16 ROD & CREEL 



The Interior Steelhead (Salmo gardnerii kamloops). This 

 fish, which is locally called salmon, is a landlocked variety of 

 the coast fish. It is found in the larger lakes which take the 

 place of the sea, the fish running up the streams to spawn as 

 a rule about June. Unlike the coast fish, however, when once 

 they ascend the stream they are so nearly ready to spawn they 

 will not take bait and they are therefore caught in the lakes. 



If anything, the lake fish grow to a larger size than the 

 coast fish, but not having a strong current to assist them when 

 hooked, do not afford as much sport. 



The Rainbow (Salmo irridieiis) and Cut-throat (Salmo 

 mykiss). These two fish are very similar in size, appearance 

 and habits. As a general thing the rainbow is of a brighter, 

 more silvery colour, with a more pronounced crimson glow on 

 the side. The cut-throat is much more heavily spotted and can 

 easily be distinguished by the red mark, whereby it attains its 

 name, 011 each side under the lower jaw. 



Both these fish may be taken up to 5 or 6 Ibs. weight, 

 according to the size of the stream or lake they are found in. 

 They will both take the fly freely and are hard fighters, the 

 rainbow probably doing the most jumping. 



As a rule they are excellent table fish except when caught 

 in some of the shallow lakes, when they are apt to be of a some- 

 what muddy flavour. 



Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma). The "dolly," as this 

 fish is commonly called, is not a true trout and does not belong 

 to the genus "Salmo." Both this fish and the eastern brook 

 trout are chars. It is of a rather dull greenish-grey colour on 

 the back and white underneath, with a number of large pink or 

 yellowish pink spots. It is extremely broad across the back and 

 weighs a good deal more than one would expect from a casual 

 glance. The size varies according to the stream or lake it is 

 caught in. In most large coast streams they will go up to 8 or 

 10 Ibs., the average being 3 or 4 Ibs. In lakes it grows con- 

 siderably bigger, possibly reaching a weight of 25 Ibs. 



The larger specimens will seldom take a fly alone, but I have 

 caught them on a flj r with a small spinner above it. Small fish 

 of one-half to three-quarter pounds will often take the fly freely. 



The usual method of fishing for "dollys" is by spinning, 

 and in some of the larger streams where there is a swift cur- 

 rent very good sport can sometimes be had, as, while they 

 seldom do more in the way of jumping than makes a few 

 splashes, they are very strong fish and frequently rattle out 

 quite a lot of line. 



The Great Lake Trout (Cristivomer namaycush). This fish 

 is also a char and very similar in appearance to the "dolly," 



