Cutthroat Trout
Oncorhynchus clarki
Cutthroat Trout in Spokane Washington are smaller cousins of the Rainbow Trout. Cutthroat Trout are common to the Western United States, and specifically are native to the Pacific Northwest - so the cutthroat Trout is at home in the waters around Spokane Washington.
Cutthroat Trout coloration varies, and the picture to the right is likely more red and flashy than the Cutthroat Trout common to the Spokane area. Cutthroat are identified by the black spots on the back that get progressively dense as they move toward the tail. A smaller red flare runs the lateral line of the fish and there will be red around the gills and lower jaw of the fish.
Cutthroat Trout will bite on the same things as rainbows, but may not be as easy to catch as a stocked rainbow trout. Little 6-10inch feisty Cutthroats are a ton of fun to catch in small streams around Spokane because for their size, they are a tough little fish, often giving good fight for their size and always a handful.
Use light tackle for Cutthroat Trout and stick with small flies or lures.
Cutthroat get their name because of the red coloration on the lower jaw, but got their scientific name "Oncorhynchus clarki" from William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Cutthroat is the state fish of Idaho and the resident natural trout found in the Spokane area.
Catching a Cutthroat Trout is a treat because of their tough and stubborn nature, and because they are the true native trout of the Spokane area.
For more information about tackle and supplies for catching Cutthroat Trout in and around Spokane Washington, check out www.SpokaneFishing.com.
