The Use of Anglers’Returns in the Estimation of Fishing Success

Abstract

The method of collation of angling results at Ffestiniog fishery is described. Rod averages calculated from returns are always higher than those assessed by the fishery bailiff. Two studies indicated that, although there is no reason to question the veracity of returns, those received represent a sample of anglers which is biased towards the more successful. The care needed in extrapolation from angling returns is emphasized and it is demonstrated that only the bailiff's estimates of fishing success lead to sensible estimates of the seasonal catch.

The interpretation of anglers’records (trout and sea trout, Salmo trutta L., and salmon, Salmo salar L.)

“…The results of several attempts to obtain more accurate data by means of direct surveys and postal reminders have been published or are available on request (Murphy 1954;Cane 1980;Coles 1981;Welsh Water Authority 1981;South-west Water Authority 1982). The purpose of this part of the paper is to collate the available records and show that the method of adjustment adopted by the Welsh Water Authority (W.W.A.)…”

“…Check on the prediction of rh from available records Cane (1980) publishes values of iii, m^ and Pu for anglers surveyed by the bailiff at Ffestiniog Stillwater Fishery in 1978 and 1979. These data and the unpublished data for 1980 are given below together with the predictions of m from equations 2 and 3.…”

“…The lack of accurate data on catches of salmon, Salmo salar L., and trout, Salmo trutta L., from river and stiliwater fisheries has worried managers of these waters in recent years (Hails 1978;Cane 1980;Welsh Water Authority 1981;Small 1982;O'Grady 1983). Wiiere licences and permits to fish are required, some measure of the total angling effort (usually in terms of number of visits, or days, or weeks or a season) is available but the accuracy depends upon the control exerted; typically, details of catches are available from 12% of the anglers on well-known Scottish and Irish rivers, from 25% at a loosely controlled upland loch, from 65% at an English Midlands reservoir, and 90% at a well-supervised public water.…”

Establishing and maintaining the trout fishery at Rutland Water

“…An investigation into catches by anglers not making returns at Ffestiniog Reservoir (Cane 1980) concluded that returns were accurate but that they over-estimated the true average catch by approximately 35% since anglers with poor or nil catches were less likely to make a return . This problem is critical at Rutland Water since the relationship between stock density and angler success provides the predictive model for restocking 2I0 RAINBOW TROUT PER requirements .…”

Effect of Water Level Fluctuations on Fishery and Anglers’ Catch Data of Economically Utilised Fish Species of Lake Balaton Between 1901 - 2011

“…There are several papers available discussing this problem (Cane, 1980;Paulovits et al, 1994Paulovits et al, , 2007Brämick et . It should also be taken into consideration that changes in the size and composition of the fish stock are influenced by both anthropogenic and natural factors.…”