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Hello Utah Board I am from another state but I grew up near Utah and have fished in most of your lakes and reservoirs for warm water species. I'm amazed at how big and active your online fishing community is... it is pretty unrivaled I think.
Anyhow I am starting to get burnt out on targeting the warm water fish and have decided to start targeting trout more. The pictures I have seen of tiger trout make me really want to start targeting these fish.... I have only caught a few tigers and was just curious if anyone had any thoughts on their behavior. What have you noticed about them? Best ways to catch them in during the different seasons, habitat they prefer? etc,etc.
Appreciate the input and discussion and maybe someone else beside me will find it helpful too.
If I am not mistaken Utah has the most extensive tiger trout stocking program in the country and I have a feeling you guys/gals have learned a few things about them over the years.
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I've caught most my Tigers trolling or casting Jakes or Tube Jigs tipped with cut bait.
Then again, I've caught most my Cutts and Rainbows with those techniques also (well, and flies. I haven't caught a Tiger on a fly yet and I have caught a number of rainbows and cutts that way).
The only real difference I've noticed (and it may be just luck of the draw because my sample size isn't large) is Tigers seem to like White better than other colors and they seem to live a deeper.
Those minor notes aside, I've pulled Tigers and other trout off my line using the same lure, fishing from the same spot, in lakes where several trout types are present.
Edit: I should also say Tigers are my favorite trout species to catch for fun, and my least favorite species to eat.
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Thanks for the reply masterdaad.
I have heard and read that certain times of year they really stick near the shoreline too. Where as some species of trout don't seem to as much.....
Some things also I've picked up through a little research is that most people think they are really aggressive and they start eating other fish at a young age like browns do.
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I would agree with them being aggressive fish eaters. I have always done well catching them on flashy streamers. They usually hit it pretty hard.
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Tigers are insane. Some might seem "educated" and snub your offerings after close inspection while others will attack a bare hook. I personally believe they're all born crazy.[laugh]
The only thing that really remains constant with them is that they're aggressive and will eat just about anything, especially other fish. I've even had them attack a clear bubble that I was using to drag a fly behind, when my fly rod broke.
Though I've seen them take it before, powerbait really isn't a great bait for them. Minnows and imitating lures work very well. Marabou jigs or other leech imitations also do pretty well.
Even a worm on the bottom, within 30 feet of shore will grab them.
Follow the bait fish and you'll find the bigger tigers. Rocky areas are usually good, such as dams, cliffs, ledges, and other changes in the lake bed.
The areas directly around weed beds tend to harbor a good amount too.
Really, they can be found anywhere, just like anything else, but most of my catches have come from areas somewhat close to shore. In fact, Currant Creek Res is probably the only place that I've caught them out in the middle.
If you'd like to eat them, they're incredible. Just remember to eat the females. Males are okay, but not in the fall and not when they've matured a lot. Females are good at any size.
Bright pink meat. I like them more than brookies and just about as much as cutthroat. That's just my take on them though.
Go catch some and take some pics for us. If you've got some places in mind for hunting them, shoot me a pm and I'll share what I know about those spots.
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[cool][#0000ff]I have fished tiger trout in several Utah Lakes. About the only generalization you can make is that they are definitely meat eaters. That is why they have been used by Utah DWR in many of the waters into which they have been introduced...to control chubs or other undesirable smaller species. And they eat a bunch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Otherwise, you fish them pretty much as you do the other resident species. They are usually not picky. In fact, they are probably easier to catch than browns...one of their parents...but maybe not as easy as hatchery pet rainbows.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Caught lots on flies, but generally do better with bigger patterns...like streamers and buggers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Spinners and minnow-shaped cranks are also good. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But plain old crawlers work well too. Although you will generally get more and bigger tigers by using whole (dead) minnows or jigs tipped with minnows or strips of fish flesh.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Tigers seem to be less predictable for where they will be in the water column. They often forage right next to shoreline but at the same time might be on the bottom in over 30 feet of water. And on the same day can be caught from the surface to middepth on flies or lures out in the middle of the lake. It helps to have a good sonar and a good assortment of flies, lures and baits.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some folks say they don't fight hard. Fish feathers!! Any fish in any body of water can be sluggish if stressed by warm water, bad water chemistry or whatever. But I have usually enjoyed pretty good battles from the tigers I have caught. In most waters they even give some aerial displays. I have had a couple try to tail walk right into my float tube with me.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Ditto on the table quality. Any fish is going to taste like their diet makes them taste...or the water in which they live. Warmer, shallow weedy alkaline water will produce trout with soft flesh that tastes like black mud. But catch them from a deep, cold, clear lake in which they feed heavily on insects and crawdads and you will get bright red flesh that is absolutely unbeatable.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Tiger trout are sterile hybrids...not only cross species but cross-family...trout and char...brown and brook. As such each fish is neither male or female and none of them produce eggs or milt. But some fish adopt more male physical and color characteristics and some more female. The males can grow hook jaws and bright spawning colors whereas the females do not color up much. But, again, neither develops sex organs or goes into a spawning mode.[/#0000ff]
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I have also found tiger trout to be extremely aggressive. They will often hit a lure or jig when it is being reeling up to the surface. They are also unusual in that I have caught a substantial number only a couple inches under the ice. Tipping a jig or lure with a crawler will often work, but tipping with a chunk of minnow will often result in larger fish. They are so aggressive that I have seen them jump out of the water and land on the ice chasing a lure that is being lifted out of an ice hole.
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I appreciate the input by all. I have done some research of my own but there frankly is not a ton of information out there on them.
I have heard they even are known to feed at night some? Does not surprise me with the brown trout genes in them.
They are a neat fish it is nice that there are so many places to catch them in Utah and they are definitely starting to get big!
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All fish will feed at night, some just don't do it as actively as others.
I hope you get into some tigers. They're a lot of fun, especially when you're first getting into them. Obsessive, even.
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