The Bull Trout is a Threatened Species, So Watch What You Reel In!
At one time, bull trout were common to all the major river systems flowing from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the far prairie and parklands of the west. When anglers began stocking streams with new species in the early 1900s, many saw bull trout as unwanted predators that fed on the more favored species. They removed large bull trout to improve the survival of other fish. During the last 25 years, bull trout numbers have declined even more, primarily as a result of over fishing. This species is not in immediate danger of extinction in many areas, but could easily disappear from some lakes and streams.
Bull trout and the trout called Dolly Varden look very similar and once were considered the same species. However, research has since identified them as different species. Both have small pale yellow to crimson spots on a darker background, which ranges from olive green to brown on the top, fading to white on the belly. One way to identify the bull trout specifically is that it does not have spots on its dorsal fin. Bull trout, Dolly Varden, Lake Trout
and Brook Trout
all belong to a branch of the trout family called chars.
Spawning bull trout adults develop varying amounts of red on the belly. Both species also exhibit differences in size, body characteristics, coloration, and behavior across their range. Bull trout are larger than Dolly Varden, with a relatively longer and broader head. They are mainly an inland species, while the Dolly Varden is more common in coastal areas. In Washington State, both species are present in the Puget Sound area.
Because bull trout are protected in many areas be sure you know how to identify them and carefully release them if caught. One way to avoid catching them is to use smaller lures and flies since bull trout are attracted to large spoons and plugs.
Check out some of the sites below that offer more information about bull trout to get you fishing!
