Fly Fishing Bull Trout…help?

[DAOutfitters208]

I need help figuring these fish out. I was out this weekend and I found a hole with 10 or more stacked up. There were some big ones in there as well. I was streamer fishing for them and couldn’t get a look. The only time I got any action was while retrieving a cutty, a nice bull trout chased it all the way to my net. It got me thinking my presentation with the streamer is all wrong. I am wondering if sporadic movement, similar to an hooked up fish might work. I thought of that after I was back at camp. Anyone got any tips?

 

[survivalistd]

I try everything I can think of. Trial and error has caught many a fish. One day it might work and thd next day it won't. Change tactics at that time.

 

[menhaden_man]

Try to get deeper, bouncing off the bottom. I’ve caught a lot of 10+ lb bull trout bouncing swim baits off the bottom.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

What streamer? How were you stripping it in?

 

[JMasson]

Love me some bull trout on a fly rod. I used to tie streamers that resembled cutthroat specifically for bulls. I found my best success if they weren’t too big or too heavy, I prefer sink tips to heavy flies. The sink tip is easier to cast and there’s less hinge in the cast while using them. The tip will also sink to the bottom and the fly will suspend off the bottom slightly and have a more lively action in the current. I would cast across the current at the head of a hole and drift through the hole while trying to stop the drift downstream on the ledge. I would then retrieve toward me along the ledge and that’s when I would have most of my strikes. How deep the fly is will be determined by the length of your leader when using sink tips.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Love me some bull trout on a fly rod. I used to tie streamers that resembled cutthroat specifically for bulls. I found my best success if they weren’t too big or too heavy, I prefer sink tips to heavy flies. The sink tip is easier to cast and there’s less hinge in the cast while using them. The tip will also sink to the bottom and the fly will suspend off the bottom slightly and have a more lively action in the current. I would cast across the current at the head of a hole and drift through the hole while trying to stop the drift downstream on the ledge. I would then retrieve toward me along the ledge and that’s when I would have most of my strikes. How deep the fly is will be determined by the length of your leader when using sink tips.

I was pretty much going to say this. Go deep.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

What streamer? How were you stripping it in?

I was using those, I let them drift through the hole and then a tug, tug, break style retrieval.

 

[JMasson]

View attachment 1094034
I was using those, I let them drift through the hole and then a tug, tug, break style retrieval.

I can’t think of a single time I hooked a bull trout on a black fly. That is anecdotal so take it with a grain of salt, I’m sure others have had success on black flies. Brown and white bunny strips, olive and white, grey and white, etc. were my go-to selections. I typically used wire instead of eyes for weight, that’s solely because I prefer sink tips.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

Love me some bull trout on a fly rod. I used to tie streamers that resembled cutthroat specifically for bulls. I found my best success if they weren’t too big or too heavy, I prefer sink tips to heavy flies. The sink tip is easier to cast and there’s less hinge in the cast while using them. The tip will also sink to the bottom and the fly will suspend off the bottom slightly and have a more lively action in the current. I would cast across the current at the head of a hole and drift through the hole while trying to stop the drift downstream on the ledge. I would then retrieve toward me along the ledge and that’s when I would have most of my strikes. How deep the fly is will be determined by the length of your leader when using sink tips.

I am going to get the line changed out, rod was a Christmas gift and they put floating line on it. The flies were not getting as deep as I thought they should have. I will be on the lookout for some flies like that.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

I can’t think of a single time I hooked a bull trout on a black fly. That is anecdotal so take it with a grain of salt, I’m sure others have had success on black flies. Brown and white bunny strips, olive and white, grey and white, etc. were my go-to selections. I typically used wire instead of eyes for weight, that’s solely because I prefer sink tips.

Well I didn’t so your right! I am going to add some more options to the fly box. I’m new to targeting them with a fly rod.