Bull Trout in the Skagit

[Lastcar]

Was on the Skagit on Saturday. The water was up a bit but very cold (44 degrees F). This seemed to slow the fishing down, well something did anyways. Only had four rainbows from noon until six thirty. I was a little tired and didn't put the effort into that maybe I should have. Anyways, at the second pool upstream at Big Bend I was fishing the dry and having some results (not catching but at least having them take the fly, the cold water slowed me also...). Something rather large was rising from time to time under the large tree just downstream. I have been packing around a handfull of flies for Dollies and Bulls but have never bothered with them. Yesterday I thought I would give it a go. When I moved down I could see three large fish moving around, two quite dark and one quite silver. I tried a big ugly rubber legged brown leech which I promptly got wedged in the rocks and had to break off. I then tried what I can only describe as a large Mickey Fin with an Eye painted on the cone, although insted of yellow it was white, blue, with some tinsel. I casted across and letting it swing with a slight twitch. About half way I felt something and assumed it was the bottom again so a stripped in some line to avoid losing another fly. It didn't feel like to bottom although it didn't feel like a fish. Fifteen sort of boring minutes later I landed a huge Bull. I will post pictures soon, but from what I can tell in the shots it was 24" to 26". I was woried about the fly so (see below) so I didn't pay much attention when I landed him.

Is it normal for these fish to not have much fight in them? Although it was great to catch such a large fish in the Skagit it didn't seem like something I would pursue often if that is the sport of it. There was not much fight, very strong and stubborn but no runs or jumping, just sat on the bottom holding ground. One thought I did have is perhaps the fight was mild due to the location of the fly in the fish, as I set it late or cause it took it on the swing it was in deep (near the tonsils if they had them) I wouldn't resist much either if someone had me by the back of the throat. There was no way I could get it out. I felt terrible about as it was a large fly and may cause the fish some problems feeding but I could not reach it with my hemostats. I had to cut the line as I didn't want to to continue to take him in and out of the water bewteen attempts or lose a finger. He swam away strong after about fifteen seconds of being righted and helped into deeper water.

What do others know about these fish?

[dinsdale piranha]

I see them in there all the time, but have only caught one down near Ross lake. From what I can gather, bunny leeches, big stones, and that sort of thing can dredge them up from under the log jams. It sounds like you used some sort of fry imitation, like a coho blue. I never thought of that, before. I bet a rolled mudddler would be worth a try.

Dinsdale.

[Nice_One]

It sounds like you caught a bull on a slow, lazy day! I have caught large bulls out of colder water than that (Birkenhead) and they fought pretty well...small runs and staying down deep. When hooked, in my experiences, bull trout tend to go near the bottom much like a lake trout without as much fight. Hehe! Still though! That's a big fish! Don't be too bummed out! :wink: Thanks for the report... Cheers! -Nathan in NW

ps. What weight fly rod were you using?

[Lastcar]

It was on a 5wt. You are right I shouldn't be so bummed out, it was a nice fish. The fight was how you described less one good run when I tried to net the fish in a net three sizes too small. The fish was not a fan of that move...

I will get the pics up Thursday...

[Lastcar]

Any tips on how I add pictures?