Westslope Cutts -- Where to Find 'Em?

[No_Bad_Skunks]

I may be looking for something that doesn't exist here, but...

I'm planning to head out again next week, and thought I'd like to target Westslope Cutthroats. Are there any drive-in lakes, not a super-hellacious distance from Portland that have them?

[wolverine]

Better have a lot of gas in your car. Pure Westslopes are running water fish not lake fish. In order to find them in any reasonable numbers you'll have to go to Idaho, Montana, or BC. Westslopes are the proverbial dumb as rocks trout and were easily caught out of their original habitat. They require utterly pure water to thrive and do not compete well against the far more aggressive rainbows. There are pockets of them left in remote areas closer to where you are but I doubt that anyone that knows where these spots are will willingly divulge them. Good luck on your hunt.

[Rooscooter]

Wolverine is correct. True native Westslope habitat is in the streams and rivers in extreme NW Washington, Northern Idaho and Western Montana as well as Southern B.C. and Alberta.

However, the WDFW plant what they call Westslope Cutthroats in a few Spokane area lakes. Badger, Williams and Amber lakes all have these fish in varying numbers.

I was just at Badger last week and caught over 15 Cutts up to 19". I can't tell that they are any different than the "true" Westslopes I catch in Sullivan Creek.

If you want to go a little farther there are several lakes around Colville and Newport Washington (north of Spokane) that receive plants as well.

Here is a link to the WDFW's page that lists fish planing by species per year. You can download the matrix and find where the Cutthoats have been planted.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports_plants.html


Tight Lines!

[Marc Martyn]

I would send an email to the Oregon Game Department and tell them the region you want to go to. They might suggest some creeks.

[Anglinarcher]

You are actually closer to one of the two known sub species of Red Bands. If you are into native species, the Eastern Oregon area has one of the two sub species, and they are sure a great looking fish.

As for the West Slope Cutts, see above post. Dumb as a rock, fragile critters and hard to raise for planting purposes, but pretty fish.

[SAPIplate]

Westslope Cutts are common in most area's, in Washington, I've caught them in the Upper Snoqualmie (South Fork), Methow (large Cutts in that river), Yakima, Naches, and a couple smaller streams. One of the best Westslope rivers I've ever fished is the St. Joe in Northeastern Idaho. All Cutts. Many 35 fish days.

[Anglinarcher]

Westslope Cutts are common in most area's, in Washington, I've caught them in the Upper Snoqualmie (South Fork), Methow (large Cutts in that river), Yakima, Naches, and a couple smaller streams. One of the best Westslope rivers I've ever fished is the St. Joe in Northeastern Idaho. All Cutts. Many 35 fish days.

Notice that he is from Oregon, and St. Joe is a ways away for him. The Snoqualmie are not West Slope Cutts, but Costals. Not sure of the other rivers so I cannot comment on them.

[SAPIplate]

I didn't see the "not a hellacious distance" part. Anyway, the South Fork, I have caught a Westslope, it was small but definatly a Westslope. But you are correct the majority of the Cutts in the Snoqualmie are resident Coasties. A local fly shop owner I know has even caught one in the Sultan.

[curado]

trust me sapi knows his fish.