Black Hills Fisheries Management: 2014 Angler Opinion Survey Results HD-1-15.AMS Cynthia L. Longmire, Ph.D. Human Dimensions Specialist South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks Division of Wildlife Serving People, Managing Wildlife Longmire, C. L. 2015. Black Hills Fisheries Management: 2014 Angler Opinion Survey Results. Report ID# HD-1-15.AMS. Pierre, SD: South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. This report summarizes results South Dakota GFP’s Black Hills Fisheries Management: Angler Opinion Survey administered during the fall of 2014. A mixed mode survey was administered to 2,576 Black Hills anglers identified during angler use and harvest survey interviews collected from September of 2013 through August of 2014. A total of 1,056 responses were received for an adjusted response rate of 47 percent. The information collected from Black Hills anglers regarded Black Hills fisheries in general, management of fisheries in Black Hills large reservoirs, ponds and small reservoirs, and streams. Black Hills Fisheries Management Area, Large Reservoirs, Ponds & Small Reservoirs, Streams DISCLAIMER The views expressed in survey comments are the views of the commenting respondent(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks or the author(s) of this report. Neither the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks nor the author(s) guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any opinion or view expressed in respondents’ comments. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks reserves the right, but not obligation, to remove at its discretion any language which discloses personally identifiable information about respondents or any other individual, as well as language which is obscene, profane, offensive, malicious, discriminatory, defamatory or otherwise unlawful. Published by: For Additional Copies: SD GAME, FISH, AND PARKS SD GAME, FISH, AND PARKS PIERRE, SD Human Dimensions 523 E. Capitol Ave February 2015 Pierre, SD 57501 Visit our homepage at: http://gfp.sd.gov/ Executive Summary Black Hills Fisheries Management: 2014 Angler Opinion Survey Results HD-1-15.AMS Cynthia L. Longmire, Ph.D. A mixed mode survey was administered to 2,576 Black Hills anglers identified during angler use and harvest survey interviews collected from September of 2013 through August of 2014. A total of 1,056 responses were received for an adjusted response rate of 47 percent. Resident Black Hills anglers traveled an average, one-way distance of 60 miles from their permanent place of residence when fishing in the Black Hills, and non-residents traveled 575 miles on average. Black Hills anglers fished an average of 10.2 days on large reservoirs, 6.6 days on ponds and small reservoirs, and 8.6 days on streams. 57% of Black Hills anglers’ permanent residence is located within the Black Hills of South Dakota. Of those, approximately 39 percent indicated they do not fish outside of the Black Hills. Those who do indicated they traveled, on average, 146 miles one-way to fish outside the Black Hills. Access improvements and catching large fish are the top areas indicated as being in need of improvement in order for Black Hills fisheries to meet anglers’ needs. Approximately half (51%) of anglers’ time fishing in large reservoirs was from the shore, and the vast majority (80%) of anglers’ time fishing in ponds and small reservoirs was from the shore. 77% of Black Hills anglers fished at least one of the four large reservoirs within the Black Hills Fisheries Management Area. The top five most preferred species for large reservoir anglers were: 1) rainbow trout; 2) northern pike; 3) yellow perch; 4) lake trout; and 5) bass (largemouth/smallmouth). Large reservoir angers want opportunities to catch both warm/cool water species and cold water species. 42% of anglers on large reservoirs prefer management which focuses on cool/warm water species (e.g. northern pike, bass, perch, etc.). 57% prefer management that focuses on cold water species (i.e. trout species). 63% prefer management which focuses on multiple species (i.e. cool/warm water and cold water species). On average, anglers rated the fishing on Black Hills large reservoirs (considering the number of fish caught, sizes of fish caught, and species caught) as fair. Considering all factors, anglers were satisfied, on average, with their overall Black Hills large reservoirs fishing experiences. 56% percent of Black Hills anglers fished on small ponds and reservoirs. The top five most preferred species for small reservoir anglers were: 1) rainbow trout; 2) bass (largemouth/smallmouth); 3) brown trout; 4) yellow perch; and 5) crappie (black/white). i On average, anglers rated the fishing on Black Hills ponds and small reservoirs (considering the number of fish caught, sizes of fish caught, and species caught) as good. Considering all factors, anglers were satisfied, on average, with their overall Black Hills ponds and small reservoirs fishing experiences. 49% of Black Hills anglers fished in streams. 96% of stream anglers indicated their most preferred species were trout species. The top five most preferred species for Black Hills streams anglers were: 1) brown trout; 2) rainbow trout; 3) brook trout; 4) creek chub; and 5) bass/bluegill/crappie. 38% of Black Hills stream anglers believed the number of catch and release only areas should stay about the same. 39% believe the number should increase. 9% believed the number of catch and release only areas should decrease. The majority of Black Hills streams anglers support trout management that includes both hatchery-raised trout and wild trout. 68% of stream anglers preferred to have opportunities to fish for hatchery-raised trout and wild trout. 72% of streams anglers support GFP managing select streams for wild trout, and 75% support stocking catchable-size trout in select streams. On average, anglers rated the fishing on Black Hills streams (considering the number of fish caught, sizes of fish caught, and species caught) as good. Considering all factors, anglers were satisfied, on average, with their overall Black Hills streams fishing experiences. ii Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... i List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ iv List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. v Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Black Hills Anglers’ Characteristics ......................................................................................... 3 General Black Hills Fishing Experience .................................................................................. 7 Fishing Regulations and Enforcement ...................................................................................12 Black Hills Large Reservoirs ..................................................................................................16 Angling Methods ................................................................................................................18 Large Reservoir Fisheries Management ............................................................................19 Satisfaction ........................................................................................................................21 Ponds & Small Reservoirs .....................................................................................................23 Angling Methods ................................................................................................................24 Ponds & Small Reservoirs Trout Stocking ..........................................................................26 Satisfaction ........................................................................................................................27 Black Hills Streams................................................................................................................28 Angling Methods ................................................................................................................29 Catch and Release Areas ..................................................................................................31 Trout Management .............................................................................................................34 Satisfaction ........................................................................................................................37 Comments ................................................................................................................................38 References ...............................................................................................................................39 Appendices ...............................................................................................................................40 Appendix A ............................................................................................................................41