Quote:
Originally Posted by aiceeslater
With all due respect, if I can make it to a river with these fish in it once maybe twice a year, and fish within the regs, I’m going to try and catch some fish. Spawning water is closed for a reason and from what I’ve experienced, people are very respectful and responsible about catching and releasing bulls in that area.
We’re all just out there trying to follow the rules and catch some fish.
Edit: To be clear, I’m not talking about catching fish on beds. I’m no expert on bull trout migration but I’m trying to learn more and if they’re up that way for maybe 2 months a year people go there to try and catch em. I was there for 3 days last trip and came to know the fish cop in the area in that time. They’re out there checking on us and making sure we’re playing nice.
|
But to answer your question, bull trout will start their migrations around mid-July. Some of these fish will travel a long way. They will eat during the migration, but they will stop mostly stop eating when they reach the spawning grounds. Ideal spawning territory is upstream of Turner Valley. The prime spawning territory is upstream of the biology research station (which is closed to angling year-round).
It seems the bull trout will be in spawning mode from the second week of August to mid-September. By the 8 August, Sheep River bulls were completely uninterested in eating. If you do get a strike it will mostly be out of protection aggression. By the end of September, they tend to be fairly easy to catch again. The best time to specifically target bull trout is right after run-off (i find it best when the water is still high and a bit dirty) and after fall equinox when they get their feedbag on after the spawn. I have a feeling they will stick around a bit until after the whitefish spawn in their shared habitat
With all due respect, just because something is legal, it does not mean it is good. I have targeted bull trout during their spawning period, so I am in no way pulling a 'holier-than-thou' on you. They are not interested in eating. If they do happen to eat, it runs a risk of not spawning, and it is unlikely try again for a couple of years. Bull trout take 3-5 years to mature, but they do not spawn every year. It is within your rights to fish for bull trout during spawning periods, but practically, it is almost a waste of time, and ethically, it is a grey area. So, it is probably just best to leave them alone from mid-August to the end of September.
But good luck though. They are an awesome fish to catch.