Bull Trout and Tiger Trout Locations

[Tim Angeli]

I’m in the middle of planning a pretty epic trip for August and September all over Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.

[Rob Snowhite]

I encountered bull trout in the streams feeding idaho’s lake pend oreille.
I don’t know the stream as it took almost an hour of 4wd roads to get there.

I started at an old campsite and fished upstream. All cutts for the first hour and then only bull trout. Never seen such HUGE and AGGRESSIVE fish in such a skinny creek. It was like hooking steelhead in a Shennandoa National Park stream.

I caught them all on streamers (untili the wife broke off the last of the 3 streamers I had)

[Tim Angeli]

Thanks for the info Rob.

[Rob Snowhite]

I was there in July I think, toward the end. A week before the goonies rock pic was taken in the horizon thread.

My wife’s friend lives in a “barn” overlooking the lake. I can track down an e-mail address if you’d like.

This is the fish I wrote about in the story/writing thread. Put it down, turned off camera, and held it in moving water for a loooong time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb1nf04IRFc

[Corey Kruitbosch]

If your willing to drive a few more hours for a ‘bullie’ you might want to consider heading up to Fernie … Some great bull trout water up in that area.

[Bryan Gregson]

I can help with Tiger Trout…. I know a few choice spots.

PM sent

[john michael white]

Be sure to check up on the fishing regs in Montana.

[Zach Matthews]

I second Corey’s advice. Fernie is a cool little town and the Elk is loaded with bullies.

[Tim Angeli]

John,  thanks for the heads up.  I looked it up and you are correct.  It is illegal to target bull trout in Montana except for in 3 specific lakes and the South fork of the Flathead River.  Looks like that kind of kills that plan.

I’ll have to touch base with the Montana FWP while I’m out there.  One of my favorite methods of trout fishing is chuckin big streamers.  I would hate to get cited for targeting bull trout when I’m actually fishing for the resident browns, bows, and cutts.  

Looks like I’ll be heading to Fernie.

[john michael white]

I feel your pain about fishing big streamers there Tim.

[Rick Marcum]

Tim,

My first fish on the Kootenai was a 28 inch bull trout!!!

[Joel Thompson]

pm sent.

Joel

[Mike L.]

I dont think Montana is all that strict on their bull trout regulations.

[Tim Angeli]

Thanks for all the info guys.  I really appreciate the help.  I have a few questions in with Montana FWP to get some clarification on the regs.

As for this:

this makes you no better than one of the illegals fishing a handline with no license while keeping every fish unfortunate enough to bite (legal or not), but, like the illegals, you arent likely to get into any trouble

I’m not into that at all.  I’m by no means trying to find a way around the law, and I’m definitely not looking to break any conservation laws. That’s precisely why I’m trying to be proactive in determining exactly what I can and can not do.

[Mike L.]

I know you arent, I was just making a point.

[Tim Angeli]

Good point Mike, thanks.

[Joel Thompson]

I dont think Montana is all that strict on their bull trout regulations.  I mean…half the outfitters in the state not only actively pursue the fish with their clients, they blatantly advertise bull trout fishing on their websites.  

Hmmm….I would like to see a little proof of that. I know that you will see pictures of them from time to time on their websites but that is all I have ever seen.

Joel

[Tim Angeli]

I just read through the fishing regulations that are posted in the pdf on the Idaho Fish and Game website.

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