All the local rivers on BC’s south coast are home to bull trout and offer fishing opportunities during the winter months. These include the Harrison River, Vedder River, Upper Pitt River, Lillooet River, Squamish River and Cheakamus River.
Are bull trout protected in BC?
Bull Trout in British Columbia are protected under the provincial Wildlife Act, the provincial Fish Protection Act, and the federal Fisheries Act.
How do you catch a bull trout in BC?
When fishing for Bull Trout use a short 3 to 4 foot 0X to 2X leader on a sinking tip line. If you’re using a floating line try tying on a 12 to 14 foot leader with a weight or a bead head fly. Bull trout hang near the bottom of deep pools, especially if there’s a tributary nearby depositing fresh, cold, clean water.
Are bull trout endangered in BC?
What is this species’ conservation status? The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has identified four different populations of bull trout in Canada. The Pacific population in BC is not at risk, and the South Coast British Columbia and Western Arctic populations are special concern.
Are bull trout protected in Canada?
Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout and their habitat are protected by law. In Banff National Park, these two fish species are protected under the Canada National Parks Act and Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
What do you use for bull trout?
Eight Go-To Streamers for Alberta Bull Trout
- #1 – Mini Leech – White – Size 10.
- #2 – Kreelex Minnow – Various – Size 4.
- #3 – Strolis’ Single Ice Pick – White – Size 2.
- #5 – Keller’s Nightmare – Light or Dark – Size 6.
- #6 – Kelly Galloup’s Circus Peanut – Black or White – Size 4.
Why is the bull trout endangered?
Because of their dependency on cold, clean water and pristine habitat, bull trout have been largely extirpated from much of their historic range. The best bull trout habitat occurs within large watersheds that have cold, clean water.
Are bull trout hard to catch?
Bull Trout are incredibly powerful and challenging fish making an angler give his best to land them. They are some of the largest growing freshwater salmonids in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. Because of their size they are often fearless, taking enormous flies with reckless abandon.
Where is the best bull trout fishing?
They are in most river drainages in central and northern Idaho that flow into the Snake and Columbia rivers. They’re most common in coldwater rivers, which in summer often means upper-elevation streams. Bull trout need water that’s 60 degrees or cooler, and water that’s around 54 degrees is ideal habitat for them.
Where is bull trout found in the river?
Bull trout love to ambush from an unsuspecting position. Look for overhanging branches, log jams, undercut banks and pools that have a good number of large boulders. Often times, the closer your fly can be to this structure, the higher your chances of getting right in their wheelhouse will be.
How large do bull trout get?
Physical Characteristics. Common length for the bull trout is 25 inches with the maximum reported length being 40.5 inches. The maximum reported weight of a bull trout is at 31 pounds and 15 ounces. Bull trout are a migratory species.
Are there bull trout on Vancouver Island?
Fishing Locations
Except Vancouver Island, bull trout can be found in just about every stream and lake in British Columbia. In Southern BC, there are many fishing locations where you can catch bull trout. Usually, at any barfishing locations along the Fraser River you will encounter them when fishing for salmon.
When did bull trout become endangered?
1998
The species occupies only an estimated 60 percent of its former range in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Nevada, and it has been on the federal endangered species list since 1998.
Are bull trout protected?
confluentus has been known as the “Dolly Varden” (S. malma), but was reclassified as a separate species in 1980. Bull trout are listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (1998) and as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
What fish do bull trout eat?
Small bull trout eat terrestrial and aquatic insects but prey on other fish as they grow larger. They eat whitefish, sculpins and other trout. Large bull trout are piscivorous, meaning they’re fish predators.
Can you keep bull trout in Alberta?
Bull trout are cold-water game fish subject to current Alberta sportfishing regulations. Because of the bull trout’s vulnerability, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) has implemented a zero possession limit on this fish throughout the province. All bull trout that are caught must be released.
How do you target a bull trout?
Since bull trout feed on other fish then you must “match-the-hatch“. Minnow like patterns, sculpins, and other gaudy patterns often trick bull trout into thinking they are after an easy meal. Swing your streamers. A classic swing method works well for bull trout, eliciting the “chase” instinct.
Are bull trout a char?
The bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) are part of the subgroup of the salmonid family known as char. Although they are two distinct species, they are often grouped together due to their very similar characteristics.
Where can I catch bull trout in Alberta?
Rivers like the Highwood, Castle, Crowsnest, Livingstone, and the Oldman River where the Alberta bull trout record was caught from. There are also fair numbers of bulls in both the Upper Kananaskis Lake and the Lower Kananaskis Lake where many anglers catch good sized bulls in both open water and hard water conditions.
Do bull trout have teeth?
Yes, Trout have teeth. Large trout have strong jaws and can easily bite aggressively and draw blood. Smaller trout have teeth but usually small enough not to worry about.
Are brook trout and bull trout the same?
Bull Trout and Brook Trout are two distinct species, but when they co-occur, they often spawn together and produce hybrid offspring.