Population estimate of wild rainbow trout in a remote stream of southern California

Abstract

Recreational fishing for Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is important economically in California. We determined the upstream and downstream distribution of Rainbow Trout in a southern California stream, and classified all available habitat within that area as riffle, pool, cascade-pool-complex, and flatwater. Approximately 10% (based on length) of each habitat type was sampled using depletion electrofishing. We estimated Rainbow Trout abundance, both <100 mm and ≥100 mm, by extrapolating average number of fish per m² in each habitat type sampled to the total m² of each habitat type. A total of 854 fish were captured, with the greatest proportion coming from the cascade-pool-complex habitat type, followed by pool, flatwater, and riffle. The population estimate for Rainbow Trout <100 mm was 1,763 fish (95% CI ±442), and for Rainbow Trout ≥100 mm was 5,383 fish (95% CI ±1,688).

Keywords

• depletion electrofishing
• population estimate
• rainbow trout