Friday, March 23, 2007

Catching Bull Trout in Oregon

Few trout anglers can enjoy the experience of catching a Bull trout. That's because they only exist in 5 U.S. States (in the northwest) and two Canadian provinces.

Oregon is one of the states where you can catch bull trout. And if your catch is at least 24 inches, you can even keep it (one per day).

In Oregon, Lake Billy Chinook is a favorite hot spot for bull trout. Mid-March through April is the best time to fish for bull trout. After April, the weather is warm enough for water enthusiasts which tends to scare the fish away.

Lake Billy Chinook is famous for it's trophy size trout. The Metolius Arm is the preferred area of the lake for catching large bull trout. The Deschutes and Crooked River Arms of the reservoir are also popular spots for bull trout.

The best time to fish for bull trout in Spring is between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fish finders are really helpful in finding them. But they are usually found with one or two other fish. Here's a trout tip - Bull trout prey on kokanee, so find the kokanee and you may find bull trout feeding on them.

As with other larger trout, you'll need some heavier test line to catch them. Try using 10 or 12 lb test. Trolling and casting Rapala lures produce the best results when fishing for bull trout in Oregon.

Some bull trout are tagged by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW). So be sure to note the number on the tag before releasing the fish and then report it to the ODFW. If you're keeping the fish (assuming it meets the minimum size restriction), then remove the tag and turn it in to ODFW. This information helps them keep track of the bull trout population.

Have any other bull trout fishing tips for Oregon?

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