All About Cutthroat Trout: Native Icons of the American West

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The cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) is one of North America’s most distinctive native trout, easily recognized by the vivid red or orange slash marks beneath its jaw. Named for this striking feature, cutthroat trout are a symbol of the American West and a cornerstone of native coldwater fisheries. They are highly diverse, with numerous subspecies adapted to specific watersheds, ranging from coastal rivers to desert basins and alpine streams. Their beauty, ecological importance, and angling heritage make them one of the most celebrated trout species.  

Cutthroat Trout Size  

Adult cutthroat trout vary widely in size depending on subspecies and habitat. Stream-dwelling fish often range from 8 to 15 inches and weigh less than 2 pounds. Larger river and lake populations can reach 20 inches or more, with weights of 3 to 5 pounds. Trophy specimens, particularly Lahontan and Yellowstone cutthroat, may exceed 10 pounds. The world record cutthroat weighed 41 pounds, caught in Pyramid Lake, Nevada, in 1925.  

Cutthroat Trout Native Range  

Cutthroat trout are native to western North America. Their historic range extends from coastal rivers of Alaska and British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California, and inland across the Rocky Mountains into Colorado, New Mexico, and even northern Mexico. They occupy diverse habitats, from Pacific coastal streams to desert lakes and high-elevation mountain creeks.

Cutthroat trout are considered rare across much of their historic range, with many subspecies reduced to a fraction of their original distribution. Some, like the greenback cutthroat, are federally listed as threatened, while others are managed as species of special concern. Overall, genetically pure populations have declined by more than 70–90% in many regions. Most subspecies surviving in isolated headwater streams or carefully managed lakes.

For example, Greenback cutthroat trout are federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Colorado River and Rio Grande cutthroat trout are not federally listed but are considered species of special concern at the state level. Westslope cutthroat trout have lost about 76% of their historic range, while Rio Grande cutthroat trout have lost about 92% of their genetically pure populations.  

Restoration programs focus on removing non-native trout, reclaiming headwater streams, and reintroducing pure-strain cutthroat. Stocking and hatchery programs help bolster numbers, though maintaining genetic purity is a challenge. Many states (Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Utah) have cutthroat conservation initiatives to protect remaining populations.  

Cutthroat Trout Habitat  

Cutthroat trout thrive in cold, clean, well-oxygenated waters. They are found in small mountain streams, large rivers, lakes, and coastal estuaries depending on subspecies. Many populations are migratory, moving between rivers and lakes or even saltwater and freshwater. Because they are sensitive to habitat degradation, cutthroat trout have declined in many areas due to warming waters, pollution, and competition with non-native trout.  

Cutthroat Trout Life Cycle  

Cutthroat trout spawn in spring, typically between March and July depending on latitude and elevation. Females dig redds in gravel beds where they deposit eggs, fertilized by males. Eggs hatch in several weeks, and fry remain in natal streams until maturity. Cutthroat trout reach sexual maturity between ages 2 and 4 and can live 6 to 10 years in favorable conditions. Migratory strains, such as coastal cutthroat, often return to natal streams annually to spawn.  

Cutthroat Trout Diet  

Cutthroat trout are opportunistic feeders. Their diet includes aquatic insects such as mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, and midges, as well as terrestrial insects like ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. Larger individuals feed on small fish, sculpins, and minnows, and will also consume fish eggs and crustaceans. Their feeding habits make them ideal quarry for fly anglers, who often target them with dry flies, nymphs, and streamers.  

Strains of Cutthroat Trout

There are 14 recognized subspecies of cutthroat trout, each tied to specific watersheds in the western U.S. and Canada. They are highly diverse, with numerous recognized subspecies adapted to specific watersheds. Some of the most notable include:  

• Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) — native to the Yellowstone River drainage.  
• Westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) — found in Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia.  
• Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) — native to desert basins of Nevada and California, capable of reaching large sizes.  
• Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) — native to southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.  
• Coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) — found in Pacific coastal streams from Alaska to northern California.  
• Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) — native to the Bonneville Basin of Utah and Nevada.
• Greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus virginalis stomia) — native to Colorado’s Front Range. Rare and threatened.
• Colorado River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus virginalis pleuriticus) — native to the Green and Colorado River basins west of the Continental Divide.

These subspecies differ in coloration, size, and habitat preferences, but all share the characteristic throat slash.

Cutthroat Trout Locations  

Cutthroat trout remain widely distributed across the western U.S. and Canada, though many populations have declined due to habitat loss and competition with non-native rainbow and brown trout. Strongholds include Yellowstone National Park, Montana’s Flathead River system, Idaho’s Salmon River drainage, Nevada’s Pyramid Lake, Colorado’s high mountain streams, and New Mexico’s Rio Grande headwaters. Coastal cutthroat thrive in rivers and estuaries of the Pacific Northwest. Conservation efforts have restored populations in many areas, making them once again accessible to anglers.  

Fly Fishing for Cutthroat Trout  

Cutthroat trout are a favorite among fly anglers for their willingness to rise to a dry fly and their striking appearance. In small streams, 3- to 5-weight rods with floating lines are ideal. Classic dry flies such as Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Stimulators are effective, as are terrestrials like ants and hoppers. Nymphs including Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs produce well subsurface.  

In lakes and larger rivers, anglers often use 5- to 6-weight rods and incorporate streamers such as Woolly Buggers, Muddler Minnows, and sculpin patterns to target larger, more predatory brook trout. Lahontan cutthroat in Pyramid Lake are often pursued with large baitfish imitations and sinking lines. Coastal cutthroat are targeted with baitfish and shrimp patterns in estuaries and tidal rivers.

Completing a “cutthroat slam” (catching all major subspecies in a given region) has become a popular conservation-minded fishing challenge.

A Native Treasure  

Cutthroat trout are a living symbol of the American West’s wild rivers and lakes. Their diversity across subspecies reflects the landscapes they inhabit, and their sensitivity to habitat makes them a key indicator of ecosystem health. For anglers, cutthroat trout offer both beauty and challenge, whether in a high mountain creek, a desert lake, or a coastal estuary.

Read more: 

• Science in the Thorofare: Researching Cutthroat Trout in the Most Remote Area of the Lower 48
• The Future of Pyramid Lake's Lahontan Cutthroats
• In Pursuit of the Searun Cutthroat of Puget Sound
• Wyoming's Snake River is Cutthroat Nirvana
• Cutthroat Country: Chasing Wild Trout in Yellowstone's Untamed Waters
• Yellowstone National Park's “Other” Native Fish

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