Cutthroat trout in various subspecies are native to New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Individuals living in large or turbid lakes or under ice tend to be iridescent silver. Inland non-anadromous forms occur from southern Alberta, Canada to as far south as New Mexico, as far east as Colorado and most of Montana and … Lake trout have the largest range. The Westslope Cutthroat trout is currently ranked "S2" in Montana because it is at risk due to very limited and/or potentially declining population numbers, range and/or habitat, making it vulnerable to extirpation in the state. With more than a thousand trout per mile in many sections, the Madison truly stands out when highlighting the top 10 trout rivers in Montana. You can catch trout in the spring and the fall in Montana, but your best bet is to book a trip for July or early in September. Renown fly fishing guide and author, Jenny Grossenbacher shares what fly fishing in Montana means to her in this beautiful video by the Montana Office of Tourism. Use imitation nymphs as bait such as the Bead Head Pheasant tail to lure them out in sizes 12 to 14. Though they’re a less common catch, you could also end up with a cutthroat. Despite these challenges, cutthroat populations hold strong in the coldest of streams, rivers, and headwaters. Montana cutthroat trout; How to Catch Cutthroat Trout. Downstream into Montana, the river contains healthy populations of large rainbow and brown trout. The Best Time Of Year To Fish For Trout In Montana. Montana is home to many species of trout and Rocky Mountain whitefish. Cutthroats love to feast on aquatic nymphs and larvae which can be found just below the surface of the water. Sea-run cutthroats are native from northern California north to Alaska, and can be a … Montana: both pure and moderately hybridized populations of westslope cutthroat trout have a high incidence of basibranchial teeth, whereas pure rainbow trout lack these teeth; presence of basibranchial teeth in some individuals of a rainbow trout population indicates hybridization with westslope cutthroat trout (Leary et al. The river contains rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. In Montana, the eagerness of westslope cutthroat trout, or cutts, to take a host of dry flies has earned them a soft spot in many anglers’ hearts. This major tributary of the Jefferson River offers something for everyone. The 17 best rivers and lakes—and times of year, bugs to cast, and local advice—to maximize your chances of landing a wild trout while fly-fishing in Montana. Many people are worried about the cutthroat trout, and are trying to find ways for them to increase their numbers. Cutthroats can not compete very well with other kinds of trout like brown and rainbow that were brought into Montana by white men. Whitefish are also present as in most Montana rivers. That's because golden trout were originally found only in a few rivers in northern California. The Big Hole River is also one of only a few places in Montana where you can catch native grayling. These westslope cutthroat trout spawn in the spring, in the same tributaries and spawning gravel as rainbows, so a lot of fish that look like one or the other are hybrid fish, called “cutt-bows.” Expect to catch cutthroats on all our rivers and streams in the 10”-16” range, with some 18” fish, particularly in the lower Clark Fork. Brown and rainbow trout in Montana are wild trout—meaning none of the trout in our rivers are stocked. The clear, cold water in the lakes and rivers is a perfect habitat for trout and other freshwater fish. Cutthroat primarily feed on aquatic insects and adult forms of terrestrials. Humans brought golden trout to Montana in the 1900's. The Unnamed and Too-Many-To-Name Private Waters On February 10, 1977, Governor Thomas Judge signed the law designating the blackspotted cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) as Montana's official state fish.The idea for a state fish began when Norma Ashby and her husband, Shirley, of … They are known from the Eel River, California north to Prince William Sound, Alaska. Home to a wild westslope cutthroat fishery, the South Fork is one of the only bodies of water where you can target bull trout in Montana. The river contains rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. If you were a golden trout, you would have to tell people that you were not a native to Montana. Colorado is home to three species of native Cutthroat trout: The state offers excellent fly fishing for these beautiful homegrown trout that are eager to eat a fly. They liked how they looked and wanted to see if golden trout could live in the state. For many, fly fishing Montana is a way of life and for others it is a fly fishing trip of a life-time. In the spring and early summer you’ll most likely catch lake trout using spinners and streamers. Though they’re a less common catch, you could also end up with a cutthroat. Where to catch Cutthroat Trout. And for good reason. These 12 Amazing Spots In Montana Are Perfect To Go Fishing. The headwaters in Yellowstone National Park contain the sought-after Yellowstone cutthroat trout. This major tributary of the Jefferson River offers something for everyone.