CUTTHROAT TROUT (Oncorhynchus clarki)

Cutthroat Hot Spots

HISTORY:
The cutthroat trout is one of Alberta's naturally occurring fish species. Cutthroat derived their name from two orange, red or yellow lines that can be found on the skin on the folds on each side of their lower jaw, two slashes that make it appear like the fish is bleeding. These are beautifully colored fish. The body is a slivery yellow-green with variable spotting that increases towards the tail. Spots can be found on dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins. Red may be found on the side of the head and the belly and a narrow pink streak can be present on the sides.

Cutthroats evolved into two distinct sub-species. A coastal cutthroat, native to B.C. coastal rivers, and the inland cutthroat that evolved on both sides of the continental divide. In Alberta, it is found in the head waters of river systems, from the Milk river in the South to the Athabaska river in the North. These are high to mid-altitude fish (approx. 14,000 to 4000 ft altitude) that thrive in cold, clear, highly oxygenated headwaters and alpine lakes.

BIOLOGY:
Cutthroat spawn in late spring or early summer. Males can reach sexual maturity as early as two years of age, but usually mature around 3-4yrs of age. Females mature later, usually 4-6yrs. Many Cutt's live only four to seven years, and may spawn only once or twice. Maximum life span would appear to be ten years.

Spawning usually occurs in small gravelly streams about three to five weeks after the ice breaks up, when water temp. approaches 10degrees C, or fifty degrees F. The female excavates a REDD by laying on her side and thrashing her tail. This creates a depression that is at least one foot in diameter and four to five inches deep. She is joined by one or more males and eggs and milt are deposited. The female then digs just up stream of the redd, covering it with as much as six to eight inches of displaced gravel. Females often dig more than one redd or nest, and may spawn with more than one male. Females usually carry 1100-1700 eggs.

The eggs usually hatch in six to seven weeks and the young "Alevin" remain in the redd from one to two weeks until their egg sack is absorbed. The young are usually 1.5-2 inches at one year old. Cutthroat trout can successfully hybridize with rainbow trout producing a fertile cross called a Cuttbow in Alberta. They can also produce a cross with golden trout.

ANGLING TECHNIQUES:
Cutthroat trout are wonderful. They will investigate and usually strike any small item that enters their view. They are a very aggressive fish that will actually try to eat a spinner or fly 2 or 3 times. Flyfishers love Cutt's for their willingness to eat dry flies, hatch or no hatch.

Fishing tackle should be on the light side. Use ultralight spinning gear loaded with 4 or 6 lb. Test line. A wide variety of ultralight spinners and spoons will work. Tiny Mepps spinners or Panther Martin spinners or tiny spoons in most colors will work, especially red and yellow. Fishing with a wet fly can be deadly, on both spin or flyfishing gear. Spincasters should use a casting bubble or pinch some splitshot 16-24 inches up the line from the fly. Traditional wet flies such as a Royal Coachman or Professor work well. Nymphs that represent stoneflies (montana stone, black stonefly) or mayflies (hares ear, prince nymph, zug bug) or caddisflies will usually catch fish. A casting bubble with a dry fly 3-5 feet behind it will catch rising cutthroat.

Flyfishers should match their tackle to the size of the water fished. A 4 or 5 weight rod is perfect for the upper headwater streams, where a 6 or 7 weight would work on larger waters such as Marvel Lake or the Upper Bow River. A dry line is usually sufficient for most waters but sink tip lines can be effective in lakes. Leader length should be 10 feet. To fish with a nymph and your dry line simply lengthen your leader to 12-14 feet, attach some shot 12-16 inches up from your fly, and get casting. Cutthroat will key in on a specific fly during a hatch. Try to match size and color when this occurs. These fish are usually willing to rise to a dry fly, hatch or not. Dry flies tied with deer or elk hair will float well in the riffles, such as Royal Coachman Humpy's or Tom thumbs. Terrestrial flies like Ants and Grasshoppers are a good bet. Nymphs and streamers work well on those rare days when they will not rise to dry flies.

Cutthroat trout are a great fish for beginners and experts alike. They are aggressive fish that fight hard, with deep runs and much head shaking. Alberta has enacted special regulations due to the unique biology of these fish. Catch and release areas or slot sizes that encourage successful spawning are in effect in most waters. These progressive regulations should ensure that adequate populations of these wonderful fish for future generations