Most anglers were Anglo (68%) and male (84%).

Most (80%) anglers were between 20-49 years of age. The mean age was 36.3 years.

Most (61%) anglers were military personnel (retired or active).

Most (69%) anglers had an average household income less than $40,000. The median income category was $30,000 to $39,999

Fishing Participation Patterns and Preferences

Fort Hood anglers had an average of 21.1 years experience fishing in freshwater.

Most (92%) anglers had fished in freshwater during the last year, and 84% had fished at Fort Hood during that time.

The average number of days fished in freshwater in the last year was 37.3 days. The average number of days fished at Fort Hood in the last year was 24 days.

Belton Lake (26%) and Gray Lake (14%) were the most common locations fished at Fort Hood.

When fishing at Fort Hood, 30% of anglers prefer to fish with friends, 25% prefer to fish alone, 23% prefer to fish with family, and 19% prefer to fish with family and friends together.

Black bass was the most preferred species to catch for 35% of Fort Hood anglers. Other species most preferred by Fort Hood anglers were catfish (15%), crappie (5%), and trout (3%). Thirty-five percent of Fort Hood anglers did not have a preferred species.

Overall, 30% of Fort Hood anglers were very or extremely satisfied, and 26% were not at all or slightly satisfied with fishing at Fort Hood.

Statements about recreational fishing in freshwater receiving the highest level of agreement were "I like to fish where there are several types of fish to catch" (76%), "The more fish I catch, the happier I am" (75%), and "A fishing trip can be successful even if no fish are caught" (71%).

Statements about recreational fishing in freshwater receiving the lowest level of agreement were "I want to keep all the fish I catch" (62%), and "If I thought I wouldn't catch any fish, I wouldn't go fishing" (51%).

The most important reasons for fishing at Fort Hood were "To relax", "For the fun of catching fish", "To get away from the regular routine", and "To be outdoors", which were rated as very or extremely important by 89%, 84%, 82%, and 81% of anglers, respectively.

The least important reasons for fishing at Fort Hood were "To obtain a trophy fish", "To learn how to fish before I fish elsewhere", and "To practice my skills before I fish elsewhere", which were rated as slightly or not at all important by 69%, 59%, and 52% of anglers, respectively.

The most preferred tools for managing Fort Hood fisheries were "Stocking native freshwater fish in freshwater", "Releasing fish below a certain length", and "Fishing derbies to teach children how to fish", which received support or strong support from 91%, 91%, and 88% of anglers, respectively.

The least preferred tools for managing Fort Hood fisheries were "Releasing fish above a certain length limit", and "Not being allowed to fish in certain restricted areas", which received opposition or strong opposition from 33% and 33% of anglers, respectively.

The probability that a respondent would agree to pay a higher fee for a Fort Hood fishing license (the current license cost was $12) was negatively correlated with license cost, and positively correlated with satisfaction level with fishing at Fort Hood.

If angling quality at Fort Hood was to remain the same, 72% of anglers would be willing to pay $14, and 43% of anglers would be willing to pay $20, for a Fort Hood fishing license. With no change in angling quality, the license cost at which 50% of anglers would cease to purchase a Fort Hood fishing license was estimated to be $18.30.

If angling quality at Fort Hood was to decline by 25%, 33% of anglers would be willing to pay $14, and 19% of anglers would be willing to pay $20, for a Fort Hood fishing license. With a 25% decrease in angling quality, the license cost at which 50% of anglers would cease to purchase a Fort Hood fishing license was estimated to be $6.53.

If angling quality at Fort Hood was to increase by 25%, 91% of anglers would be willing to pay $14, and 68% of anglers would be willing to pay $20, for a Fort Hood fishing license. With a 25% increase in angling quality, the license cost at which 50% of anglers would cease to purchase a Fort Hood fishing license was estimated to be $23.47.

Civilians were an average of five years older, and had an average of four years more fishing experience than military personnel.

Civilians were more likely to: own a powerboat, agree with the statement "I usually eat the fish I catch", be more motivated to fish "to obtain fish for eating", support prohibiting the use of certain types of sport fishing gear, and fish with family or family and friends together.

The models generated to analyze the trade-off between license cost and the proportion of anglers willing to pay that price should be a useful tool to managers in support of decision making efforts at Fort Hood. If license fees are to be increased without a reduction in the numbers of licenses sold, there is a need for a concurrent increase in fishing quality and/or anglers' satisfaction level.

From survey results it seems inconsistent that trout and catfish are the species stocked primarily in post waters while the most preferred species is black bass. Greater emphasis on stocking bass could help enhance the satisfaction level of anglers and increase their willingness to pay increased license costs.

If increasing and maintaining the satisfaction levels of Fort Hood anglers is of concern, managers must strive to ensure that anglers achieve a range of non-activity experience preferences that include being outdoors, relaxing, and escaping everyday pressures.

When providing fishing opportunities at Fort Hood, managers must be sensitive to differences between military personnel and civilians, and between Fort Hood anglers and the statewide population of anglers in general.

Future studies should pay attention to the problem of high levels of non-deliverables in order to minimize problems associated with non-response bias.