New Website Offers Training On Trout

Log On To Test Your Trout ID Knowledge
John Fraley

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The new Bull Trout Identification and Education Program on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Website (fwp.state.mt.us/bulltroutid/) gives you knowledge about trout habitat and ecology that will amaze your friends, while it prepares you to identify native bull trout and other species. Can you name Montana’s largest native trout?What did the record angler-caught bull trout weigh in Montana?In Idaho?Can you tell the difference between bull trout, lake trout, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and westslope cutthroat trout? You will have these answers and more after going through the pre-test, training session, and post-test.If you pass the bull trout identification post-test, you can print out a certificate of completion that proclaims your knowledge and standing as a "quasi-expert" on bull trout. The website features beautiful, state of the art color illustrations by renowned artist Joe Tomelleri, and over 100 color photos of bull trout, other native and introduced fish species, and their habitats.It is a virtual scenic trip through Montana’s trout country. Why bull trout?Bull trout are a Montana Species of Special Concern, and they are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.For thousands of years bull trout traveled some of the longest migration routes of any trout in North America.Once common throughout the inland Pacific Northwest, bull trout now live in reduced numbers in five western states and two Canadian provinces.The new education program celebrates bull trout as an important part of Montana-s natural resource heritage. Managers have made bull trout fishing off limits to help the recovery of this sensitive species. It is legal to fish for bull trout only in Swan Lake, where bull trout populations are strong.Where it’s illegal to fish for bull trout, anglers sometimes keep them by mistake thinking they’ve caught a brook trout, brown trout, or lake trout.Also, anglers are often unaware that bull trout are so widely distributed in western Montana.FWP and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes- goal is to improve anglers’ ability to identify bull trout and to reduce the incidence of unintentional taking of bull trout. The website was completed as part of the state and tribes’ Fisheries Co-management Plan on the Flathead Lake and River system.The Co-management Plan emphasizes water quality, habitat, and native fish conservation.The site supplements the bull trout education and protection program in the Clark Fork drainage in Montana and Idaho. Cooperators on the project included: the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Avista Corporation; Idaho Trout Unlimited; Idaho Department of Fish and Game; and the U. S. Forest Service.Site development by the University of Montana Information Technology Center’s Digital Information Group models the recently released bear identification site on FWP’s website. The Bull Trout Identification and Education Program will challenge you to identify beautiful shots of some of Montana-s most popular trout.While you-re on this virtual fishing trip, you-ll gain knowledge of Montana-s trout and their habitat and become a more responsible angler. Bull trout website: http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/bulltroutid/