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Yellowstone cutthroat trout

Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri

Identifying Characteristics

	Yellowish brown, silvery or brassy bronze, becoming paler toward the belly
	Spots medium in size, conspicuous, rounded and often concentrated towards caudal fin
	Red or orange slash under lower jaw
	Crimson blush on gill plate
	Distinguished from rainbow trout by the lack of white borders on its paired fins
	Distinguished from other cutthroats by its large black spots concentrated toward the caudal fin and its drab colors

Other Information

In Wyoming, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout is native to the Yellowstone River drainage downstream to the Tongue River, including the Big Horn and Clark's Fork river drainages in Wyoming. It is the most widely recognized subspecies of the cutthroat trout.

Yellowstones prefer clear, cool streams and rivers, but are also found in ponds and lakes. Food is primarily aquatic insects and terrestrial invertebrates.

Angling Tips

Most conventional trout fishing techniques work fine for cutthroat – in fact, they are one of the easiest trout to catch on hook and line.