Northwest Fishing Reports

In reading lake reports, I came across a reference to a "Tiger Trout." I thought it was a typo and he meant Tiger Musky, but someone else said it was a brook trout.

Today I was at the sidewalk sale at Fishermen's Marine and saw a new Washington Fishing guidebook. Thumbing through it to see if it offered any new information, I came across Klineline Pond and the author mentioned that the state stocks it with Tiger Trout amongst others. If it is a Brookie, I think they would have said so.

So what is a Tiger Trout???

Hybrid between brown and brook trout.

Sept. 25 2003, John E. Moore of Mount Vernon re-claimed his record for tiger trout, a brown trout-brook trout hybrid, with a 1.89-pound fish from an unnamed lake in Okanogan County. Moore caught the record fish on a spinner. He had previously held the record until July of this year, when Robert Mattila of Bothell caught a slightly bigger tiger trout.

From the WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE News release. Also:

Name of Proposal: TIGER TROUT STOCKING IN BEEHIVE, LILLY, CLEAR & BLACK
LAKES RESERVOIRS, ALSO KNOWN AS “WENATCHEE HEIGHTS LAKES”
Description of Proposal: In mid June of 2007 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW) proposes to replace annual stocking of brook trout fingerlings into each of the
following waters: Beehive, Lilly, Clear and Black Lakes (irrigation reservoirs) “Wenatchee
Heights Lakes” with 1,000 tiger trout in each lake. Most fisheries agencies are concerned about
potential negative interactions among native and non-native fish species, particularly
interbreeding between brook trout and bull trout. Brook trout negatively affect bull trout via
interbreeding resulting in genetic dilution and alteration. The proposed lakes drain through
swampy areas and small streams and eventually connect to creeks that flow to the Columbia
River. Bull trout may be present in the creeks and are known to be present in the Columbia
River. Tiger trout are a hybrid cross between brown trout and brook trout and like all hybrids are
sterile thus cannot breed with bull trout.

Thanks. I had never even heard of them until recently. Being a sterile hybrid, does that give them a larger growth potential since energy is not wasted on reproductive development? Is it so new to Washington that the 1.89-pound record will soon be wiped out?

cavdad45 wrote: Thanks. I had never even heard of them until recently. Being a sterile hybrid, does that give them a larger growth potential since energy is not wasted on reproductive development? Is it so new to Washington that the 1.89-pound record will soon be wiped out?

They are a smaller breed of trout. The record now was caught out of either Lenice or Nunually and weighs in the 5lb range. But I talked to a man at dusty lake in Quincy, he told me after he made the 1 mile hike in he caught a 6lb tiger on his 1st cast. Being as you are only allowed to keep 1 fish, he thew the fish back and kept fishing and its a bout a 20 minute hike so 40 minutes of hiking for 1 cast, isnt what he planned on doing. But when he got home he researched it and found out that was a new state record. Dont know if this is the truth or just a good fish story, but I would like to believe its true.

We have a few lakes in eastern Washington that have tigers. Usually, they are thin and "snaky" looking. But in Medical Lake, where they've planted a few thousand the past few years, they're quite fat, just like the rainbows and browns there. In 2006 I caught/released a few 18" fish, which left me wondering if they'd carry over to 2007. Sure enough, some did. I got one this spring that was 21" and lost another large one at the boat. These fish were fat and strong and were trying hard to rival their rainbow and brown cousins. If these fish should winter over then it's possible someone will possibly get a 24" tiger there next year. My partners and I also got a few in the 16-18" range, insuring some larger tigers for the 2008 season.

I have done well chasing Tiger Trout in Fish Lake (Spokane Co.), Black Lake (Stevens County) and Crab Creek. This year I have caught Tigers in the 18 to 20" range at both Fish Lake and Black Lake. They seem to be wintering over well in these lakes.

Tight Lines!

We don't put tigers into Klineline but we do put them into some of our high lakes.

They are pretty nice looking fish.

Stace

An additional tidbit about Tiger Trout- they occur naturally in the wild (though very rare) when brookies and browns are competing for spawning habitat in a stream.

I caught a Tiger Trout several years ago on the Metolius before I knew what they were. A friend from Wyoming has told me he catches them quite often on tributaries of the Yellowstone.

BTW Stacie, how are those Golden Trout doing in some of those Skamania County lakes WDFWR5 planted last year? Did they take?

that's a gorgeous fish, i'll have to add it to me list:compress: