IMPORTANT: To begin participating in this project start by registering for an account here.
Your participation is very important to this study. The goal of this research is to determine how the populations of bull trout and west-slope cutthroat trout are responding to the current fishing practices and management regulations on the Elk River. In order to answer questions about abundance, age-structure, and mortality resulting from recreational fishing activity, a number of adult fish have been tagged and secondarily marked by clipping part of the pelvic fin.
Above: Angling guide Duncan McNicholl holds a fish he helped tag in the Michel Creek above Sparwood, July 2007.
Many local angling guides realize the value of this research and have generously assisted with the capture and marking of adult fish, which have then been released back into the river in the same location of capture. These fish represent a sample of the total adult population in the mainstem Elk River. Now that fish have been tagged, it is up to all participants to go out and catch fish and report the total catch online.
You can help to determine a precise estimate of the total population of either species by building a data base of your total catch over the summer on this website. You participation is part of a mark-recapture analysis and the catch information you provide will be used to derive these population estimates. Be sure to report all the important information listed on the printable DATA COLLECTION SHEETS. Please also read the IMPORTANT POINTS that have been summarized prior to commencing with the recapture component.
Many thanks to all participants, and enjoy your angling experience this summer!
Chad
To begin participating in this project start by registering for an account here.
