Survey of Anglers Using Southeast Alaska Recreational Cabins During 2009

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Data Series No. 12-81, Anchorage

A creel survey was mailed to parties reserving any of 79 U.S. Forest Service (USFS) recreational cabins located near cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii and rainbow/steelhead trout O. mykiss systems in Southeast Alaska during 2009. The survey was used to estimate trout (cutthroat and rainbow, combined) and steelhead catch and harvest, by users of these USFS cabins. A total of 3,444 nights were reserved among 79 USFS recreational cabins during 2009. At the time the reservations were made, 1,283 party heads reported that 4,508 people would be using these reservations. The overall response rate to the survey was 83% (1,013). Approximately 83% (840) of the parties responding to the survey reported that they used their cabin reservation, and 60% (503) of the party heads reported that someone in their party fished. Anglers utilizing these recreational cabins caught and released an estimated 12,383 trout (SE = 789) and 441 steelhead (SE = 57). These anglers also harvested an estimated 1,176 trout (SE = 87) and 25 steelhead (SE = 19). Comparing similar surveys conducted in 1999, 2002, and 2006 at USFS cabins, the number of registered parties in 2009 decreased slightly from 2006, but was very similar to the number of reservations made in 1999 and 2002. The average catch of trout during previous surveys is 27,796 (range 21,219– 42,946), but during the 2009 survey estimated catches were substantially less than average. The estimated total steelhead catch in 2009 was significantly below the average catch of 1,141 estimated since 1999 (range 724–1,549).