Assessment of Wild Steelhead Abundance Trends in British Columbia (1967/68-1995-96) using the Steelhead Harvest Questionnaire

Intra-regional similarities and inter-regional differences in wild steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) abundance patterns over time throughout British Columbia were identified using Catch-per-Angler-Day (CpAD) as an index of abundance of wild in-river adult steelhead abundance. This index was calculated from data collected by the Steelhead Questionnaire (SHQ) from 1967/68 until 1995/96. Interpretation of trends for some regions may be complicated by certain regional factors. Overall, wild CpAD for recent years shows a latitudinal trend of increasing steelhead in the northern waters and decreasing steelhead abundances in southern regions.