Values and Behaviors of Trout Anglers, and their Attitudes toward Fishery Management, Relative to Membership in Fishing Organizations: A Michigan Case Study

Abstract

A controversial proposal to adopt catch-and-release regulations for a section of the Au Sable River near Grayling, Michigan, provided an opportunity to study differences in management preferences and related characteristics between members of fishing organizations and nonmembers. Two fishing organizations were prominent among the Au Sable River sample of anglers, Trout Unlimited (TU, 43%) and the Fly Fishing Federation (FFF, 14%). However, only 1.8% of a statewide sample of stream trout anglers belonged to TU and 0.3% were members of FFF. Members were more specialized, had more fishing experience, and participated in trout (brown trout Salmo trutta, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) fishing more intensely and frequently than nonmembers. In addition, a higher percentage of members than nonmembers favored the proposed catch-and-release regulation and had supporting attitudes for special regulations. However, members and nonmembers were similar regarding motivations for trout fishing and attributes used for selection of Au Sable River fishing sites. Membership status may be a useful segmentation base for fisheries management issues involving regulations, but less useful for distinguishing important differences in satisfactions or benefits sought.