This September, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) along with staff from the Friends of the Teton River conducted a fish population survey on the Parkinson monitoring reach of the Teton River. Rafts outfitted with electrofishing gear were used to conduct mark/recapture population estimates of Yellowstone Cutthroat and Rainbow trout. The Parkinson monitoring reach has been sampled 5 times since the early 1990’s. The site begins near the confluence of Canyon Creek and continues approximately 3.6 miles downstream.
This year we estimate there are 1,229 Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (YCT)/mile which is more than three times higher than our 2015 estimate of 389 YCT/mile (Figure 1). The Rainbow Trout (RBT) population also may have increased since our last estimate in 2009 and was 61 RBT/mile and is 378 RBT/mile currently.
Rainbow Trout averaged 11.3 inches in length while Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (YCT) averaged 12 inches in length. A wide range of size classes were present for YCT ranging from under 6 to 20 inches. Not only are there many YCT in the river, there are a wide variety of sizes to catch! This also indicates YCT have had good success reproducing in recent years suggesting fishing should be good for the coming years as well.
By conducting these surveys on a regular basis, we are able to make informed decisions to manage and preserve this important native and wild trout fishery. This aligns with our top management goal for the Teton River drainage: Preserve the genetic integrity and population viability of wild native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (YCT).
