Dam, That's a Huge Fish

Hey Morgan where's your head? Oh, I see, there's a huge fish in front of it

Bull Trout are an endangered species. The introduction of non-native fish and the loss of cold pristine mountain waters have severely impacted their numbers. So, anyone who has fished at Spotted Bear Ranch knows how important catch and release regulations are and how precious our resource is. It's one of the last true wild and native trout fisheries in the lower 48.

What does wild and native really mean?
Well, wild means they have bright beautiful colors, fully formed fins and a genetic code that leads them to the same spawning grounds year after year. Native means they’ve spent the last 10,000 years making cold pristine waters their home. Wild trout have a distinct character and appearance that sets them apart from their stocked counterparts. This isn’t a criticism of hatchery fish, or the practice of stocking, just the simple fact that Mother Nature does it better.

So the wild and native Bull Trout, in and around the waters of Spotted Bear Ranch, have earned the right to be there. And after a recent stream survey published by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, they continue to flourish. And it could all be thanks to a dam.

As a general rule, dams are extremely bad for a fishery. They slow currents, warm the water, destroy habitats and cut off migration to spawning sites. Steelhead fishermen know this all too well. But there are always exceptions, and dam above Spotted Bear Ranch just happens to be one.

An overall decline in Bull Trout numbers seems to be linked to the increased population of Lake Trout. It is a familiar trend throughout Montana waters. Lake Trout are an invasive species that will out compete other fish for resources and food. While these trout are wild and native to the region, they are being introduced into drainages where they don’t belong. The Dam has insulated and isolated Bull Trout from the expansion of Lake Trout, and it appears the FWP stream survey reflects the it’s benefit.

Those of us who witnessed the 2011 Bull Trout season aren’t surprised.
For more information on Bull Trout Regulations:

http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/license/bulltrout.html