Dolly Vardon?

[Dman]

I think compared to Gill netting, and sea lions, what the Dollies do to the salmon runs is pretty inconsequential.  Sort of like herons or KingFishers or otters. 

I totally agree.  It's like hawks are to pheasant.  They take their fair share but compared to barn cats, skunks, foxes, and racoons they don't put a significant dent into the population.

I've caught some dandies on the Skagit years ago.  Talked to the biologist that used to work that area (Kurt Kramer, I think) and he claimed that the biggest fish ate suckers or whitefish (can't remember).  He claimed an 8lber would gobble up a 1/2lb. sucker.  I think they're a super cool fish... used to luv fishin for em.

 It's reasonable to believe that also in conjunction with the DFW studie's that the impact on salmon varies per stream and population levels. The Skagit trib I fish has to be supplemented annually several times a year with trucked in adult salmon, in large part because of the Dolly population there as I've been told by the resident biologist in that area feed on their roe. He did not agree that all streams containing Dolly's should be kept "off limits". That is the topic, not overall impact to salmon, but rather should Dolly's be protected Statewide, or should we fish for them, or are we currently allowed to fish for them.

[Dman]

 I would add also that though it is a different topic, I do agree there are bigger threats to salmon, that DV are not one of the major threats but it would be great to fish for them again in some areas now closed.

[boneaddict]

Same thoughts go with wolves.  The Dolly is just a wolf of the stream. 

[jackelope]

If you look at pictures of both, they do look quite different and an experienced fisherman should be able to tell the difference

we've already done the fish id challenge marathon...so i'll leave that alone, but looking at the 2 pics you posted, you've got a hook-nosed full spawn male bull trout and a nice fresh from the salt hen(i think)  dolly below...apples and oranges. while i agree that an experienced angler should be able to tell the difference, a lot can't. hit a stream where there are bull trout and brook trout. there will be a sign on every tree explaining the differences between the 2. it's not easy to tell the difference by any stretch, i don't care who you are.
i am not a catch and keep guy, i release most all of what i catch in rivers, so i don't really care too much about a catch and kill season on anything.

[boneaddict]

My biggest to date is 13 pounds, back when you could take them out of the water and scale them in a net.  I've caught several in the 8 to nine pound range and a WHOLE bunch in te h 3-5 pound range, all in the Methow.  A couple of thoise I was trout fishing and thought I had hung up on bottom.  The otehrs were while steelheading.   There have been Dollies in there for a LONG.....time.

[boneaddict]

p.s. if you are targetting them or want too, there are some streams in Canada that are loaded with them, and a dominant catch in them. 

[coastalghost]

Yah bone...I was part of the radio tag study initiated at Rock Island and Rocky Reach Dams to study the movements of migrant adult bull trout.  It was amazing the distances they would travel to their spawning areas and where they would spend the winters.  There is a large population that enters the twisp river, chiwawa river, and especially the Mad river out of the Entiat.  We selected for larger size for tagging purposes and tagged some in the 10-12 lb range.  They are truly a beautiful fish especially when you can see them swimming in the fish ladder viewing area with their white border edged fins.  Most of the perennial higher order streams that originate in glaciated areas contain bulls.

[singleshot12]

So from what I understand now is the Bull trout and the Dolly are two different strains of char and the "Bull trout" travels into the same waters as the Dolly,and since they are so similar in appearance that the average Joe fisherperson would not tell the difference,so the only solution is to put them all on the threatened list,which they are.
It would be interesting to find out how the Bull trout habitat restoration is coming along and if the fisheries dept. are trying to gather Bull trout eggs for the hatcheries too.

[coastalghost]

The "Dolly" varden char is more of a term for an anadromous char.  Bull trout or char are more described as a land-locked char specie.  The bull char of the upper columbia and tribs rear in the "ocean like" conditions that exist between dams and then migrate to their spawning areas.  Some spawn and move out of the tribs before winter while others will spend the whole winter in the trib....CCCcolddd!

We used to catch alot of dollies in the Queets river, Hoh etc....all derived from glaciers.  While you still will there certainly not as many as there used to be. 

Some of the biggest dollies we caught years ago was in the Sauk river.  You swore you had a nice summerun on.  I think 10 lbs was the biggest we caught.  Awesome fish! They sure love eggs!

[boneaddict]

One of my best memories of catching one was on the Methow.   I was steelheading some real fast water, and there was a very big seem.  I was using a Teeny T500 (I think) sink and a weighted  black muddler minnow.  I missed the seam and I seen this big yellow belly flash.  I had no idea what it was.   Next cast i threaded the seam, and it just stopped like I hung up onm the boulder.   I tugged and tugged again and was trying to get it unhooked, and all of a sudden it swung into the current and away we went. 9 pounds later.  Nice Dolly.

[Armadillo]

They definitely grow big in the Sauk River. Prime habitat

[boneaddict]

The Sauk is just about like the Methow.  Good river to fish.   Question for some of you locals.  Does it get any chum?

[Dman]

 The Dolly population in the Baker Lake drainages are landlocked, and definitely Dolly's not Bull trout, I'm not sure I've ever read anywhere that all Dolly's are migratory, it would be good to see an article, if someone can find one.


 Josh, it's still a Cutthroat....

[Dman]

One of my best memories of catching one was on the Methow.   I was steelheading some real fast water, and there was a very big seem.  I was using a Teeny T500 (I think) sink and a weighted  black muddler minnow.  I missed the seam and I seen this big yellow belly flash.  I had no idea what it was.   Next cast i threaded the seam, and it just stopped like I hung up onm the boulder.   I tugged and tugged again and was trying to get it unhooked, and all of a sudden it swung into the current and away we went. 9 pounds later.  Nice Dolly.

 That's a huge Dolly for Wa., my best is 5lbs, caught a ton in the 3-5lb range.

[Intruder]

I've seen quite a few DV (this was 10+ years ago) come out of the Skagit system over 10lbs.  My personal best was only 7/8ish.  One of my ol' flyfishing buddies got a 15 sumthin when we were stealhead fishing.  I lost 1 about 10-12lbs right at my feet when the bugger starting doin their typical roll maneuver.   

 

The "Dolly" varden char is more of a term for an anadromous char.  Bull trout or char are more described as a land-locked char specie. 

That is my basic understanding too.