A nationwide decline in trout fishing participation, documented in a just-released survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, could impact the future of state-run trout stocking programs.

The study, a tediously researched addition to the "2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation," shows that as participation in traditional forms of outdoor recreation wanes, the number of Americans who fish for trout is also declining.

Linked to the U.S. Census and conducted about every five years since 1955, the survey is used as a baseline for federal, state and industry analysis of American spending on outdoor recreation. Investment in trout stocking-programs in Mid-Atlantic states such as Pennsylvania, where most of the trout caught by anglers are raised in hatcheries and stocked, could be impacted by the findings of the report's new supplement.

Sought by 6.8 million anglers in 2006, trout remain the fourth most pursued sport fish in the United States, after largemouth and small mouth bass, panfish and catfish.

The report shows that as the number of freshwater anglers has declined from 29 million in 1996 to 25 million in 2006, with a precipitous drop of 3 million from 2001-2006, participation in trout fishing has mirrored the trend. Nationwide, trout-fishing participation has declined from around 9 million anglers in 1996 to 6.8 million in 2006.

Great Lakes fishing is not included in the survey.

Curiously, as the number of trout anglers decreases, the average number of fishing days per angler has remained constant.

"Though participation in trout fishing is down from 1996 to 2006, on average the 11 days anglers spend fishing has remained constant," wrote the report's author, Anna Harris of the agency's Division of Policy and Programs. "... One explanation for the decrease in angler participation but the consistency in average fishing days per angler may be related to demographic characteristics, such as an aging population of freshwater and trout anglers."

Nationwide, 27 percent of all freshwater anglers fished for trout in 2006, with the largest number of trout anglers in California, Pennsylvania and Colorado.

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Economic impact on anglers

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Individually, each trout angler spent an average of $712 on the sport in 2006. That's significantly less than the $982 spent by freshwater anglers in general, reflecting, the report suggests, higher boating costs associated with bass fishing. Nevertheless, the economic impact of trout fishing in the United States in 2006 exceeded $4.8 billion, with an estimated ripple effect of over $13.5 billion and support of over 100,000 jobs.

"From an economic perspective, trout anglers have a high value for their fishing experience," said Harris. "Resident anglers value trout fishing at around $56 per fishing day while out-of-staters regard trout fishing as a prized experience, with a value of $135 per fishing day. These values can be used by resource managers and others to evaluate management actions that would have an impact on trout fishing."

In Pennsylvania, the 2006 report found that of the state's 914,000 freshwater anglers, 67 percent (about 610,000) fished for trout.

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission records show that in the years since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife data was gathered, Pennsylvania anglers bucked the national trend. In 2006, 723,544 adult resident fishing licenses were purchased. The number increased to 758,434 in 2009. But while general license sales are up, state records show the purchase of trout stamps has remained relatively flat, with 498,561 trout-salmon permits sold in 2006 and 503,333 sold in 2009. Purchase of Erie-trout-salmon combo permits is up, however, from 72,335 in 2006 to 92,645 in 2009.

"As far as fishing participation in general, we had a pretty good year," said Fish and Boat chief of fisheries management Dave Miko. "If you look at the [USFWS] report, Pennsylvania ranks high in trout participation, but I'd say we're seeing a larger loss of trout anglers than other anglers."

Miko said the gradual decline in trout anglers has been discussed in Fish and Boat economic planning meetings.

"Remember, trout fishing remains the bread and butter of our agency," he said. "That is where most of our anglers are fishing ... But the cost of feed is going up, fuel and electricity are going up, and in my shop we're looking at the cost effectiveness of trout fishing -- a benefit ratio on the value of trout fishing. It's kind of tricky but something we should keep an eye on."

While creative ways of raising revenues are being pursued, said Miko, new executive director John Arway is on record as having no interest in asking the state legislature for a license fee increase at this time.

In the past three years, said Miko, the agency has attempted to improve efficiency in the trout hatchery program. More recently, a Penn State department that studies corporate product distribution has been hired to evaluate the agency's trout stocking distribution system.

"Should we change load sizes? Change routes? We're looking at the whole gamut," said Miko.

The distribution report is due this year.

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