Precision of Statistics Derived from Missouri Statewide Angler Surveys

Abstract

We assessed the validity of using statewide telephone survey data to develop estimates of total angler effort and effort by water category (e.g., ponds and streams) for individual water bodies, management regions, and north–south geographic regions. Angler hours and trips for individual reservoirs and put-and-take trout parks were found to vary by less than 30% for both estimates, but effort estimates for individual streams and five classes of small impoundments were highly variable and imprecise because of the low number of cooperators fishing these waters. We found that survey results from 40 cooperators and 195 cooperator trips were required to obtain estimates of angler hours and angler trips, respectively, such that the variation of those estimates would be less than 30% for at least 80% of the water bodies meeting that sample size. We recommend that statewide surveys be used to assess only effort for water bodies that receive statewide use, that is, for those that draw from a very large regional or statewide population.