Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
The signature native trout of the Greater Yellowstone region, ranging across the upper Snake and Yellowstone river drainages from Wyoming into Montana, Idaho, and pockets of Nevada and Utah.
Anglers chase them for an insect-heavy diet that translates into one of the most reliable dry-fly fish in the West, often taken in wide-open country alongside elk and grizzly habitat.
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri
Also known as Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout, Rocky Mountain Cutthroat Trout, YCT
- Large, rounded black spots heavily concentrated toward the tail and caudal peduncle, with comparatively few spots on the head — the key field mark separating it from westslope cutthroat.
- Body usually golden-yellow, brassy, or bronze along the flanks with gray and copper hues; lake fish run more silvery, river fish duller than westslope cutthroat.
- Red-orange slash marks under the lower jaw — the namesake cutthroat mark — though these can fade on some individuals.
- Stream-resident headwater fish often top out around 9–10 inches; fluvial river fish commonly reach 20–24 inches, and adfluvial lake fish like those in Henrys Lake can grow larger still.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Snake River drainage above Shoshone Falls and the Yellowstone River drainage down to the Tongue, with Yellowstone National Park forming the heart of remaining range. Roughly 43% of historical stream miles are still occupied.
- A cold-water specialist most comfortable between 39 and 59°F; tolerates a wider band but pulls into tributary mouths and spring seeps as summer water temperatures climb.
- Found from tiny alpine ponds and headwater creeks to large rivers and lakes — Yellowstone Lake, Henrys Lake, the Yellowstone mainstem, and the South Fork Snake all hold meaningful populations.
- Stocked outside the native range in parts of the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, but those introduced populations are rarely self-sustaining.
Specific Spots
- Stream fish hold in current seams, behind boulders, and along the soft edges of riffles and runs, drift-feeding on invertebrates carried in the water column.
- On big rivers, look to mid-river riffles, shoals, and bucket water during the day, with fish sliding to steep rip-rap banks and canyon pocket water in low light.
- Undercut banks and woody debris in meadow streams hold the larger fish — clean gravel with little fine sediment is a tell for both holding and spawning water.
- In lakes, fish work the shallows and weed edges early in the season, then concentrate near tributary mouths and underwater spring seeps once surface temperatures rise.
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout?
Small inline spinners, Mepps and Rooster Tails in sizes 0–2, are the workhorse for streams and rivers where they're legal. Small spoons and bubble-and-fly rigs work well on alpine lakes and reservoirs. Where bait is permitted, nightcrawlers and live grasshoppers produce.
What flies work for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout?
Dry flies are the calling card. High-floating attractors, Parachute Adams, Stimulator, Royal Wulff, Elk Hair Caddis, fish well across the range and often don't need a precise hatch match on lightly pressured water. Size down on famous meadow streams where fish get educated.
What do Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout eat?
Heavily invertebrate-driven, mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, midges, and terrestrials, which is exactly why this species rises to dry flies more readily than most trout. Pheasant Tails and Hare's Ears cover the subsurface mayfly and caddis end; Parachute Adams and Elk Hair Caddis cover the surface side.
Where do Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout live?
Native to the Snake River drainage above Shoshone Falls and the Yellowstone River drainage down to the Tongue, with Yellowstone National Park forming the heart of remaining range. Roughly 43% of historical stream miles are still occupied.
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