Species profile
Bull Trout
Salvelinus confluentus
Identify Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 11 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 11 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (British Columbia); the most generous is 10 (Alaska).
Across 4 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 19.4 in (≈ 1 ft 7 in).
Confirmed by 611 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Alberta, and Idaho the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Listed under SARA — verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Notable details
- Requires water below 55°F (13°C) — among the coldest thermal requirements of any salmonid.
- Listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 1998.
- Technically a char, more closely related to brook trout and lake trout than to true trout.
- Lake-dwelling adults can exceed 20 pounds; stream fish typically stay under 5.
- Spawns in fall over clean gravel in cold headwater streams.
Where Bull Trout are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Bull Trout
Protected status
- SARA Schedule 1 (threatened): Bull Trout. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
- SARA Schedule 1 (special concern): Bull Trout. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
- SARA Schedule 1 (special concern): Bull Trout. Canadian populations — harm/harvest prohibited under SARA s.32-33.
Always verify protected-species rules with the issuing agency before retaining or handling.
Background
The bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is a char of the family Salmonidae native to northwestern North America. Historically, S. confluentus has been known as the "Dolly Varden" (S. malma), but was reclassified as a separate species in 1980. Bull trout are listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (1998) and as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Bull Trout article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Bull Trout?
Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) is an IUCN Vulnerable bony-fish species regulated in 11 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Bull Trout?
Bull Trout is Salvelinus confluentus.
Is Bull Trout regulated for fishing?
Yes — Bull Trout has fishing regulations in 11 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Bull Trout?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Bull Trout along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.