Evaluation of stocked game fish in the Tanana Valley, 1997

Description

We estimated the population abundance of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in two lakes managed to provide trophy-size rainbow trout. The estimated abundance of rainbow trout in Little Harding Lake was 1,157 (SE=94) of which 80 (SE=19) were estimated > 350mm tip-of-snout to fork-of-tail (FL). The abundance estimate for rainbow trout in Craig Lake was 179 (SE=20). Only one captured fish was larger than 350mm FL. An abundance estimate at Coal Mine #5 was attempted, however was unsuccessful. Of 105 rainbow trout captured at Coal Mine #5 Lake none were from stockings before 1997. Temperature was recorded in four lakes from June to September. None of the measurements exceeded the upper maximum temperature for rainbow trout (25C). Catch sampling was conducted at Birch, Quartz, and Chena lakes from 1995 to 1997. At Quartz Lake about 80% of the harvest of rainbow trout was comprised of ages 2 and 3 fish. At Birch and Chena lakes more than 50% of the harvest of rainbow trout was comprised of age1 fish. At all three lakes more than 90% of the harvest of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch, was comprised of ages0 and1. At Birch Lake coho salmon stocked as fingerlings had the lowest cost-to-the-creel.

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