Angler Survey on the Sheep and Highwood Rivers, 2017 Angler Survey on the Sheep and Highwood Rivers, 2017 Kevin Fitzsimmons Alberta Conservation Association PO Box 144 Cochrane, Alberta T4C 1A4 Report Editors PETER AKU NYREE SHARP Alberta Conservation Association c/o Alberta Conservation Association 101 – 9 Chippewa Rd. 101 – 9 Chippewa Rd. Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J7 Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J7 Conservation Report Series Type Data ISBN: 978-0-9959984-3-8 Reproduction and Availability: This report and its contents may be reproduced in whole, or in part, provided that this title page is included with such reproduction and/or appropriate acknowledgements are provided to the authors and sponsors of this project. Suggested Citation: Fitzsimmons, K. 2018. Angler Survey on the Sheep and Highwood Rivers, 2017. Data Report, produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. 21 pp. + App. Cover photo credit: David Fairless Digital copies of conservation reports can be obtained from: Alberta Conservation Association 101 – 9 Chippewa Rd. Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6J7 Toll Free: 1-877-969-9091 Tel: (780) 410-1998 Fax: (780) 464-0990 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ab-conservation.com i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Sheep and Highwood rivers are popular trout angling destinations in the Bow River drainage of Alberta, yet very little quantitative data exists on these fisheries. From June 16 through October 31, 2017, we conducted angler surveys on these rivers to generate current information that will aid Alberta Environment and Parks in managing these popular recreational fisheries. We estimated fishing effort from aerial angler counts, while fish catch, trip length and other pertinent demographic information were collected from angler interviews during roving surveys. We used bootstrapping techniques to derive estimates and confidence intervals for creel metrics. On the Sheep River, we counted and interviewed 282 and 93 anglers, respectively. We estimated that anglers fished for 19,829 hours (15,952–23,920), made 6,284 trips (4,467–8,760), and the average trip length was 2.9 hours. Fly fishing was more commonly practiced than spin casting, and angler use of access sites varied among the identified sites with urban areas and developed recreational facilities having greater use. Total release of all fish was 14,236 (95% CI = 11,117–17,645) on the Sheep River, with rainbow trout the most abundantly released fish at 10,473 (95% CI = 8,066–13,164). The only harvest of fish reported by anglers was one mountain whitefish from the Sandy McNabb site on June 26, 2017. On the Highwood River, we counted and interviewed 494 and 228 anglers, respectively. We estimated that anglers fished for 39,581 hours (31,328–49,227), made 9,474 trips (7,221–12,240), and the average trip length was 4.4 hours. Fly fishing was more commonly practiced than spin casting, and angler use of identified access sites did not show any clear patterns of preference. Total release of all fish was 20,886 (95% CI = 16,901–25,234) on the Highwood River, with rainbow trout the most abundantly released fish at 10,269 (95% CI = 8,357–12,382). No harvest of fish was reported by anglers. Key words: angler survey, angler effort, angler interviews, Highwood River, Sheep River, instantaneous angler counts, sport fishery. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank Alberta Conservation Association staff Lindsay Dowbush and Russell Kondro for assistance with data collection. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (Calgary Wildfire Management Area) provided landing space at the Highwood fire base and flight tracking for aerial angler counts. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 STUDY AREA ................................................................................................................................. 5 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Survey design ............................................................................................................................. 7 3.2 Angler interviews ....................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Instantaneous angler counts ..................................................................................................... 8 3.4 Estimation of creel parameters ................................................................................................. 9 4.0 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................... 10 4.1 Sheep River ............................................................................................................................... 10 4.2 Highwood River ...................................................................................................................... 15 5.0 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 20 6.0 LITERATURE CITED .................................................................................................................. 21 7.0 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................... 22 1 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. The Sheep and Highwood river study reaches, angler access points and instantaneous angler count locations, for the 2017 angler survey. ................................. 6 Figure 2. Access-point use by anglers on the Sheep River during the 2017 angler survey. ....... 11 Figure 3. Access-point use by anglers on the Highwood River during the 2017 angler survey. .. ................................................................................................................................................ 15 2 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Number of survey shifts completed during the angler survey on the Sheep River and on Reach 1 and 2 of the Highwood River, 2017. ............................................................... 8 Table 2. Number of instantaneous angler aerial angler surveys completed on the Sheep and Highwood rivers, 2017. ......................................................................................................... 9 Table 3. Summary of angler interviews completed on the Sheep and Highwood rivers, 2017. ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Table 4. Estimated angler effort (hours) and number of trips by season and reach on the Sheep River, 2017. ................................................................................................................ 13 Table 5. Total catch rates (number of fish/hour) for Reaches 1 and 2 of the Sheep River study area, 2017. ............................................................................................................................. 13 Table 6. Estimated angler released fish in Reaches 1 and 2 of the Sheep River study area, 2017. ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Table 7. Estimated angler effort (hours) and number of trips by season and reach on the Highwood River, 2017. ....................................................................................................... 17 Table 8. Total catch rates (number of fish/hour) for Reaches 1 and 2 of the Highwood River study area, 2017. .................................................................................................................. 18 Table 9. Estimated angler released fish in Reaches 1 and 2 of the Highwood River study area, 2017. ....................................................................................................................................... 19 3 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1. Data from angler interviews on the Sheep River, 2017.Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix 2. Instantaneous angler counts from the Sheep River, 2017.Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix 3. Data from angler interviews on the Highwood River, 2017.Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix 4. Instantaneous angler counts from the Highwood River, 2017.Error! Bookmark not defined. 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION Attracting both resident and non-resident anglers, the Sheep and Highwood rivers are considered destination trout fishing streams in the Bow River drainage of Alberta. One of the tools used to effectively manage these sport fisheries is an angler survey, from which metrics such as angling effort and trip length (hours), angler trip numbers, and fish harvest and release can be derived. While angler surveys have been completed on nearby rivers (Thompson 1977, Sosiak 1987, R.L. & L. Environmental Services 1995, Ripley and Council 2006, Fitzsimmons 2017), formal angler surveys have never been completed on the Sheep and Highwood rivers, two major tributaries in the Bow River drainage that are suspected to receive high angling pressure. The main objective of