The Westslope Cutthroat Trout is one of two subspecies of native cutthroat found in the state. Together they have been designated Montana’s state fish, the Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout. Westslope Cutthroat Trout are common in both headwaters lake and stream environments.
Can you keep Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Montana?
The Yellowstone Cutthroat trout is currently ranked “S2” in Montana because it is at risk because of very limited and/or potentially declining population numbers, range and/or habitat, making it vulnerable to extirpation in the state.
How can you tell a cutthroat trout?
Identification characteristics:
- Head blunt, jaw long – extends past eye.
- Small black spots on head & body extending well below lateral line, and on all fins.
- Red to yellow streaks on underside of jaw.
- Faint to no red on sides of spawning fish.
- Length up to 30 inches.
How do you identify cutthroat trout in Yellowstone?
Yellowstone Cutthroat can be distinguished from other cutthroat trout by their larger black spots, clustered toward the tail, and by their gray, gold, and copper hues. The Yellowstone Cutthroat measures from 6 to 20 inches long when it reaches maturity.
Where can I find cutthroat trout in Yellowstone?
Presently, hybridized cutthroat trout exist throughout the Bechler, Falls, Gallatin, Gardner, and Lamar river drainages, and the Yellowstone River below the Upper Falls.
What is a cutthroat trout look like?
Identification characteristics: Head blunt, jaw long – extends past eye. Small black spots on head & body extending well below lateral line, and on all fins. Red to yellow streaks on underside of jaw. Faint to no red on sides of spawning fish.
How do you identify cutthroat?
Description
- Westslope Cutthroat Trout are named for the bright red-orange streak in the fold under the mouth.
- Other identifying features for cutthroat trout include small scales and black spots without haloes on the sides.
Is a cutthroat trout a rainbow trout?
Oncorhynchus clarki Cutthroat trout are freshwater fish in the family Salmonidae, as are rainbow trout. Although inhabiting clear, cold streams in their native range in western North America, this species is becoming a popular sport fish stocked below federal water projects in the Southeast.
What species of trout are in Montana?
Montana’s trout species include rainbow, brown, brook, lake, bull and cutthroat trout. Cutthroat, rainbow, bull, and lake Trout are Montana’s native trouts, which means that these species were discovered living in Montana’s waters, although many of these species were introduced into waters that were not their native range.
Where can you catch cutthroat. trout?
Where to catch Cutthroat Trout. They are known from the Eel River, California north to Prince William Sound, Alaska. Inland non-anadromous forms occur from southern Alberta, Canada to as far south as New Mexico, as far east as Colorado and most of Montana and west as far as Alberta and eastern California.
What is Montana State record rainbow trout?
Montana’s current state record rainbow trout was caught in the Kootenai River near the David Thompson Bridge by Jack Housel, Jr. back in August of 1997. The sky isn’t the only thing big in Montana, as this rainbow weighed in at a whopping 33.1 pounds with a length of 38.62 inches (click HERE for a complete list of Montana state record catches).
