Angler Surveys
Fisheries management in Tennessee is based on information collected with sound
methodology
using the most contemporary techniques available within the community of fisheries
professionals. Although the methods we use for obtaining information are sound and
proven,
there is no way to circumvent the inherent variability common to biological data.
It is however, possible to validate our findings by comparing the results of multiple
techniques.
Commonly, we use angler surveys to complement fish community surveys.
Angler surveys rely on fishermen to provide information about a fishery including,
effort,
catch, preferences, demographics, and economics. The information we collect through
angler surveys gives us an unbiased sample of the angling population that we use in
addition to our fishery independent assessments to select the best management plans
to accomodate the widest variety of anglers.
Just as no single sampling method can be used to describe every fish population,
(see fish community surveys),
no single angler survey method can adequately represent all anglers or all components
of a fishing experience. We therefore use several angler survey techniques to
gain a comprehensive picture of the sportfishing population in Tennessee. The methods
are described below:
Telephone Surveys:
The TWRA contracts annually with the University of Tennessee (UT) do an annual random
survey of licensed anglers. A list of licensed anglers is provided to the Human
Dimensions Research Lab at UT. From that list, a large random sample of anglers
is contacted by telephone. The anglers are asked questions such as where they live,
where the like to fish, the type of fishing they do, which species they like to fish for
and their satisfation with with fishing in Tennessee. The anglers are also invited to
provide comments and suggestions concerning management of Tennessee Fisheries.
The Advantages to This Type of Survey Are:
-
Provides unbiased randomly collected information about the entire angling population
in Tennessee.
-
Low cost per interview
-
Good response rates
The Disadvantages Include:
-
Recall Bias - this means that an angler may be asked questions about a fishing
experience
which occured weeks maybe even months before the interview. The angler may not be
able
to accurately answer all of the questions due to the passage of time.
-
A particular portion of the angling population may choose to not respond.
On-Site Angler Creel Surveys:
Each year representatives from the TWRA approach anglers while they are fishing in order
to ask them about their fishing experience that day. This process is known as a creel
survey. The "creel clerks" ask anglers questions about the amount of time they have
been fishing, what they are fishing for, what the have caught or released, where they
are
from, and questions about how much money was spent on the fishing trip. The information
obtained is very useful to TWRA fishery biologists to make informed decisions regarding
management of the states resources.
Currently the TWRA employs 11 full time creel clerks who conduct creel surveys on 17
reservoirs throughout Tenneessee. Annually they collect between 10,000 and 15,000
interviews. In addition to reservoirs, various seasonal stream and tailrace
surveys are conducted on an as-needed bases. The TWRA also contracts with the
Tennessee Technological Institute from time to time to conduct specialized surveys
where new research is the main focus.
The creel clerks may approach anglers by boat while they are in the process of
fishing. This type of survey is known as a "roving creel survey". At other times
the creel clerk may wait at a boat ramp, or pier to interview anglers at the completion
of a fishing trip. This is known as an "access point creel survey". If you are
approached by a creel clerk, please take a few minutes to respond to an
interview.
This process allows you to have a voice in the management of Tennessees' fishery
resources.
Tennessee Tech Student Interviewing an
Angler
Advantages of Creel Surveys:
-
No recall bias - anglers are not required to remember effort and catch from past
fishing
events
-
High response rates
-
Creel clerks are able to directly observe caught species. This allow for accurate
identification and measuring of harvested fishes.
Disadvantages of On-Site Creel Surveys:
-
It can be difficult to relate the information to the entire fishing population.
For example, a reservior creel survey would not represent stream or pond anglers.
-
High cost per interview
Online and Mail in Tournament Surveys - TWRA's BITE Program:
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agencys' BITE (Bass Information
from Tournament Entries) program is a coordinated effort between the
Agency and organized bass clubs which hold tournaments in Tennessee. Tournament
organizers voluntarily submit their tournament data to the
TWRA Fisheries Management Division via an online reporting form or a mail-in tournament
report card. The information on the report form or card
supplies information such as the location of the tournament, number of
participants, total catch, and size and weight structure of the tournament catch.
Annually, the information collected from tournament organizers is compiled into a report
which benefits both the TWRA as well as tournament anglers.
The Advantages include:
-
Information about bass stocks is compiled for major reservoirs
-
Information about otherwise unknown tournament effort is provided to biologists
-
Tournament anglers benefit by recieving information about bass tournament catch
around Tennessee.
Disadvantages include:
-
Information is provided only for a very specific portion of the fishing population.
-
Catch, effort, and size structure may be proportionally greater than in the general
fishing population
To view the latest BITE report or to find out about participating in the BITE
program, Click Here.
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