State survey shows anglers seek solitude; fishing generates more than $1 billion in direct spending

Craig, Division staff, presented results from a 2022 angler survey coordinated by the Utah Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism and delivered to the division by Utah State University in 2024. He said the survey had three parts: a general angler survey, a willingness-to-travel/willingness-to-pay module and a lapsed-angler study. “We’re in a situation where we’re trying to spread out pressure across the landscape, minimize crowding, maximize the benefit to anglers by diversifying the product that we offer,” Craig said.

Trina, Division staff, presented results from the division’s Blue Ribbon economic study and emphasized the study’s trend. “This is something that we do every so often, and it’s just grown over the last decade,” Trina said. She and Craig…