Performance of the chinook salmon enhancement program in Willow Creek, Alaska, 1985-1992
By: by Larry R. Peltz and Dana E. Sweet.
Contributors: Sweet, Dana E.; Alaska. Division of Sport Fish.
Series: Fishery data series -- no. 93-22.
Publisher: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish
Published: 1993
Place of publication: Anchorage, Alaska
Language: eng
Number of pages: 78
Subjects: Chinook salmon -- Alaska -- Willow Creek.; Salmon fisheries -- Alaska -- Willow Creek.; Fish stocking -- Alaska -- Willow Creek.
Description: The contribution of hatchery produced chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to the Willow Creek sport harvest and escapement in 1992 was assessed using a roving creel survey at two sites on Willow Creek, a weir at Deception Creek (a tributary to Willow Creek), aerial peak spawning escapement surveys, and post spawning carcass surveys. Anglers expended an estimated 66,098 angler-hours to catch and harvest 10,540 and 7,081 chinook salmon, respectively. The majority of the effort (97%) occurred at the confluence of Willow Creek and Susitna River. During this "mouth" fishery, 18,271 angler-days were expended in 1992. This is an increase of over 12,800 angler-days since 1988, when hatchery fish were first recorded in the harvest. The hatchery contribution to the 1992 mouth fishery harvest from chinook salmon smolt stocked in the Willow Creek drainage was 51%. This is the highest contribution since the stocking program began in 1983. The 1989-1991 contributions were 38%, 36% and 26%, respectively. Escapement index counts and weir counts indicated a minimum of 2,643 spawners in Willow and Deception creeks combined. Carcass surveys in the mainstem of Willow Creek revealed a 12% hatchery contribution to the spawning escapement. Carcass surveys in Deception Creek indicated a relative hatchery contribution of 45% to the spawning escapement. The hatchery smolt release for 1992 was approximately 215,476.
Notes: "Partially financed by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act ... under project F-10-8, job no. S-2-11."

"August 1993."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 36-39).

Also issued online.