Wild brown trout represent an important fishery in Rapid Creek. The catch and release section of Rapid Creek, below Pactola dam, is particularly notable among anglers and is considered a ‘Blue Ribbon’ trout fishery. Since the early 2000s, the abundance of adult brown trout has declined appreciably and remains low compared to historic estimates. Understanding the cause of this decline is important, given the importance of this catch-and-release fishery and the implications for recruitment of larger fish. Recent work has shown that predation by mink (Mustela vison) may account for significant mortality of Brown Trout in Rapid Creek. Understanding the magnitude of mink predation on Brown trout could have important implications for future management decisions in Rapid Creek. Working in collaboration with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and the U.S. Forest Service, the purpose of this project is to assess impacts of mink predation on trout populations in Rapid Creek, South Dakota. Data gathered in this study will provide insight into the effectiveness of management techniques such as instream habitat improvements and (or) predator block management on trout populations.
