Oncorhynchus clarkii
Cutthroat trout are the native trout of the Canadian west — a beautiful fish named for the distinctive orange-red slash under the jaw. They're found in cold mountain streams and alpine lakes, and they...
📷 Photo: Wikimedia Commons / USFWS
Cutthroat trout are the native trout of the Canadian west — a beautiful fish named for the distinctive orange-red slash under the jaw. They're found in cold mountain streams and alpine lakes, and they're a favourite of fly anglers for their willingness to rise to dry flies.
Bronze to olive-green body with black spots concentrated on the back and tail (like rainbow trout). The key feature is the orange to red 'cut' or slash mark under the lower jaw. Small teeth at the base of the tongue. Coastal/sea-run forms are more silvery. Hybridizes with rainbow trout, which complicates ID.
Cutthroat require cold, clean water (6–16°C / 43–61°F). They're found in mountain and foothill streams, alpine lakes, and coastal rivers in AB and BC. They prefer pool habitat with cover — undercut banks, log jams, and deep pools. They're less tolerant of warm water than rainbows.
Cutthroat Trout can be found across these provinces and territories:
Regulations vary by province and zone — always check the local rules before fishing. Browse detailed guides: Alberta · British Columbia.
Matching your bait to the conditions is one of the biggest factors in catching Cutthroat Trout. Here's what works when:
| Weather / Condition | Best Bait & Lures | Technique |
|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ Calm / Rising fish | Dry flies (elk hair caddis, Adams, Royal Wulff) sizes 14–18 | Cutthroat love dry flies — they rise eagerly. Drift small dries over pools and riffles. |
| ☁️ Overcast | Soft hackle wet flies, small streamers (woolly bugger), nymphs | More active subsurface in low light — swing wets and small streamers through runs. |
| 🌬️ Windy | Small spinners (Mepps #1-2), small spoons, terrestrial patterns | Wind blows terrestrials onto the water — ants, beetles, and hoppers can be deadly. |
| 🌸 Spring (post runoff) | Stonefly nymphs, small streamers, BWO dries during hatches | Post-runoff spring fishing is prime — cutts are hungry and aggressive after the snowmelt. |
| 🍂 Fall | Egg patterns, small streamers, BWO and midge dry patterns | Fall cutts are in spawning mode (or post-spawn) — they feed selectively but can be fooled. |
Spring (June): streams open after runoff — hungry fish. Summer (July–August): prime dry-fly season in mountain streams. Fall (September–October): spawning season — fish are coloured up and aggressive. Winter: some low-elevation streams stay open for year-round fishing.
Get a 7-day Cutthroat Trout bite forecast, offline regulations for every province, and AI-powered fishing advice — all in one app. Free for the 2026 season.