Gila Trout

[foxfire]

Gorgeous Trout. Anyone here ever have the opportunity to catch??


http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/issue/2015-1/article/the-trout-youve-never-heard-of-and-almost-never-did

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

that is a great article and impressive work.
Here in pa we would have stocked those creeks to "create recreational fishing oppurtunities" :lol:

 

[PocketWater]

Neat article, and pretty fish. Thanks for sharing that. Pretty fascinating when you read about these rare species of trout.

 

[foxfire]

Yeah I thought it was an interesting article and highlighted the impact from the western fires. The fish in the picture is absolutely stunning as well!!

 

[Acristickid]

I have just returned to home to PA after a once in a lifetime trip on pursit of native trouts.

The Gila is one of the trouts that I did not pursue because the streams were more remote than I as as a solo party wanted to undertake- 5-7 mile hike each way or the were just plain stocked into waters. I was into fishing for natives or as much as possible.
Also, a very limited number of waters open to angling. If I recall correct one of the states has closed angling for it- like you pointed out , fires can wipe out whole stream pops.

One potential danger that really sunk in out in CA, AZ was the potential for crazy flooding. Lots of washed out roads etc in evidence.

I did have the chance to catch a native Apache trout. During the trip it was pretty common to have to hike 2 to 4 miles in the head water streams to get to where the native fish of been pushed to Also the size of the streams were very similar to brookie streams here in PA.

The best advice in pursuit of fish is so your homework/ planning because as you pointed out these streams can change drastically year over year. And call the local biologist, they will tell exactly where you can go for best chance of angling. They spent 30 mins on the phone with me , they were very accommodating to my questions.


Wild thing about Apache trout is the have a spot before and behind the eye- looks like sorta a bandit.

 

[Acristickid]

Yea, looks like only one water in NM- as far as a wild population and AZ it is closed to angling.

http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fish_gila_trout.shtml.

As for NM it looks like only one water open for wild/native Gila's.



http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/fishing/native-new-mexico-fish/gila-trout-recovery-angling/

Yea, here is the article that deterred me from going to the one creek that was open. This article is old- here are the directions to the creek.

http://karlfmoffatt.blogspot.com/2008/07/wheres-gila-trout-heres-maps-directions.html?m=1

I found these types of directions to be pretty common for the natives on the west.

 

[foxfire]

Great stuff! Thanks!! Really cool fish! I can see the "bandit" reference!!

 

[barbless]

Too bad the pic in the first link on Gila Trout covered up the adipose fin. I've heard that one of the unique characteristics of Gila trout is an adipose fin that's longer than what's usual for trout.
Great color on that fish though, just like a golden trout.

 

[Acristickid]

Only other picture I have that isn't blurry.