Embedded Files
The westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus lewisi), also known as the black-spotted cutthroat trout, is one of four cutthroat trout species. Its scientific name honors Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806.
They are native to the upper Columbia River, Missouri River, Fraser, and Saskatchewan River drainages. They can be found in 5 northwestern states: Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming, as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.
Though its range extends to both sides of the Continental Divide, its common name refers to the trout being first described on the west slope of the divide.
Westslope cutthroat trout. USGS Photo.
Distribution of Westslope cutthroat trout subspecies (by N8vetrout, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Westslope Subspecies
There are nine recognized subspecies of westslope cutthroat trout:
Missouri River cutthroat trout (O. l. lewisi)
Neoboreal cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
Coeur d'Alene cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
St. Joe cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
North Fork Clearwater cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
Clearwater headwater cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
Clearwater–eastern Cascades cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
Salmon River cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
John Day cutthroat trout (O. l. ssp.)
Missouri River Cutthroat Trout
The Missouri River cutthroat trout is native to the Missouri River basin.
The Missouri River cutthroat trout is the type subspecies.
Missouri River cutthroat trout. Photo by Johnny Armstrong.
Neoboreal Cutthroat Trout
The neoboreal cutthroat trout is native to portions of the upper Columbia, Fraser and Saskatchewan river drainages. This range is the largest of all westslope cutthroat subspecies.
The alpine cutthroat trout, previously recognized as a separate subspecies, are now regarded as being disjunct populations of neoboreal cutthroat trout.
Neoboreal cutthroat trout. USFS photo.
Coeur d'Alene Cutthroat Trout
The Coeur d'Alene cutthroat trout is native to the upper portion of the Coeur d'Alene River basin.
St. Joe Cutthroat Trout
The St. Joe cutthroat trout is native to the upper portion of the St. Joe River basin.
North Fork Clearwater Cutthroat Trout
The North Fork Clearwater cutthroat trout is native to the upper portion of the North Fork Clearwater River drainage.
Clearwater Headwater Cutthroat Trout
The Clearwater headwater cutthroat trout is native to the headwaters of the Selway River and the South Fork Clearwater River.
Clearwater - Eastern Cascades Cutthroat Trout
The Clearwater-eastern Cascades cutthroat trout is native to two geographically separated ranges. The eastern populations are native to lower portions of the Clearwater River drainage (excluding the non-overlapping ranges of other subspecies) while the western populations are native to Lake Chelan, Wenatchee River and Methow River basins of the eastern Cascades.
Salmon River Cutthroat Trout
The Salmon River cutthroat trout is native to the Salmon River basin.
John Day Cutthroat Trout
The John Day cutthroat trout is native to the upper portion of the John Day River basin in central Oregon. This is the only westslope subspecies in Oregon.
Angler Challenges
The westslope cutthroat trout is included in the Western Native Trout Challenge with catches in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming qualifying.
The coastal cutthroat trout is also included in the Wyoming Cutt-Slam.
See rules for each challenge and state regulations for restrictions.
Page updated
Report abuse