Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast Part 18

DOLLY VARDEN TROUT

(Salvelinus parki)

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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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.

THE SALMON AND TROUT

Order, ISOSPONDYLI

Family, SALMONIDAE Subfamily, SALMONINAE

Genus Species Common Names Range and Breeding Grounds ------------- ------------- ----------------- --------------------------- {Quinant {tschawytscha {Chinook {From Monterey Bay north.

{ { {Blue-back Oncorhynchus {nerka {Redfish {Sacramento river north.

{ {kisutch {Silver salmon From Monterey Bay north.

{keta {Dog salmon From Sacramento river { { north.

{gorbuscha {Hump-back salmon From Sacramento river { { north.

{irideus {Rainbow trout From Lower California { { north.

{ {irideus auga Golden trout Western slope of {bonito Mt. Whitney.

{ {irideus Golden trout Western slope of {rooseveltii Mt. Whitney.

{ {rivularis Steel-head trout From Ventura river { north.

{ Salmo {clarki Cutthroat trout Central California { north.

{ {tahoensis Silver trout Lake Tahoe.

{ {henshawi Tahoe trout {Lakes Tahoe, Donner, { {Independence, Webber; { {Truckee and Carson { {rivers.

{ {jordani Lake Southerland Lake Southerland, { Oregon.

{ {spilurus Rio Grande trout Tributaries of the { Rio Grande river.

{ {plueriticus Colorado trout Tributaries of the { Colorado river.

{parki Dolly Varden McCloud river north.

Salvelinus { trout { {fontinalis Eastern brook {Acclimatized in { trout {many streams of { {the coast.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK Ba.s.s (Micropterus dolomieu)]

SMALL-MOUTHED BLACK Ba.s.s

(Micropterus dolomieu)

The black ba.s.s is not a native of the coast, but both species are now so well established in our waters that they must now be cla.s.sed as permanent residents, for whether it is the crystal lake, the flowing stream, the little pond, the artesian-fed reservoir or the brackish slough, they thrive equally well and take any lure from the artificial fly to the plebeian angleworm.

Black ba.s.s are prolific breeders and rapid growers. A case is on record where eight males and seven females were planted in a pond in May and during the November following over 37,000 young fish were taken from the same pond, each from three to four inches long.

The black ba.s.s is a short, deep fish with a double dorsal fin; the front half being stiff and spiney and the latter half soft and rayed.

The color is variable, but always dark and from a dirty green to a blackish brown on the back, shading to a dirty white on the belly. The gill covers are pointed at the back, with a darker spot on the point.

In the small-mouthed variety the end of the upper bone of the mouth does not quite reach to the back edge of the eye, this with the scales on the cheek numbering from 16 to 18, can always be relied upon as a distinguishing diagnosis from the large-mouthed variety.

LARGE-MOUTHED BLACK Ba.s.s

(Micropterus salmoides)

There is but little difference in the habits of the large and small-mouthed black ba.s.s, and but little difference in their appearance, but the distinguishing features may easily be known. The end of the upper bone of the mouth of the large-mouthed variety extends behind the eye, and the rows of scales on the cheek number only 10 or 12.

While both species seem to do well any place, the large-mouthed are better adapted to muddy bottomed ponds and sloughs and brackish waters. The average weight of the adults of either species is about three pounds, though individuals are often taken weighing from six to seven. It is reported that specimens have been taken in the state of California that have weighed eight and three-quarters and nine pounds.

=Tackle and Lure=--The black ba.s.s will take any lure from the artificial fly to the plebeian angleworm. In trolling, a medium sized, Kewell spoon is to be preferred. I have always found, however, that the best sport is to be had by casting with a large trout fly--the color varying with the season--close to the edge of lily pads or tules. The tackle for fly-fishing should be the same as for trout.

For trolling the rod should be shorter and stiffer.

SACRAMENTO PIKE

(Ptychocheilus oregonensis)

The Sacramento pike, known also by the names chappaul and squawfish, and as lake trout in the San Joaquin Valley, while but little sought after by the angler, can rightfully be cla.s.sed as a game fish, for it rises to the fly as readily as a trout and often gets cursed for doing so. It is a very common fish in many of the lakes and streams from Washington south to the San Joaquin Valley. Like nearly all fish its size depends very much upon the waters in which it is found. In Washington it has been known to reach a length of four feet, but it is more commonly met with from eight to twenty inches. In shape it resembles a trout, but with a slimmer and more pointed head. The dorsal fin is large and located about midway between the snout and the end of the tail; ventral fins, slightly in front of the dorsal and not as large as the a.n.a.l which is set about its length from the ventrals; tail, strongly forked.

[Ill.u.s.tration: STRIPED Ba.s.s (Roccus lineatus)]

STRIPED Ba.s.s

(Roccus lineatus)

The striped ba.s.s, like many people who have crossed the continent to California, readily appreciated the many advantages of a life on the Pacific Coast. From a couple of shipments brought from the East in 1879 and 1882 they have grown to be one of the most important food fishes of the state, about 3,000,000 pounds being annually marketed.

They were at first liberated in the Bay of San Francisco, but later some effort has been made to distribute them, with the result that they are now found in small quant.i.ties along the coast from Los Angeles to Humboldt.