Angler Survey Results

| 7/16/2012

The Game and Fish Department`s annual angler survey showed a slight decline in sales of fishing licenses in 2011. However, angler participation was on the rise. Last year, 137,000 resident licenses were sold, down two percent from the season before.

According to Fisheries Chief Greg Power, the decline was due to last year`s flooding.

"Access was limited on many waters during peak fishing months," Power said. "Furthermore, residents of Burleigh and Ward counties were hit hard by Missouri and Mouse River flooding, and these two counties historically are by far the highest in terms of license sales."

The survey also showed that 111,000 residents fished on the open water, up 9,000. Ice fishing also saw an increase with 48,000 residents, up 15,000.

The percentage of nonresident license sales has been stable at 23 percent for the past decade with 41,000 nonresident licenses sold.

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