Colorado River Cutthroat trout are one of the 4 subspecies of cutthroat trout that are native to Utah. Their territory used to cover a large portion of the Colorado River drainage, but unfortunately today, they only inhabit 13% of their original range. Something that makes this subspecies of trout so special is they have some of the most vibrant colors of any trout. Year round they have a very distinctive pink or red gill plate, but as they get ready to spawn in the spring, they can have some of the deepest red or brightest pink gill plates and underbelly’s you can imagine. Finding somewhere that these fish can be targeted is truly special.
These Cutthroat trout tend to be more surface oriented in the streams, and in stillwaters do feed on the surface while hatches are ongoing, but we have found the most success with them subsurface. Generally, the lakes these fish inhabit have pretty clear water. Sight fishing is a very productive way to catch these fishing in stillwaters. They are usually near the weed line approximately 10 – 20 feet from shore feeding in the shallows throughout the vegetation. Utilizing a dry-dropper set up, and casting in their direction, they usually aren’t shy to run up and take your nymph as it is dropping!
Best Fly’s to use:
Streams:
Stick close to the vegetation. Overhanging willows or grass in a shaded area are fantastic places to start. Try and following the current under the vegetation with your dry, but of course, avoid getting hung up on it. There are times you can get lucky and see or hear them feeding on the surface. Using smaller midges, mosquito, or adams, sizes 18 – 22 are a great place to start. Try and match what you are seeing on the water.
Stillwater:
Spring – In the locations I have targeted this fish, there are generally lots of leeches moving around during the spring. We have had a lot of success using indicators and dropping a Balanced Egg Sucking Leech or Micro leech with another dropper below that. Generally something that is easier to see, like a Snowcone Chironomid, as the water is usually less clear in the spring because of the runoff. As a lot of the underwater vegetation hasn’t grown yet, try and find some area along shore that has some sort of plant growth.
Summer/Fall – Dry-Dropper. Throw on something big and visible for the dry. Hopper, Chubby Chernobyl, Stimulator, etc. For the dropper, see what bugs are swimming around near the shore. Generally, you can’t go wrong with a Pheasant tail, Zebra midge, Copper John, or Snowcone Chironomid. Like I mentioned above, sight fishing for them is very productive as they swim through the weed line in the shallows feeding on the subsurface bugs.
In conclusion, the Colorado River Cutthroat trout are a very special strain. Please be sure to pay attention to any fishing regulations for the stream or body of water you fish and let’s take care of them for the next generations to come!
