Bull Trout Behavior

[jeradjames]

I hiked up a creek today and noticed some interesting behavior from a bunch of a bull trout in a gorge like area and curious if anyone can shed any light. Anyone witness bull trout actively porpoising? No active spawners btw. They were also rising to dries/emergers which was surreal. Crazy to see a super slow narrow slot canyon pool and then all of the sudden a big bull trout comes up from the depths to sip a little dry fly.

 

[Pink Nighty]

I hiked up a creek today and noticed some interesting behavior from a bunch of a bull trout in a gorge like area and curious if anyone can shed any light. Anyone witness bull trout actively porpoising? No active spawners btw. They were also rising to dries/emergers which was surreal. Crazy to see a super slow narrow slot canyon pool and then all of the sudden a big bull trout comes up from the depths to sip a little dry fly.

I've seen them eating bugs on the Skagit sometimes. I'm never prepared for it though.

 

[RCF]

I have never seen that behavior. Probably glad i have not. I am sure I would get wet from the inside outwards.

 

[tkp]

I have seen them doing this on the upper skagit. There is a series of great articles about bull trout on this site and they mention how they will do this in their natal streams. I believe the reason is unclear but they may be imprinting their surroundings so they can find their way back next year.

I was always skeptical of them eating dries until I had one take an elk hair caddis this summer. It was in the midst of a huge hatch so all of the surface activity probably had them looking up.

Pic of the fish and the fly.

 

[jeradjames]

I have seen them doing this on the upper skagit. There is a series of great articles about bull trout on this site and they mention how they will do this in their natal streams. I believe the reason is unclear but they may be imprinting their surroundings so they can find their way back next year.

I was always skeptical of them eating dries until I had one take an elk hair caddis this summer. It was in the midst of a huge hatch so all of the surface activity probably had them looking up.

Pic of the fish and the fly.

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, this is exactly what I witnessed and in the upper skagit area.

 

[EBT]

I had a decent-size bull take a yellow stimulator on the Methow once. Assuming he took it for a grasshopper.