Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Research Report No.1808, 1974
Results of Fishing and Angler Questionnaire on the South Branch Au Sable River, Mason Tract,
Crawford County, Michigan, During the Burrowing Mayfly Hatch, 1973
Gaylord R. Alexander
Abstract.-A permit-type of census of angling was conducted on the South Branch Au Sable River during the period June 2 to July 6, 1973. The period was selected to include the mayfly hatch, when fishing is considered to be at its best, and the census covered only the hours from 7 p.m. to 1 a. m. The purpose was to measure fishing pressure, catch, and quality during a period of heavy fishing as background information for possible changes in management. A questionnaire to anglers asked their opinion on whether fishing on the river was too congested, and whether fishing pressure should be reduced by further restrictive regulations. Anglers were required to come to a checking station to get a daily permit, and then return to the station to report on their fishing. Fishing was restricted to flies-only. The legal size was 10 inches on brown trout and 7 inches on brook trout. During the 35 days of the census, 2,478 one-day permits were issued to 959 different persons, who spent 8,011 hours fishing. Average fishing trip was 3. 23 hours; average rate of catch was 0.12 trout per hour. The total catch (fish in the creel) was 979 trout:--267 brook trout (av. 8. 7 inches ) and 7 12 brown trout ((av.. 13 . 9 inches ). The 8, 0 1 1 hours of fishing took (a calculated) 14% of the legal size trout which were in the river during that period. A relatively few fishermen had the better rate of success, did most of the fishing, and caught most of the fish-which is typical of stream trout fishing. In response to the opinion questionnaire, most fishermen said they were not bothered by other fishermen, and did not want a permit system for fishing on the river.