Summary Report of Warmwater Volunteer Angler Diaries 2001

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) initiated the warmwater Volunteer Angler Diary program in 1990, as a cooperative effort between the Department's Fish Management Division and Washington's warmwater anglers. The program's primary objectives have been to establish a database of catch information for warmwater fishes from a large crosssection of waters, and to improve communication and cooperation between the Department and the anglers. The program initially targeted bass and walleye. However, since 2000 the program has been expanded to collect catch information on the six warmwater species managed under the Warmwater Enhancement Bill. Those species are: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, black crappie, tiger muskie, and channel catfish.

Volunteer angler diary data is used in conjunction with biological sampling and creel census information in order to monitor the condition of, and assess future management options for, warmwater fish populations in Washington State.