Westslope Cutthroat

Bob Marshall Wilderness Westslope Cutthroat Trout The Bob Marshall Wilderness supports a vast network of rivers and lakes with healthy populations of Westslope Cutthroat and the ocassional Bull Trout.

 

Native Cutthroat Trout Poster

Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout Poster by Michael Carl

Native Cutthroat Trout Preview

Premium Poster Print of NATIVE CUTTHROAT TROUT available for purchase. Poster measures 22" x 28" on a matte finish. High quality printing provides optimized brightness and sharp detail. Made in USA.

Please allow for three to five business days for order to be processed. You will be notified by e-mail once the poster has been packaged and shipped to the address in the order.

 

Westslope Cutthroat Trout

Underwater photograph of Westslope Cutthroat trout caught in Montana.

Westslope cutthroat trout have teeth under their tongue, on the roof of the mouth, and in the front of the mouth. These cutthroat reside in both headwaters lake and stream environments (typically migrating into streams to spawn). They feed largely on insects and, in lakes, zooplankton.

Westslope Cutthroat trout caught fly fishing in it's native river.

Adult Westslope typically display bright yellow, orange and red colors, especially among males during the spawing season. And typical of the cutthroat species has a bright orange marking beneath the jaw. Unique characteristics of Westslope include irregular shaped spots on the body and fewer spots below the lateral line (except near the tail).

Westslope Cutthroat trout photographed underwater.

The Westslope cutthroat trout has the name Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi, in honor of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark who led the First American Expedition into the Northwest United States. Lewis and Clark discovered the Westslope cutthroat at Great Falls of the Missouri in what is now Montana.

Westslope Cutthroat trout photographed in it's native river.

Historic Distribution

Westslopes are native in northern Idaho's and British Columbia's upper Columbia system and northern tributaries of the Snake River, but not the Snake River's main stem to the south. Across the Continental Divide, Westslopes are native to the upper Missouri River, Milk River and North Saskatchewan River, but not the Yellowstone River to the south. However there is a remnant population of Westslopes in Oregon. Small populations persist in upper tributaries of the John Day River in the Strawberry Mountains.

Westslope Cutthroat trout caught and released in St. Joe's River Idaho