Why Do Virginia's Trout Anglers Lapse

Trout fishing remains a popular recreational fishery in the U.S. that produces a significant economic impact nationally.  Anglers spent 75 million days fishing for trout, with an average of 11 trips per angler in 2006.  That year, trout anglers spent $4.8 billion nationally fishing for trout, with an overall economic impact of $13.6 billion.  However, since 1996, participation in trout fishing has decreased.  In Virginia, trout are the second most sought after species but a nearly 50% decrease in license sales occurred since 2006.  We conducted a mail survey to identify why stocked trout anglers lapse by identifying anglers who had previously purchased trout licenses in consecutive years but did not in 2013-14.  We tested the hierarchical-constraints theory and determined to what extent constraints mediate future participation using a structural equation model.  Results will further advance understanding of the relationships among factors that influence participation in trout fishing.