Longest Bull Trout

[TheTroutSlayer]

What is the biggest bull trout you have seen?
Interested in knowing if Alberta has 40 inchers , I’ve seen a few 35s never seen anything above that .

What’s your personal biggest ?

[graham1]

You’ve seen 35 inch bull trout???

[vanslays]

Biggest bull trout I’ve caught was 28”. I’ve seen bigger though. Was fishing a favourite river late last summer and spotted a nice bull trout. It was probably 20 inches, certainly larger than the healthy trout inside that pool, and then I saw the male swim alongside it and he was easily twice the females size. I would guess getting close to 40”. But it was in the water so who knows. He was a monster though.

I believe I’ve seen him before. He seems to stage at the mouth of the same creek each late summer.

[FlyTheory]

A few people on this forum have caught 36-40” bullies in Alberta. Sadly, with increased fishing/forestry pressure, these specimens become more rare by the year.

[BanffJohn]

Caught a 37.5 last year near Banff, a couple 35’s this year.
There’s gotta be a 40 I’m sure.
Saw a 41” taken 2 years ago out of the Kootenay near Nipika off Settlers Road-but that’s BC.

[FlyTheory]

Caught a 37.5 last year near Banff, a couple 35’s this year.
There’s gotta be a 40 I’m sure.
Saw a 41” taken 2 years ago out of the Kootenay near Nipika off Settlers Road-but that’s BC.

Replica worthy for sure man

[The Fisherman Guy]

I've seen several over 35" in Alberta, and several over 36" in BC.

Biggest I've seen in Alberta was 36", last year. Not my fish, but I netted it and helped measure it.

[goldscud]

Are these long fish all males?

[Smoky buck]

Longest in Alberta maybe 30 inches but never put a tape on it

In BC I have caught and seen caught bulls over 40 inches. There is some real giants up around dease lake

[BanffJohn]

Replica worthy for sure man

Wasn’t actually me that caught it-I was in the area for disc golfing, and saw a guy fishing down by the river so I went to say hi, and about 5 minutes after I got there, he hooked the bull.

Gave him basically no fight - just let itself be towed in, and was one of the skinniest bulls I’ve seen out that way, but with a GIANT head.

Probably coulda been well over 20 lbs if it had a full belly-as it was-I’d guess around 15.

Was released to fight again, and I’ve been back there looking for it, but to no avail.

[TheTroutSlayer]

Caught a 37.5 last year near Banff, a couple 35’s this year.
There’s gotta be a 40 I’m sure.
Saw a 41” taken 2 years ago out of the Kootenay near Nipika off Settlers Road-but that’s BC.


Ya I’ve seen some 40s from kootenay also. As a kid we had a trailer out there , when the Kokanee run those bulls get excited. Some big fish in waters you’d not expect

[TheTroutSlayer]

I believe there’s gotta be some 40s in Alberta still , just wonder if anyone actually has confirmation of one . Biggest yet I’ve seen in Alberta was 35 and man was it a tank , I know there’s not many giants left feel environmental change and fishing pressure is for sure to blame . And it’s only getting worse

[flyrodfisher]

Some big boys in the Kootenay around Skookumchuk.

There are some surprisingly big bulls in some mid to larger Alberta rivers as well....

[EZM]

Are these long fish all males?

Female fish are generally larger

[FlyTheory]

Female fish are generally larger

Yes, but male head morphology usually contributes to length in my experience. And not strictly the kype, but also the overall head length. Having said that, that only equates to 10cm