Historically, the westslope cutthroat trout (WCT) was the most widely distributed and abundant of the cutthroat subspecies. Meriweather Lewis was the first to document the westslope cutthroat. He observed that these fish "precisely resemble our mountain or speckled trout in form and the position of their fins, but the specks on these are of a deep black instead of the red or gold color of those common to the United States.” The average length of this species trout is 12-20 inches and generally one-half to 4 pounds. A short, conical head with a somewhat pointed to rounded snout and a rather large mouth with well developed teeth on both jaws characterize the fish.

Westslope cutthroat trout have three possible life forms, adfluvial (migrates to lakes), fluvial (migrates to rivers) or resident (stays in streams). All three life forms spawn in tributary streams in the springtime. Cutthroat trout spawn when they are about 4 or 5 years old and only a few survive to spawn again. Fry emerge in late June to mid July and then may spend one to four years in their natal streams. While resident fish spend their entire life in tributary streams, migratory life forms can travel great distances as they move between adult and spawning habitat.

WCT primarily eat insects and zooplankton and do not grow as large as some other trout species that are native to the same waters. Westslope cutthroat trout also require cold water, although it has proven elusive to define exact temperature requirements for these fish. Likewise, cutthroat trout tend to thrive in streams with more pool habitat and cover than is necessary for other trout subspecies. Aside from deep holding water during winter months, these cutthroat have more aggressive feeding habits where there is swift current and where water is well oxygenated

In the United States, WCT are native to much of the Columbia River drainage, including river systems on both sides of the Continental Divide in Montana and Idaho, portions of Washington state east of the Cascades Divide and a small portion of the upper John Day River drainage in Oregon.

Learn more about:

Rainbow Trout

Bull Trout

Idaho Fly Fishing