Where does it live? The bull trout occurs in western Canada, including BC, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories, as well as the American Pacific northwest. It is a cold-water species found in lakes, rivers and streams.
Where can I catch bull trout in the US?
The geographic range of the bull trout is confined to northwestern North America from Alaska to northern California. These fish inhabit Artic waters, Pacific waters and are usually found in mountain or coastal streams.
Where is the best bull trout fishing?
Bull Trout are native north of the Mexican border, west of the Rocky Mountains, and as far north as southern Alaska. The world record Bull Trout was caught from Lake Pend Oreille in Northern Idaho in 1949.
How big was the biggest bull trout?
32 pounds
Lake Pend Oreille, long known for producing trophy trout, has produced many record fish, including the “certified weight” record bull trout of 32 pounds, caught in 1949.
What is the best bait for 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.
Are bull trout rare?
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.
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.
Why did bull trout go extinct?
Bull trout are extinct in their range in California; the last known individual was captured on the McCloud River in 1975. Bull trout were likely in decline for most of the 20th century prior to their eventual extirpation due to construction of Shasta Dam and the subsequent elimination of their food supply.
What animal eats bull trout?
Big Fish, Little Fish
While rearing in protected waters, bull trout are susceptible to larger fish including sculpin and cutthroat trout. They are also eaten by larger bull trout, who generally begin feeding on other fish in their first year of life.
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.
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.
Are bull trout still endangered?
Bull trout are currently listed coterminously as a threatened species. The species historical range included Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington.
Are bull trout extinct?
PRESENT STATUS: Bull trout are extinct in California and inhabit only one river system in Nevada. Oregon and Washington populations are at a high risk of extinction, as well as some Idaho populations. Montana bull trout are considered secure in only 2 percent of the stream segments they inhabit.
Where do bull trout go in the winter?
The bull trout prefers to spawn in cold, clear, small, flowing mountain and coastal streams with loose gravel and cobble at the bottom. Juvenile fish are usually found in shallow side channels and move into pools as they grow. Most bull trout spend winters in deeper pools to avoid ice.
What colors attract trout the most?
There are many different colored baits and lures and choosing the right ones and knowing how to use them is important. Bright neon flashy colors attract mostly trout, while bigger darker-colored lures attract largemouth bass.
Do bull trout feed at night?
As the smolts leave the lake, the bull trout gorge for a day, tracking the prey into the shallows at night. After that first day, though, the feeding tapers off.
What is the rarest fish in the river?
Chinese Paddlefish
Photo courtesy of CGTN. Last seen in 2007, the Chinese Paddlefish is likely the world’s rarest freshwater fish. Native to the Yangtze River in China, its long protruding nose makes it one of the world’s longest freshwater fish.
What’s the rarest trout?
California’s Paiute cutthroat trout – the rarest trout in North America – is finally back in its native high Sierra habitat thanks to a collaborative, multiagency effort to reintroduce the fish in Silver King Creek on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
What is the rarest fishing?
The World’s Rarest Fish
- Devil’s Hole Pupfish. Location: Devil’s Hole, Death Valley National Park Nevada, USA.
- The Sakhalin Sturgeon.
- The Red Handfish.
- The Adriatic Sturgeon.
- The Tequila Splitfin.
- The Giant Sea Bass.
- Smalltooth Sawfish.
- European Sea Sturgeon.
Do trout go deeper in cold water?
Trout are a cold water fish, so they generally like to be where the water is colder. This means that they will hang out in deeper water. The exception is in colder climates, like winter ice fishing, they will hover in shallower water while in the dead summer, will go much deeper to find a cold spot.
How do you fish bull trout?
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.