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[paddy]

We caught about 10 bull trout over the weekend in Carpenter Lake (average 3 lbs) and of course, released them all.  Are Bull trout what I used to call Dolly Varden?

[colin6101]

Here's a good description Rod posted about the differences between the two:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/articles/fish_biology/dolly_varden_and_bull_trout.html

[paddy]

thanks!

[jimmywits]

We caught about 10 bull trout over the weekend in Carpenter Lake (average 3 lbs) and of course, released them all.  Are Bull trout what I used to call Dolly Varden?

most likely yes, they are difficult to tell apart.

[rickjames_2]

Telling these fish apart can be an interesting experience. I have seen the debate on shore.
Usually the best way to tell them, as the article stated, is by looking at the head/mouth size/shape.

I know Rodney's article is from 2001 so this caught my eye:

"Remember, these chars are slow growing fish, some large fish are up to ten years of age.
All of them need to be released in the Southern BC. Please handle with care when releasing
them."

I don't have an interest in keeping a big Dolly or Bull, especially one close to a decade old,
but according to Region 2 regs you can keep them in many water bodies(ie Cultus Lake) under
certain circumstances.

You can find the region 2 regs here ---> http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/docs/1315/fishing_synopsis_2013-15_region2.pdf

Very neat fish to catch, and a welcome bit of diversity to our typical resident sportfish.

[adriaticum]

The other day I watched a show with Mark Pendlington and Brian Chan and Mark asked Brian the same question.
Brian was very reluctant to answer the question and he said that if you are catching the fish on this side of the coastal mountains it's probably a dolly varden.
If you are catching it on the other side of the coastal mountains it's probably a bull trout.
They were fishing the Kootenay river and Elk River for 10 lb bull trout.
I don't think this helps at all

[paddy]

Thanks - I release them all just to be safe.

[Rodney]

For the most accurate answer, here is a very in-depth discussion on this subject:

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=25799.0

Pay special attention to mykiss' post, as it's information from someone who has the most extensive research on bull trout and dolly varden in fishery science.