The workshop and these proceedings were dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bob Jackson. Bob’s dedication to understanding the trout angling experience and improving our stewardship of the resource provided leadership and inspiration to us all. Articles in this publication may be cited as follows: Hunt, R. L. 2001. Constraints on carrying capacity and abundance of trout in Midwest streams. Pages 29-30 in R. DuBois, K. Kayle, M. Ebbers, and S. Turner, editors. Trout and the Trout Angler II. American Fisheries Society, North Central Division, Salmonid Technical Committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. NOTE We believe prompt publication of the proceedings to be an essential component of the symposium concept. To this end, authors were asked to submit their manuscripts under tight deadlines. Manuscripts did not receive conventional editorial processing; rather, we elected to edit “with a light penstroke” to preserve the essence of each author’s presentation. Thus, these papers represent a wide range of styles, approaches, breadth of topics, and depth of analysis. We believe this unevenness in presentation style is outweighed by the advantages of quick publication. The views expressed in each paper are those of the author and are not necessarily shared by the technical editors or the sponsoring agencies. Cover art by Bob White www.whitefishstudio.com “First Casts” This limited edition print is available through Whitefish Studio, at 651-433-4168, or on line at, www.whitefishstudio.com . TROUT AND THE TROUT ANGLER II Steering Committee Chairs Mark Ebbers, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Bob DuBois, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Treasurer Todd Marwitz, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Accommodations Subcommittee Larry Claggett, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Mark Ebbers, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Dave Vetrano, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Program Subcommittee Jack Erickson, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks David Fulton, University of Minnesota Spencer Turner, Quail Ridge Publishing and Consulting David Zentner, Izaak Walton League Promotion Subcommittee Kevin Kayle, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Mike Kruse, Missouri Department of Conservation Spencer Turner, Quail Ridge Publishing and Consulting Webmaster Kevin Kayle, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (visit our website at www.dnr.state.oh.us/odnr/wildlife/troutworkshop) Field Trip Coordinator Dave Ventrano, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Members-At-Large Jim Dexter, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Phil Emmling, representing the Federation of Flyfishers Dave Moeller, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Elliott Olson, representing Trout Unlimited The proceedings were compiled with assistance of Vicky Schiller, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. i TROUT AND THE TROUT ANGLER II PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP Radisson Hotel LaCrosse, LaCrosse, Wisconsin July 6 - 8, 2000 Technical Editors: Robert DuBois Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Kevin Kayle Ohio Department of Natural Resources Mark Ebbers Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Spencer Turner Quail Ridge Publishing and Consulting Sponsors: Development of the Trout and Trout Angler Workshop II was fostered and directed by the Salmonid Technical Committee of the American Fisheries Society - North Central Division. The following organizations provided support in the form of funding and/or manpower: Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Missouri Department of Conservation; Ohio Department of Natural Resources; South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Federation of Fly Fishers; Trout Unlimited, Midwest Chapters; and Izaak Walton League. A special thanks for financial support goes to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Mid Missouri Trout Unlimited Chapter; Wisconsin Council Trout Unlimited; Babe Winkelman Productions, Inc.; Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society; Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society; and Wisconsin Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources coordinated the printing and mailing of these proceedings. ii Contents Trout and the Trout Angler II: Introduction Robert B. DuBois and David C. Fulton ............................................... 1 Session 1: The Ecological Dimensions of Trout Management Ecological Dimensions Plenary Presentation: Trying to put it all Together Robert Behnke ........................................................... 3 Historical Changes in Trout Distribution Robert Behnke ........................................................... 6 Habitat-fish Relationships across Local to Watershed Scales Bruce Vondracek, Kristen L. Blann, and Brian Nerbonne .......................... 7 Constraints on Carrying Capacity and Abundance of Trout in Midwest Streams Robert L. Hunt .......................................................... 23 Enforcing and Communicating Fishery Regulations in Wisconsin: A Conservation Warden’s Perspective, Steve Dewald ................................................ 25 Successful Restrictive Regulations for Brown Trout: Why are They Rare? William C. Thorn, Charles S. Anderson, and Deserae L. Hendrickson ............... 29 Session 2: The Human Dimensions of Trout Management Human Dimensions Plenary Presentation: The Human Dimensions of Trout Fisheries Robert B. Ditton ......................................................... 36 Recreation Specialization Robert B. Ditton ......................................................... 37 Using Stakeholder Processes to Manage Conflict Kevin Kayle ............................................................ 38 Integrating Social Information into Decision-making David C. Fulton ......................................................... 44 Building Community through Conflict Management John Epton ............................................................. 52 Gender Diversity in the Angling Community Shari L. Dann ........................................................... 58 Session 3: The Role of Trout Anglers in the 21st Century Role of Anglers Plenary Presentation: The Role of Trout Anglers in the 21st Century Stephen M. Born ......................................................... 59 The Role of Private Foundations in Trout Management in the 21st Century David A. Nolte .......................................................... 67 How do Private Groups Work with State and Federal Agencies? Donald A. Duff .......................................................... 72 Conservancy versus Rock Rolling: Getting the Most from Limited Private Dollars in the 21st Century, Laura Hewitt ................................................... 77 Private Land, Public Fishing: The Joys and Frustrations of Owning Land Along a Trout Stream John VanVliet ........................................................... 82 Limited Entry to Public Trout Water: The Connetquot Experience Gilbert Bergen .......................................................... 86 iii Summary Closing Plenary Presentation: Integrating the Ecological and Human Dimensions of Trout Management, Robert A. Bachman .......................................... 88 Trout and the Trout Angler II: Summary David Zentner ........................................................... 94 Summary of Small Group Discussions David C. Fulton ......................................................... 96 List of Attendees and How to Contact Them......................................... 100 iv Trout and the Trout Angler II: Introduction Robert B. DuBois1 and David C. Fulton2 The concept of a trout and trout angler trout fishing and the development of workshop to be held in the Upper Midwest was recommendations for the future. At the spawned by the fertile mind of the late Bob conclusion of the workshop, individuals from Jackson, then of the University of Wisconsin, the three sponsoring states met to create action LaCrosse, in the mid-1980s. The first Trout and plans for the next decade. A sense that the Trout Angler in the Upper Midwest Workshop workshop had successfully achieved its was held in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in June of objectives was prevalent, with many individuals 1988. It was sponsored by the departments of expressing how they were stimulated in natural resources of the states of Michigan, developing their action plans through ideas Minnesota, and Wisconsin; the chapters of the communicated by other workshop participants. Federation of Fly Fishers from these states, the Now, the time has come to revisit the chapters of Trout Unlimited from Minnesota and status of trout resources and the human Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin - dimensions aspects of trout angling in the La Crosse. The objectives of the planners of the Midwest, and to evaluate progress made on the first workshop were to: action plans developed over a decade ago. Trout 1). To review the state of the art of trout and Trout Angler II was created to provide a management and human dimensions forum for agency administrators, biologists, and research. anglers to exchange information and ideas about 2). To define and clarify problems and trout ecology, trout fishing, and trout issues related to trout angling. management in the new millennium. It was 3). To foster communication among the formed around a much broader base of agency diverse groups involved in trout support than the first workshop and has an angling,