with weekly flyovers for
total counts ... comments ?. Shuold there be spot checks outside of the
main study sites.

>        Pay attention to behavioral protocol on behalf of your surveyors.

I'm sorry, i am not sure what you mean here, how shy at approaching people
or the fact that not all fishers are created equal and may skew the data
(skewness being apparently another issue)

>discharge,  *water clarity*.

Sechhi disk ?, anything better ?

>        Get data as to fishing method (fly, lure, or bait).

Yes, very important

>sufficient sample size for analysis!!

Please clarify, we will be examining the exploitation of chinook and sockeye
primarily, so i suppose this falls somewhat under some of the assumptions
regarding mixed stock fisheries.

>                                -jamie ([email-masked])

Thanks for the tips, I am posting in the group as I have had a couple
of requests for summarys of any info I come up with from some of the readers.

[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (James J Montgomery)
Date: 30 May 1995 04:13:22 GMT

: Yes, I did manage to come up with a bit of info on creel census and it 
: appears that the "stratification" of sampling is very important, however
: it was a liitle oblique on how best to approach randomizing the sampling 
: schedule.

You may need to research your particular fishery to find out how to best 
stratify (for example: is it a weekend fishery?  Do guys show up there on 
their way home from work?)

: people in the field sampling at four sites ( 2 ea); with weekly flyovers for
: total counts ... comments ?. Shuold there be spot checks outside of the
: main study sites.

Catch rates could be *much* different at areas outside of the main study 
sites, which I presume are the areas that get the most pressure.  Are you 
concerned with CPUE for the whole river or just at the popular sites?  
Fishermen who go off the beaten path will often have higher catch rates 
(in trout fisheries anyway)

: I'm sorry, i am not sure what you mean here, how shy at approaching people
: or the fact that not all fishers are created equal and may skew the data
: (skewness being apparently another issue)

Just make sure they approach the anglers with the attitude that the 
surveyors are intruding and that the anglers are doing them a favor.  It 
also helps to make it clear that the surveyors are *not* law enforcement 
officials.  Cooperation will be enhanced if this is clear.

: >        Also, I know, make sure there is adequate fishing pressure to get 
: >sufficient sample size for analysis!!

: Please clarify, we will be examining the exploitation of chinook and sockeye
: primarily, so i suppose this falls somewhat under some of the assumptions
: regarding mixed stock fisheries.

All I am saying is that I did a creel survey on a river that had very few 
anglers.  I spent a couple of days on the river for 6 hours without 
seeing a fisherman.  Saturdays at that.

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From: [email-masked] (Robb Diehl)
Date: 13 Jun 1995 20:43:18 GMT

To Whom it may concern,

I am interested in responding to the original question asked earlier
concerning creels.  I am currently running the creel survey for the
Illinois Department of Conservation and would be happy to answer any
questions.

P.J. Perea

Please respond to me at [email-masked]