Survey of the rainbow trout sport fishery of the Nonvianuk and Alagnak Rivers, Alaska, 1996
Jaenicke MJ. 1998. Survey of the rainbow trout sport fishery of the Nonvianuk and Alagnak Rivers, Alaska, 1996. Fisheries Data Series. 98-13. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish Research and Technical Services. Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game-Division of Sport Fish and National Park Service-Katmai National Park and Preserve conducted a cooperative project to evaluate the current status of the rainbow trout stocks in the Alagnak and Nonvianuk rivers. A creel census indicated that total sport fishing effort at the headwaters of the Nonvianuk River during 8 June to 30 June 1996 was 755 angler hours, with 1,529 rainbow trout ca ught and released. Most anglers were guided (59%), not an Alaskan resident (58%), used air charter to access the area (80%), fished from shore (91%), and fished with fly gear (91%). Fifty-seven rainbow trout were Floy tagged during the creel census. Length and age data were collected from 620 rainbow trout from the Nonvia nuk River (n = 297) and Alagnak River (n = 323) during June thro ugh September 1996. The length distribution of rainbow trout differed significantly (p < 0.001) between the outlet of Nonvia nuk Lake and the lower 11 miles of the Nonvianuk River, while the length distribution was not significantly different (p = 0.38) between three zones on the upper Alagnak River. Based on age composition information from other systems in southwest Alaska, the rainbow trout stock in the Nonvianuk River and Alagnak River appears to have a smaller proportion of age-6 and age-7 year old fish than would be expected in a healthy stock. An emergency order issued in 1996 created a catch-and-release rainbow trout fishery on the Alagnak and Nonvianuk rivers. Preliminary indications from a more intensive research project started in April 1997 on the rainbow trout stock in the Alagnak River drainage by the U.S. Geological Survey-Biological Research Division indicate that the stock status may not be lacking in larger, older fish as suggested from results from this 1996 project.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Jaenicke, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 1998-07
- Publisher
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish Research and Technical Services
- Units
- ALAG , KATM , SWAN
- Keywords
- Alagnak River, angler demographics, Animal Studies, biological composition, Creel Census, Creel Survey, Nonvianuk River, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Rainbow Trout, Southwest Alaska