Catch Charts

Annual Catch Charts for 2004-2011

Catch Charts

The Brook Trout and Coaster information gathered here at Brook Trout Heaven, focus on Northwestern Ontario fly fishing and sport fishing in Lake Nipigon, Lake Superior and it's tributaries.
 (all Brook Trout posted on this site were released)

Some interesting stats

897 fish tagged over 8 years
average length = 18"
average weight = 3.25 lbs.
8.1% of the fish were 22" or bigger
190 recaptures or 21.2% of the population caught over multiple years
21 fish were recaptured 3 times,
5 fish recaptured 4 times
one lucky fish was recaptured 5 times.

2004 data:

49 fish tagged
20% of the population measured 20" (highest spike)
46% of the population measured 19-21" (3" range spike)
average length: 18.4"
11 recaptures or 22.4% of the annual population
no fish were recaptured more than once during this year
55.4% of tagged fish were 18" or greater
4.4% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

the new regulation hadn't been instituted yet so 51% of the tagged fish population from18" to 22" and was available for retention (not including those 22" and greater)

2004

2009

2010

2008

2007

2006

2005

fish length measured in inches

2005 data:

47 fish tagged
13% of the population measured 15" (highest spike)
43% of the population measured 14-16" (3" range spike)
average length: 16.7"
5 recaptures or 10.6% of the annual population
no fish were recaptured more than once during this year
4.4% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

appears to be an even bell curve distribution with no spikes in population

2006 data:

94 fish tagged
22% of the population measured 15" (highest spike)
46% of the population measured 13-15" (3" range spike)
average length: 18.4"
5 recaptures or 5.3% of the annual population
1 fish recaptured multiple times within this year
8.6% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

A greater percentage of the fish tagged were smaller indicating good reproduction the previous few years

2007 data:

161 fish tagged
17% of the population measured 18" (highest spike)
48% of the population measured 17-19 " (3" range spike)
average length: 17.7"
30 recaptures or 18.6% of the annual population
1 fish recaptured multiple times within this year
3% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

the previous year's population spike appears to be moving to the right on the graph as fish continue to grow in length

2008 data:

117 fish tagged
22% of the population measured 19" (highest spike)
48% of the population measured 18-20 " (3" range spike)
average length: 19.8"
49 recaptures or 41.9% of the annual population
9 fish recaptured multiple times within this year
2 fish recaptured 3 times within this year
19.7% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

The bulk of the recap. population continues to increase in length from the previous year
note the high recapture rate.

2009 data:

80 fish tagged
17% of the population measured 21" (highest spike)
46% of the population measured 19-21 " (3" range spike)
average length: 18.6"
25 recaptures or 31.3% of the annual population
5 fish recaptured multiple times within this year
15.1% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

There is still a solid population of larger fish, but a new bulge has surfaced on the left side of the chart with a smaller fish population returning

2010 data:

130 fish tagged
25% of the population measured 14" (highest spike)
55% of the population measured 13-15 " (3" range spike)
average length: 15.7"
12 recaptures or 9.2% of the annual population
no fish were recaptured more than once during this year
5.4% of tagged fish were 22" or greater

Interpretations:

The large fish population has flattened and there is a strong resurgence of smaller fish
the 2010 graph looks similar to the 2006 graph

Projections and Observations?

There appears to be a 4 year cycle. Note the bulk of the population increases in length (graph spike moves to the right) from 2004 through 2007, then starts to repeat in the cycle in 2008 through 2011.
the 2012 season should result in the largest average fish over the life cycle.
Almost half of the fish population falls with in a 3" length range regardless of year or size.
2011 had a high multiple recapture rate within that year
Note the high recapture rate, in both '08 and '09.
Are larger fish more susceptible to recapture? Are smaller fish less tolerant to release?
...and what do you conclude?

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% pop/inch

2004-1011 Percent of Total Population Per Inch

graphical summary of all 897 tagged fish
displays the percentage of fish at each inch (ie: 5% of all fish are 22")
of the 897 tagged fish, 8% were 22" or greater
compare each year graph to this summary graph and observe the annual changes

Ontario regulations state for zone 6 (Nipigon system), that only one brook trout 22" or larger may be kept. According to the summary graph on the left, this protects 92% of the population.

Practice "Catch and Release"

For the past 8 years, a select few individuals have been tagging brook trout and recording data on a volunteer basis for the Ministry of Natural Resources. The charts represent the 897 fish that we have tagged from 2004 to 2011. This is only the data gathered by two individual volunteers and does not represent the total tagging population of the program sponsored by the MNR.The full report is available in the 78 page PDF .

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The following charts have been created based on our annual data and each chart has been organized as follows:

number of fish caught that year
highest percent of the population
percent of the tagged population in a 3" range (bulk of the population)
average length of fish
number and percent of recaptures over multiple years for that fish
# of fish recaptured multiple times within that year
percent of tagged population 22" or greater

In 2005, the minimum length to retain a memorable Brook Trout in the Nipigon system changed from 18" to 22". On each graph, the red line ( __________ ) indicates the length of those 'memorable' fish that potentially could be kept at 22" and over.
Note how this regulation has helped protect a significant proportion of the tagged population. Practice "Catch & Release"

Tagging Program

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