Effect That Providing Fishing Information Has on Angler Expectations and Satisfaction

Abstract

Anglers on Lake Miltona, Minnesota, who were given fishing information (catch rate and average weight of available species) generally did not show significant differences in satisfaction or expectations from a control group of anglers who were not provided with this information. Exceptions were the successful anglers for walleye Stizostedion vitreum and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Anglers were more satisfied with nonconsumptive aspects of the fishing experience (natural beauty of the lake, water quality, weather, quality of the access to the lake by boats) than with consumptive aspects (size and number of fish caught). Expectations of fish size were more realistic than expectations of catch rate: 67% of the anglers evaluated the average walleye (determined by creel surveys to be 2.1 lb) as “about what I expected,” whereas 47% evaluated the average walleye catch rate (0.2 fish/h) as “less than I expected.” Walleye anglers showed higher expectations of walleye catch rate than other anglers, and fishing experience was positively related to expectations of catch rate. Angler expectations of walleye size were significantly related to both fishing and trip satisfaction.

Determinants of management preferences of recreational anglers in Germany: Habitat management versus fish stocking

“…the norm against to judge catch quality increases. Because satisfaction is negatively related to expectations (Spencer & Spangler, 1992), satisfaction ultimately depends on how anglers evaluate their catch in light of their expectations rather than on the actual number of fish caught (Graefe & Fedler, 1986). These relationships very likely explain the associations found in the present study with more successful (higher CPUE) and more dissatisfied anglers intending to fund stocking policies and not HM (Table 5).…”

Angler perceptions of fishing success and the effect of on‐site catch rate information

“…), black bass (Micropterus spp. ), and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) (Hudgins & Davies, 1984;Spencer & Spangler, 1992;Weithman & Katti, 1979).…”

“…Although catch rate likely will continue to be used to evaluate fisheries management activities, fisheries managers and researchers have recognized the need to include anglers' perceptions of fishing success or satisfaction in the evaluation of recreational fisheries management (e.g., Hudgins & Davies 1984;Miko et al, 1995;Royce, 1983;Spencer & Spangler, 1992). Including measures of angler satisfaction in recreational fisheries management evaluations is reasonable and, we think, necessary.…”

“…Conversely, Spencer and Spangler (1992) found no significant differences in ratings of fishing success or fishing experience between groups of Lake Miltona, Minnesota anglers who were provided information about typical fish size and catch rate and those not provided with this information. Spencer and Spangler (1992) suggested that providing lengthy written materials at the beginning of a fishing trip may have contributed to the lack of effect.…”

“…Spencer and Spangler (1992) suggested that providing lengthy written materials at the beginning of a fishing trip may have contributed to the lack of effect. However, among anglers who caught one or more fish during their fishing trip, the informed group rated their fishing experience higher than did the uninformed group.…”