Creating Future Anglers? Assessing Recruitment and Retention from Iowa's Urban Trout Program

Iowa initiated an urban trout stocking program in the late 1980s, and has continued and expanded that program through the ensuing years.  The goals of this program have been to 1) provide trout fishing locally to more Iowans; 2) recruit and retain new anglers; 3) promote fishing; and, 4) encourage utilization of sustainable trout stream fisheries in northeast Iowa.  During the duration of the program, overall participation in angling has gradually declined, while annual trout license sales have increased.  Some of this increase can be attributed to improvements in the quality of Iowa’s trout streams, but credit can also be attributed to the expansion of Iowa’s urban trout stockings.  Data derived from Iowa’s licensing database, dating back to 2002, shows trout license purchasing patterns are related to newly established trout stocking locations.  Information about individual trout privilege purchasers, and their purchasing patterns related to other hunting and fishing licenses, shows correlations with stocking locations, staff marketing efforts, and the economy.  Local creel survey results and responses to statewide trout surveys also provide insights regarding progress toward achieving urban trout program goals.