The dolly varden is the only char native to the Pacific Coast, and like the Eastern brook trout is not properly a trout. They both are chars and belong to the genus Salvelinus—not to the Salmo. The dolly varden often reaches a length of thirty to thirty-six inches, and a weight of twelve pounds. It is a more slender fish than the rainbow and not so rounded on the back. It is very largely a bottom feeder and, therefore, rather of a sluggish nature. It rises but little to the fly and makes a poor fight.
Back, olive green but without the marble markings of the Eastern brook trout. Spots on the back and sides are red, not very close together and about the size of three-fourths of the diameter of the eye. The lower fins have a reddish tinge, of varying hue in different waters. It is a native of the McCloud river and has been little distributed.
| EASTERN BROOK TROUT (Salvalinus fontinalis) |
EASTERN BROOK TROUT
(Salvelinus fontinalis)
The Eastern brook trout—properly a char—was introduced into the coast waters several years ago and found our waters so congenial that it must now be considered a resident species, for it is to be met with in many of our streams, and thrives well in any of the higher localities. The brook trout is a handsome fish with its brown and olive marbled back, scarlet spots and salmon-colored sides. Its beauty has challenged the cunning of the painter, and been immortalized by the genius of the poet. Its gamy qualities stood for centuries as beyond comparison until the bended rod and singing reel announced the impalement of the native of the Golden West, with its mad rushes and terrier-like fights; then the rosy beauty of the East had to yield the palm to the rainbow-colored, fighting pirate of the Pacific.
The brook trout may easily be distinguished from any of the other trout of the coast by its marbled back and red spotted sides. Besides this the whole fish is more of a pinkish color. It varies in size like the others of the family, according to the waters it inhabits, attaining about the same size as the rainbow in the same waters.
Tackle and Lure—On account of over fishing the streams, and the very bad habit of killing so many small fish, the majority of the trout caught on the Pacific Coast are small. If there were more sportsmen and less fishermen on our streams this condition would not exist. For the sportsman will throw back all the little babies that are not over six inches in length and allow them another year to grow. And in this connection I want to say to the young boys and girls: be true sportsmen and sportswomen and never fish for trout with anything but artificial flies. You may not catch as many fish while you are learning, but you will soon find that you are having ten times more sport. As to the rod and line, you will never get it too light. The longer you have been a flycaster, the lighter you will want them; and the lighter they are the more sport you will have.