Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2018

AUTHORS. Joseph Gerbyshak, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Clear Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited conducted a project with the goal of improving size structure by decreasing the effect of density dependent growth on high density trout populations. This project took place over the course of five years (2013-2017) on two streams on the northern fringe of the Driftless Area of Wisconsin. The two study streams were Duncan Creek, which is dominated by brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and Elk Creek, primarily a brown trout (Salmo trutta) stream. Each year trout were captured via electrofishing, transported downstream, and stocked below dams to prevent migration back to the removal site. Transferred fish were given an adipose fin clip for identification in future surveys. The removal sites were areas with high density trout populations (3,000-9,000 fish per mile) with poor size structure in the upper reaches of the watershed. The transfer sites were reaches downstream with limited natural reproduction, lower density populations (