Despite the long history of stocking trout and the popularity of stocked-trout fishing in Virginia, no study has investigated the use of the program nor attempted to describe anglers actively seeking stocked trout. Agencies have stocked trout in Virginia since the 1920s and today, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) stocks the majority of the fish in the state, stocking over 1 million catchable-sized trout on over 180 waters. Given the expansive effort of VDGIF and the popularity of the program, VDGIF desired to understand how anglers utilize their program and who actively fishes for stocked trout. My objectives were 1) to assess catch, harvest, effort, and return-to-creel rates of stocked trout on various fishery and water body types, across seasons and number of days post-stocking in stocked waters in western Virginia, 2) to identify market segments of anglers seeking stocked trout based upon their demographic characteristics, motivations, and degree of specialization, 3) to compare satisfaction and management preferences of the market segments of anglers seeking stocked trout in Virginia and 4) to recommend stocking and management strategies that best meet the desires of stocked-trout anglers in Virginia and that produce managerially desired catch rates to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. I conducted on-site surveys on 17 stocked-trout waters across Virginia. Most anglers reported high levels of satisfaction with their fishing experience that day and with the program in the last 12 months. The majority of anglers caught something that day. Anglers had diverse fishing and management preferences. Stocking density did not affect catch rate on lakes nor streams. Time following a stocking event did influence catch rate and effort; anglers caught fish the quickest on the day of stocking, but catch rate remained near 1 trout per angler-hr and did not significantly differ from the day after stocking to 30 days after stocking. Catch rate positively correlated with angler satisfaction, yet the majority of the anglers were highly satisfied, even if they did not catch any fish. We identified four groups of anglers: casual anglers, consumptive-experienced anglers, avid anglers, and specialists. Social investment, experience, and fishery resource use varied among the four groups. The four groups also had differing motivations for fishing, fishing preferences, management preferences, and levels of satisfaction. Multinomial logistic regressions showed that specialization, age, catch rate, importance an angler places on catching something, and waterbody type contributed to the best model for predicting angler satisfaction. Anglers on streams typically expressed greater satisfaction than anglers on lakes. Angler satisfaction negatively correlated with the importance an angler placed on catching something. / Master of Science

Trout anglers comprise about 20% of all anglers in Virginia and expended > 1-million angler-days in pursuit of Virginia trout. Stocked trout account for approximately 80% of the trout angling effort in Virginia (O'Neill 2001) through a program managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Each year, the VDGIF stocks > 1-million catchable-sized trout in about 180 waters in Virginia. Despite the popularity of stocked trout fishing in Virginia, several factors potentially threaten the future of the stocked trout program in Virginia. First, previous surveys indicate that stocked trout anglers are less satisfied with their fishing experiences in Virginia than other species specialists. Additionally, the sale of stocked trout fishing licenses declined 31% between 2006 and 2013. Revenue generated from the sale of trout licenses is a significant source of income that helps fund the stocked trout program. Given the popularity of stocked trout fishing in Virginia and the considerable effort of VDGIF in managing the stocked trout program, my research objectives were to 1) identify homogenous angler groups seeking stocked trout in Virginia, 2) compare motivations, satisfaction, and preferences of stocked trout anglers in Virginia, and 3) examine the extent to which prior satisfaction and constraints relate to future participation. To address objectives 1 and 2, I administered a mail survey of 5,400 licensed trout anglers in Virginia. Using cluster analysis, I identified four distinct groups of stocked trout anglers: traditional anglers, generalists, occasional specialists, and specialists. Traditional anglers constituted the largest group, comprised of those who fished with bait, harvested the stocked trout they caught, fished more frequently than other groups, had low centrality, and invested less money in trout fishing than did other groups. Generalists included those who took fishing-related vacations, fished with a variety of terminal tackle, harvested their catch, and demonstrated low invest little in fishing for stocked trout. Occasional specialists fished infrequently, had low centrality, invested little money in fishing, fished with lures and flies, and released the stocked trout they caught. Specialists had high centrality and investment, fished with flies, and almost always released the stocked trout they caught. Psychological and natural-setting attributes were stronger motives to fish for stocked trout than were fishery and social motives. Anglers rated catching fish as being more important than keeping fish to eat. Overall, anglers were satisfied only somewhat with stocked trout fishing in Virginia. However, anglers rated satisfaction higher with activity-general characteristics, such as the setting and relaxing, than they did activity-specific factors, such as number or size of fish caught. Results of stated preference choice models indicated that anglers preferred unannounced stockings rather than stockings announced in advance. Furthermore, anglers preferred stocking of streams rather than lakes, stocking taking place during the spring, and catching six 10-inch trout rather than fewer, larger trout. Compared to weekday stockings, anglers did not show a preference for weekend stockings, despite comments made at public meetings suggesting that many anglers preferred weekend stockings. Although four specialization levels exist for Virginia's stocked trout anglers, choice models suggest that preferences coalesced into only two groups: preferences of specialists differed from those of traditional anglers, generalists, and occasional specialists. When compared to the status quo fishing trip, traditionalists, generalists, and occasional specialists preferred a prior announced stocking, whereas specialists preferred a delayed announcement and catching fewer, but larger, trout. To address the third objective, I surveyed 1,100 lapsed trout anglers (individuals who had purchased licenses twice between September 1, 2011, and August 31, 2013, but did not purchase one between September 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014). I found that anglers who placed high importance on non-catch-related factors (e.g., being outdoors, enjoying a relaxing experience, experiencing a natural setting) were more likely to fish for stocked trout again in the future. Constraints did not mediate the effect of prior satisfaction on future participation. However, structural constraints were related positively to future participation, suggesting that individuals who had more time and family commitments were more likely to negotiate those constraints and resume participation in the future. / Ph. D.

