Abstract.-This report summarizes results of on-site creel surveys conducted on inland lakes, rivers, and the Great Lakes from 1975 to 1982 which are not given in other reports.
The inland lake fisheries varied considerably. For a May-September fishing season, total catch varied from 0.09 to 559 fish per acre, and catch rate from 0.0051 to 2.5861 fish per angler hour. Generally, fishing pressure was inversely related to lake size and was highest in Region III (southern Michigan). Large lakes tended to have lower catch per acre and lower catch per hour averages. Limited comparisons suggest that there has been a decline in inland lake fisheries since 1946-65 surveys.
Statistics for 13 Great Lakes surveys are given in this report. Fish per hour estimates ranged from a high of 2.12 for the Saginaw Bay winter perch fishery to a low of 0.253 for the Thunder Bay summer trout fishery. Fishing pressure ranged from a high of 15,156 hours per square mile for the 1978 summer Belle Isle fishery to a low of 341 hours per square mile the above-mentioned Thunder Bay fishery.
Five river fisheries were surveyed. Catch rates ranged from a high of 0.4354 fish per hour per angler for the Detroit River to a low of 0.0356 fish per hour per angler on the lower Au Sable River. The Detroit River had the highest fishing pressure, 22,709 fishing hours per linear mile, and the St. Joseph had the lowest, 2,958 fishing hours per linear mile.
Recommendations for planning creel surveys are given.