Fish Programs Mike Lopez and Antonio Lopez – AZGFD

Fish Programs Mike Lopez and Antonio Lopez – AZGFD

Region I Fisheries
Program
Wild and Native Trout Management
Antonio López – Stream Fisheries Specialist
Outline
• Stream fisheries management overview in Pinetop
Region
• Introduction to stream fisheries across region
• Non-native wild trout project highlights
o Planning stages
Stream Fisheries Management
1. Stocked Trout
o
o
o
Natural reproduction doesn’t support angling pressure
Typically stocked once a week – statewide regulations (except Silver Crk)
Species: Rainbow Trout and Apache Trout
2. Wild Trout
o
o
o
Stream-born non-native trout
Low angling pressure/low harvest or special regulation
Species: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, hybrids
3. Native Trout
o
o
o
Stream-born native trout – recovery populations
Catch-and-release regulations
Species: Apache Trout and Gila Trout (no Gilas currently in Region I)
Stream Fisheries Management
in Region I
14.6% 16.2%
69.2%
Stocked Trout
Wild Trout
Native Trout
Management
Miles
Stocked Trout
22.1
Wild Trout
94.1
Native Trout
19.8
Total
136
Pinetop Region Stream Fisheries
• Willow Springs Creek
o Wild Brook Trout
o Wild Brown Trout
o Statewide regulations
• Chevelon Canyon
o Wild Brown Trout
o Some Wild Rainbows
o NEW Special regulations
• Artificial only
• Two fish/day
Chevelon Creek
• Project components
o Fishing Regulations
• Implemented this year
o Water releases from lake
• New infrastructure
• Timing, frequency, duration?
• Avoiding affecting lake fishery
o Monitoring
• Stream temperatures
• Wild trout population
• Angler creel?
Pinetop Region Stream Fisheries
• WFLCR
o Upper
• Wild Apaches
• Catch-and-release
o Stocked Apaches
• Sheep’s Crossing
• Greer
• EFLCR
o Upper - NEW
• Wild Apaches
• Catch-and-release
o Lower
• Wild Browns
• LCR
o Wild Browns and
Rainbows
o Statewide regulations
Project Components
•
Angler access
• Trails?
•
Habitat evaluation
•
Monitoring
• Stream temp.
• Wild trout
Questions?
•
•
•
•
•
Antonio López
Stream Fisheries Specialist
Arizona Game and Fish – Pinetop Regional Office
Email: alopez@azgfd.gov
Phone: 928-367-4281
• Black River
o Wild Browns and Rainbow
hybrids
• Reservation Crk
o Wild Browns and Rainbow
hybrids
• EF Black River
o Wild Browns and Rainbow
hybrids
o Stocked Apaches
• Boneyard Creek
o Wild Browns and Brook
Trout