The cutthroat Trout is a salmonid closely related to the rainbow trout. More than ten distinct sub-species of this fish exist, and many of these are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss, dams, and hybridization with rainbow trout and golden trout. Cutthroat trout vary widely in size, coloration, and habitat selection.
The coloration of cutthroat trout is highly variable, especially between subspecies, but it is always characterized by two very distinctive features: black spotting on the sides, and the brilliant red slash-marks on the throat that give this fish its colorful name. Stream forms typically reach a few pounds in weight, but lake-dwelling subspecies (like the Lahontan Cutthroat) have been known to reach 40 pounds in weight and more than 30 inches long. Migratory or "Coastal" cutthroats often have a chrome appearance, especially when caught soon after migrating from the saltwater.
The cutthroat is a fish of the West, living primarily in the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast of North America. The cutthroat origated in the rivers of the west coast, but naturally spread across the continental divide millions of years ago. It is a fish of remote mountain streams, high elevation lakes, and cold, clear waters. Cutthroat Trout live in some of the most beautiful landscapes of the American West.
Cutthroats are fairly typically members of the trout tribe, making their living in flowing waters and feeding heavily on insects. Grasshoppers, earthworms, and fish eggs are good natural baits to try when targeting cutthroat trout. When many insects are on the water, cutthroats will rise readily and are easy to catch on dry flies. The sunken fly, in the form of a wet fly or nymph, is deadly in almost all circumstances. In remote mountain streams, they will grab just about anything that falls into the water. In most areas, they primarily feed on aquatic insects. Large cutthroats become very piscivorous, and can be attracted with spoons, inline spinners, and streamer flies. Other foods attractive to cutthroat trout are scuds, fairy shrimp, terrestrial insects, sculpins, and leeches. Both fly and spinning tackle is appropriate for cutts; in general a 4-5 weight flyrod or a light spinning rod with 4-6 pound test should be used.
Corey Geving, Eli
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Post date: Saturday, January 13, 2018 - 15:16
 Native westslope cutthroat (o. clarkii lewisi) caught in Swan River, Montana. |
Post date: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 07:01
 Cowichan River, BC |
Post date: Friday, July 15, 2016 - 20:17
 Wyoming |
Post date: Thursday, April 17, 2014 - 00:00
 Nisqually River, Washington |
Post date: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 - 18:20
 Wyoming |
Post date: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 22:24
 A tributary creek of Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada |
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Post date: Wednesday, August 2, 2017 - 15:58
 Glacier Creek, CO |
Post date: Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 21:25
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Post date: Thursday, September 3, 2015 - 23:40
 clark fork, Missoula, MT |
Post date: Friday, September 14, 2018 - 19:23
 Squamish, BC, Canada |
Post date: Monday, December 21, 2015 - 17:59
 Silver Lake/Fourmile Creek, Montana |
Post date: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 - 21:39
 Puget Sound, WA |
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Post date: Monday, October 9, 2017 - 01:04
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Post date: Friday, March 30, 2012 - 12:16
 Oregon |
Post date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 19:09
 Pyramid Lake, NV |
Post date: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - 23:47
 CO |
Post date: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 07:08
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Post date: Thursday, March 8, 2018 - 19:41
 Gypson Creek WY |
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Post date: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 11:49
 Little Bighorn River WY |
Post date: Sunday, August 2, 2015 - 22:08
 Pyramid Lake, NV |
Post date: Friday, July 12, 2013 - 21:29
 The Beartooth Mountains. |
Post date: Monday, January 9, 2017 - 10:00
 Rocky Mountain National Park |
Post date: Monday, July 3, 2017 - 20:32
 Bitterroot River tributary, Montana |
Post date: Saturday, March 17, 2012 - 10:42
 Avalanche Lake at Glacier Natl. Park |