All Bull Trout must be released immediately. It is unlawful to possess a live Bull Trout for any reason. Only a valid fishing license is required. For Purposes of this regulation, the South Fork Flathead River extends from Cross- over boat ramp south and upstream to the confluence of Youngs’ and Danaher creeks.
Are bull trout endangered in Montana?
Bull trout are currently listed coterminously as a threatened species. The species historical range included Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.
What trout can you keep in Montana?
Daily Limits and other Fishing Regulations in Montana
| Species | Daily and Possession Limits |
|---|---|
| Cutthroat Trout | Lakes/Reservoirs: included in the “Combined Trout” daily and possession limit. Rivers/Streams: all Cutthroat Trout must be released immediately |
| Lake Trout | 3 daily and 6 in possession. |
| Bass | 5 daily and in possession. |
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 states have bull trout?
Bull trout are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 United States. It occurs in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. The Service recently published a Final Recovery Plan for the Coterminous U.S. Population of Bull Trout on Sept.
Is a bull trout a lake trout?
The game fish, Bull Trout, is a large, lake trout that belongs to the Char family. While some bull trout never leave one stream their entire life, others migrate to larger waterbodies for the winter and travel to smaller streams to spawn.
How big does a bull trout get?
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.
Where are the biggest trout in Montana?
Yellowstone River
Fly Fishing on the Yellowstone River is undoubtedly some of the best dry fly trout fishing anywhere in Montana, and some of the largest brown trout that get caught in the state come out of the Yellowstone River.
Is night fishing legal in Montana?
To reduce stress on fish, anglers followed fishing restrictions including hoot owl hours, which prohibit fishing between 2 p.m. and midnight. Ranchers worked with each other and FWP to maintain a steady flow of water in threatened rivers and healthy fish habitat.
Can you fish with two rods in Montana?
It is legal to fish with 2 rods in Montana.
Can you catch bull trout?
The best lure actions for bull trout are ones that resemble baitfish. Spin casting with jigs, minnow imitating crankbaits, spoons, and spinners are all productive methods of fishing for these trout. For fly fishing, Minnows and any larger streamer type flies that represent minnows.
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.
Why are bull trout called bull trout?
The bull trout has the scientific name Salvelinus confluentus. It is in the order Salmoniformes. It is called bull trout due to its large head. Its pattern is similar to that of the brook trout, although it is actually a char.
Where can I find bull trout in Montana?
When fishing for Bull Trout each angler must have in possession a valid Bull Trout Catch Card for the specific water he/she is fishing. Anglers may select only one of the following areas: Lake Koocanusa, or Hungry Horse Reservoir and SouthFork Flathead River.
What rivers in Montana have bull trout?
Bull trout fishing is permitted in four western district waters of Montana: Hungry Horse Reservoir, South Fork Flathead River, Lake Koocanusa and Swan Lake.
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.
How deep do bull trout go?
Down around 20 feet/6 meters and the temperature rarely gets above 60°F/15.5°C degrees so they don’t usually go very deep unlike the Lake Trout.
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.
How old can bull trout live?
Compared to most other salmonids, bull trout are relatively long-lived (over 10 years) and have rather specific habitat requirements that restrict their distribution and abundance.
Where are bull trout endangered?
Bull trout is of concern in the Northern Region because of population declines. This species is federally listed as ‘Threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act.
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.