Utah's game fish: Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout prefer colder water temperatures and are usually found in higher elevation reservoirs such as Scofield and Strawberry, and in higher natural lakes such as those in the Uinta and Boulder mountains. They will live in spring-fed creeks and tailwaters, but do not compete well against brown or rainbow trout. Most of Utah's higher creeks and rivers have populations of cutthroat that are sustained by natural reproduction.

Bait/Lures

Feeding habits of the cutthroat are similar to those of the rainbow, and the two are often caught using the same methods and at the same time. In lakes, cutthroat tend to be more of an open-water feeder than rainbows and are therefore easier to catch on artificial minnows such as the Lucky Craft Pointers or Rapala Husky Jerk, as well as wobbler lures such as the Brass Jakes and Dardevle, and especially on flies such as white Zonkers, Copper Crystal Killers, California Leech and Black Flash-A-Buggers. In steams, cutthroat are famous for going after big, bright, high-floating flies such as Goofus Bugs, Royal Wulff, Stimulators, Chernobyl Ants and any "hopper" pattern. One particularly effective rigging is to fly fish a bead-head nymph such as a Prince or Tungsten Surveyor blow the big dry fly on a 12- to 20-inch dropper. Lures for streams include spinners such as Mepps and Panther Martin, particularly the brass or copper models and wobblers such as the Thomas Buoyant or Cyclone, also in brass. Baits include traditional baits such as night crawlers and dead minnows, which are a favorite of anglers who like to go after 'whoppers" Lime, Chartreuse and rainbow colored PowerBait fished off the bottom can also be an effective way to catch cutthroat.

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Byron Gunderson, Fish Tech Outfitters, contributed to this story.