Only about 20 adults were released June 30th with about 40 more adults in the coming weeks. They will also be accompanied by 1000 fry by the end of July. Some of the adults were equipped with tracking devices for monitoring purposes.
With such a small number of fish released there is not expected to be a major impact on salmon and steelhead populations. If there is a major impact there are contingency plans to remove the trout if necessary. The release is purely experimental as biologist attempt to understand how they might be able to restore bull trout to its native territory in the not too distant future.
The upper Clackamas is a catch & release single barbless hook zone. Anglers should be sure not to target, harass, harm, or even remove bull trout from the water. They are protected under the endangered species act and this small population needs as much protection as possible.
Projects like these may someday restore an apex predator to its rightful place the ecosystem. Reintroducing top predators of many species like the grey wolf have been a resounding success as they have proven to improve the health of the entire ecosystem effectively repopulating many other species as well. Bull trout have had a 50 year absence in the region and it is time.
These efforts may someday lead to the bull trout being removed from the endangered species list and they may once again become the prized trophy fish they once were.
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