An evaluation of a catch and release trout regulation in Rapid Creek, South Dakota

Often, catch and release regulations are meant to maximize a fisheries potential to create trophy fish. I evaluated adult Brown Trout populations at five locations within Rapid Creek within Rapid City, SD over a two-year period. In each year, one of these locations was within a catch and release area, while two were outside. In 2012, density and biomass estimates were higher in a site located outside of the catch and release area. Additionally, size structure within the catch and release area was only significantly larger than one of the two sites outside of the regulation area. Mean relative weight values were inversely related to density estimates, with the lowest density sites having the highest mean relative weights. Similarly, a site outside of the catch and release area had the highest abundance and biomass estimates in 2013. The cumulative length distribution was significantly different between the site within the catch and release area and the two located outside. Relative weight was significantly higher in the catch and release area than the two sites outside. As population characteristics within the catch and release area were not consistently better than outside, it is more likely that factors such as habitat and density dependence are impacting the Brown Trout population more than the regulation itself.