Informing management of Henrys Lake, Idaho using an integrated catch-at-age model

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Henrys Lake, Idaho, supports a popular fishery for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout × Rainbow Trout O. mykiss hybrids. A majority of the adult population of fish in Henrys Lake are of hatchery origin that were stocked as fingerlings. The fishery is closed to angling during the late winter and spring months, but fisheries managers are considering opening the fishery year-round with catch-and-release-only regulations or with a two-fish bag limit during the extended season. However, there is concern that the proposed management actions may negatively affect the current fishery. Therefore, we developed an integrated catch-at-age model to estimate population parameters for trout in Henrys Lake and used a simulation model to evaluate alternative management actions. Results of this study suggest that catch and release of both Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and hybrids would increase and that abundance of trout in the spring (i.e., the start of the traditional season) would decrease under both proposed bag limits. Losses in abundance can be mitigated by stocking additional fish as long as no more than approximately 1,520,000 Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout are stocked annually. If catch-and-release-only regulations are implemented during the newly proposed season, total harvest is expected to decrease compared to the current fishery due to additional catch-and-release mortality. Ultimately, managers will need to prioritize harvest or catch-and-release opportunity, both of which provide additional utility to anglers, when choosing how to proceed with bag limit regulations.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Informing management of Henrys Lake, Idaho using an integrated catch-at-age model
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1002/nafm.10772
Volume 42
Issue 4
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher American Fisheries Society
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 17 p.
First page 857
Last page 873
Country United States
State Idaho
Other Geospatial Henrys Lake
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