Bull trout

Salmonid family members known as bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) are native to western Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Nevada. They are rarely found in waters that are warmer than 59 to 64 degrees since they require cold water to survive (F). They also need clear gravel for spawning and rearing, complex and varied habitat, and unobstructed migratory routes.

Despite looking similar to trout, the bull trout is not a true trout. They can all be distinguished from char by a number of traits. The two main characteristics that set bull trout apart from real trout are the absence of teeth on the roof of the mouth and the appearance of light dots on dark backgrounds as opposed to dark marks on brighter backgrounds.

The fish generally have an olive to blue-gray back and some grey to silver tones on their sides when they are not spawning. The hue of spots might be red, yellow, or orange, and they are frequently combinations of all three. The presence of a white margin on the leading edge of the ventral fins, which separates the bull trout from other genera, is another characteristic that is frequently present.