Found Some More Cutts

Needing to visit another area that we've missed, my family and I drove out to the Wasatch Plateau and enjoyed an afternoon hike, some cutthroat fishing, and some small tiger trout at Huntington Reservoir.


One of my favorite creeks out there showed even more promise than usual and I found an area that was loaded with big spawners, just like my pond from last week. The only difference was that these cutts were very spooky.


I had a hunch that this particular spot would be prime. Try and count the dark spots. Many were between 17-21 inches. Talk about luck!


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...raAW100001.jpg

At first, they were quick to attack my offerings (jigs), then I had to get a little bit more creative with a failed attempt at flies, then finally connecting on a small brookie pattern Rapala.


The largest of the day broke me off and was quite nice, very thick, and painted with the whole easel. Such a shame that it didn't make it to my hand and even worse that it has to mess with a jig in its lip for awhile. Hopefully it can work it out of there and continue to eat well.


There were several that I was able to trick, but I only took photos of the largest ones.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...raAW100003.jpg

Kind of an odd head shape.


This next one had been caught before.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...raAW100013.jpg

In one hole, some of them must not have seen me or cared much that I was there, so I took an opportunity to get some quick footage of them in the water.


http://youtu.be/i5acco1mUPE?hd=1


Nothing special, but it was fun that they stuck around while I messed with them.


On the way home, we stopped at Huntington to test our luck. The small town along the dam reported very slow fishing, but we were able to get a few tigers to hand, the largest being 16 inches.


It was a great day and we enjoyed ourselves. I'm really glad my wife caught a fish and feel very fortunate to find such nice cutthroat two weeks in a row.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...raAW100022.jpg

Happy Fishing, Humans.


http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/...raAW100023.jpg


(PS: Happy Father's Day to all you Papas out there!)

I was wondering if fishing for spawning cutthroats is regulated by specific areas or waters ? Most of the areas that I fish are closed until July 15th.

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Originally Posted by REDFOX

I was wondering if fishing for spawning cutthroats is regulated by specific areas or waters ? Most of the areas that I fish are closed until July 15th.

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I think it is only regulated in area where there is concern for the population. In areas where there are thriving populations there are no regulations however, when fishing for any spawning species one should practice care not to cause too much stress to the fish and not to disturb their beds/reds. In my opinion one of the funnest times to catch fish is when they are spawning because they seem to have a little more spunk in them.

Nice trip report LOAH! Great find, again!

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Originally Posted by REDFOX

I was wondering if fishing for spawning cutthroats is regulated by specific areas or waters ? Most of the areas that I fish are closed until July 15th.

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Yes, usually those streams are tributaries to reservoirs that need the cutts for chub control, such as tribs to Strawberry, Scofield, and in the past, Electric Lake (regulation removed a few years ago). Most cutthroat streams are just fine without any added regulation.