Now I think that it is a bull and here is why. I started fly fishing back east and I have caught a lot of brook trout in NY and Pennsylvania. All of the ones that I caught there generally had a darker olive body with worm tracks Although most descriptions of brook trout don't say so, they tend to have a little gray color on their gums and around their mouths and throats.
The eastern brook trout that I have caught have always looked like these http://students.washington.edu/manu19b/UWbrooktrout.html The photos show a spawning male (in full color) and females with a small parr in the center photo. The degree of spots is quite high and the green is a dark green. Here is a description on bull trout that I took off a web site: Bull Trout have a white leading edge on their fins and small, pale yellow to crimson spots against a darker background of olive green to brown on the back fading to white on the belly. Their tail is slightly forked and the dorsal fin lacks spots. This site show a large bull http://www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca/natural/fishes/_trout.htm This site has a small picture of a parr down toward the bottom http://wfrc.usgs.gov/research/fish%20behavior/STMaule7.htm Its coloration is quite different than the traditional brook trout. The one I caught was olive in color and only had a few spots (relatively speaking). I did a google search on bull trout in Oregon and found a map that shows the known range includes the river I fished. So I am going to go out on a limb and stick with "Bull trout". If a fisheries biologist on the web site contacts me, I will tell him where I caught the fish so that he can verify the known range or fall of his chair laughing. Andy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ryan Davey Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 4:58 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: SE Oregon Photos (Delayed) Excellent photos Andy! Particularly like the one of the Catlow Basin Redband, nice work. As far as the bull trout goes, I believe the specimen that you photographed is a brook trout. Here are the three main identifying features that your specimen exhibits that lead me to believe so: 1) The anal and caudal fins of a bull trout have only white anterior borders, while the brook trout have both black and white anterior borders. Your specimen appears to exhibit both black and white anterior borders. 2) It's difficult to tell from the photo, but it appears your speciment exhibits vermiculation along the dorsal surface and along the dorsal fins. 3) Bull trout have spotless fins, and it appears that the dorsal of your specimen has some spotting or vemiculation. That being said, from my personal experience, it can be very difficult to differentiate in the field the difference between a bull trout and a brook trout. I've made the mistake a number of times myself. Particularly in situations where there are bull trout/brook trout hybrids. The single most identifying characteristic is the vermiculation. Bob Behnke's book entitled "Trout and Salmon of North America" is the single most definitive text on the subject, and has some excellent descriptions, information, and drawings so life-like they look real. It's my most valued book! Thanks for sharing the photos! I'm jealous of your trip! Ryan Davey www.worldanglr.com Calling Fly Fishing a hobby is like calling Brain Surgery a job. - Paul Schullery -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: July 21, 2003 8:03 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: SE Oregon Photos (Delayed) I tried to post some photos of the SE Oregon trip that I reported to everyone on. It doesn't seem to have worked. I probably didn't do it right. Anyway, you can go to http://www.nwlink.com/~stouppe/ to see them. Andy S. (Not so technically savvy)
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