Effect That Providing Fishing Information Has on Angler Expectations and Satisfaction

Abstract

Anglers on Lake Miltona, Minnesota, who were given fishing information (catch rate and average weight of available species) generally did not show significant differences in satisfaction or expectations from a control group of anglers who were not provided with this information. Exceptions were the successful anglers for walleye Stizostedion vitreum and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Anglers were more satisfied with nonconsumptive aspects of the fishing experience (natural beauty of the lake, water quality, weather, quality of the access to the lake by boats) than with consumptive aspects (size and number of fish caught). Expectations of fish size were more realistic than expectations of catch rate: 67% of the anglers evaluated the average walleye (determined by creel surveys to be 2.1 lb) as “about what I expected,” whereas 47% evaluated the average walleye catch rate (0.2 fish/h) as “less than I expected.” Walleye anglers showed higher expectations of walleye catch rate than other anglers, and fishing experience was positively related to expectations of catch rate. Angler expectations of walleye size were significantly related to both fishing and trip satisfaction.