For many years, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has managed freshwater fisheries without fully understanding their stakeholders. To increase its knowledge and improve management, the VDGIF commissioned a market segmentation study to collect baseline information about its constituents and serve as a model for future studies. I developed a 16-page mail questionnaire that was sent to a stratified random sample of 5,378 Virginia resident freshwater fishing license holders. The questionnaire was use to collect information on characteristics, motivations, attitudes, and preferences of Virginia resident freshwater anglers. The response rate was 52%. I examined the descriptive characteristics of resident freshwater anglers and anglers who purchased different types of licenses and anglers from different management regions. Differences in fishing behaviors, motivations for fishing, attitudes, and preferences for management existed among anglers based on license type and regions. Although satisfaction with freshwater fishing was high, in most cases, many anglers believed that fishing quality had declined. By adopting a marketing approach and providing the desired experiences to each segment of anglers, the Fisheries Division may improve its relationship with anglers, as well as increase participation and satisfaction. I also segmented the Virginia anglers by species preference, specialization, and a multi-level approach that involved a combination of species preference and specialization. Anglers are not a homogenous group and they seek different experiences. Multi-level segmentation was the most useful method of segmentation because it identified within-species preference group differences. Within each species preference group I found several segments of anglers. Segments differed in their orientations (trophy or consumptive), preferred methods of fishing and information sources, and support for regulations. Specialist anglers from each species preference group were trophy oriented and some were consumptive oriented as well. Specialists also were the most supportive of restrictive regulations. Less specialized anglers in each species preference group generally were less trophy oriented, more consumptive, and less supportive of regulations than specialist anglers. My results provide better understanding of the different segments of anglers within each species preference group, which will allow managers to provide a more satisfying experience for their stakeholders. / Master of Science

Nonresident angler participation in Alaskan sport fisheries has increased at a higher rate than resident participation during the past decade. Popular sport fisheries have become crowded and stakeholder groups are increasingly concerned about the future direction of Alaska sport fisheries management. To address stakeholder concerns in an informed manner, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) commissioned a market segmentation study to collect baseline information for assessing the impacts of projects and strategies that provide benefits to the angling public. I developed a 24-page mail questionnaire that was sent to a stratified random sample of 15,000 Alaska nonresident fishing license holders. Information was collected on fishing participation, fishing experience, activity-specific attitudes, motivations for fishing, as well as species and locations fished. In addition, information on setting preferences, guide use, fish exportation, and opinions on several management proposals was also collected. The response rate was 54% (exclusive of surveys that were undeliverable). A two-stage empirical clustering approach, employing Ward's method and UPGMA hierarchical clustering followed by k-means partitioning, identified five nonresident angler clusters. A combination of seven specialization and four motivation variables were used to identify angler groups. The angler segments ranged in size from 15% to 24% of the sample and had diverse characteristics including differences in frequency of participation, fishing experience and preferences, as well as motivations for fishing. Significant differences existed among angler segments with regard to Alaska fishing characteristics, such as number of days and locations fished in Alaska, number of fish transported from Alaska, attributes important in fishery site selection, and likelihood of returning to Alaska to fish. Differences in fishing characteristics, resource dependency, and preferences with regard to fishery attributes also were found among anglers participating in selected Alaska sport fisheries, as well as anglers fishing for different species within a fishery location (e.g., Kenai River). Information provided by this study will allow ADF&G to assess the relative nonresident demand for different types of angling experiences in Alaska, estimate nonresident angler response to potential management actions, and focus planning and management activities in ways that are consistent with the interests of these different angler types. Results also demonstrate the potential for fishery-based segmentation to provide fisheries managers with a more detailed understanding of nonresident angler participation at the regional and fishery level. / Master of Science

A catch-related attitude measurement scale is used for discerning an angler’s evaluation of catching fish in four constructs (catching something, catching numbers, catching large fish, and retaining fish) in two studies. The first study was of resident (in-state) and nonresident (out-of-state) anglers at Sardis and Grenada reservoirs and the second was of hand grabblers and rod and reel catfish anglers. In the first study at Sardis Reservoir, there were no differences in catch-related attitudes between groups. At Grenada Reservoir, there were differences between groups toward catching large fish and retaining fish. In the second study, hand grabblers had stronger attitudes toward catching large fish than rod and reel catfish anglers but rod and reel catfish anglers had stronger attitudes toward catching numbers. Knowledge of catch-related attitudes can lead to more palatable regulations that enhance angler satisfaction and ultimately retain and recruit new and lapsed anglers.