[?] Subscribe To This Site

Dolly Varden Trout
(Salvelinus malma Walbaum)

The Dolly Varden Trout is one of the most misunderstood and misidentified trout there are. Even though there little information about the Dolly or “Dollies” which they are often refer to, there are subtle differences between the Dolly and the Bull Trout which will help you identify one trout from the other, more in the Appearance section.

APPEARANCE

The Dolly Varden Trout has a overall dark green body, with pink dots throughout its body. The fins have white leading edges. The head of the Dolly is kind of blunted like other trout, which makes it look different than the Bull Trout.

In the spawning season the Dollies colors intensify to make a very pretty trout, with the lower body and fins turning red and the jaw becoming longer and hooked, which is call a cape.

PREY

Young Dollies will feed on top water insects and underwater crustaceans. Adult Dollies go deeper into the water as they mature and eat other trout eggs and other trout that will make up most of their diet. With their rich protein diet of other fish the dolly is very good to eat!

PREDATORS

Here are some of the predators that the Dolly falls prey to; blue herons, bears, loons, ospreys andeagles and otters. As said above with its high protein diet Dollies are very good eating.

HABITAT

The Dolly likes it water cold. They are usually found in well oxygenated water that is found near the headwaters of rivers or streams and high mountain lakes that are deep.

SPAWN

Dollies are fall spawning trout that will gather in pools that have lots of gravel and oxygen. The female digs the redd, while thr male fights off other males. Young emerge in the spring and as late as June. Dollies usually mature between 4-6 years and return to the same place to spawn.

footer for dolly varden trout page

Dolly Varden Trout (Salvelinus malma Walbaum)

Dolly Varden Trout
(Salvelinus malma Walbaum)