This map shows general watershed areas where native cutthroat trout occur across Utah. Each shaded area represents the range one of the cutthroat subspecies, which you can determine by color. Use this map as a general guideline to find where cutthroat might be found. This is fishing; there are no guarantees. More research regarding access and specific fishery regulations should be done.
Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT) are native to streams that terminate in the Bonneville Basin, excluding the Bear River. While the Bear River terminates in the Bonneville Basin, these cutthroat trout have evolved on a separate path from other Bonneville cutthroat trout because of a historic stream capture of the Bear River from the Snake River to the Bonneville Basin. Any cutthroat trout caught while angling streams in the Bonneville Basin will be accepted as BCT for the Utah Native Cutthroat Slam. While the Weber River (including the Ogden River) is not in the Bear River Drainage, the Bonneville cutthroat trout in this drainage historically mixed with Bear River cutthroat trout and cutthroat trout angled in this drainage can count toward either the Bear River or Bonneville cutthroat trout catch, BUT NOT BOTH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU CLAIM A BONNEVILLE CUTTHROAT TROUT CATCH FROM THE WEBER RIVER, THEN YOU NEED TO CATCH A BEAR RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT FROM A DIFFERENT DRAINAGE AND VICE VERSA. Some headwater lakes in the Weber River and Provo River have been historically stocked with non-native cutthroat trout. If you wish to angle BCT from headwater lakes in these two drainages, check with the Northern Region UDWR Office (801-476-2740) for a list of lakes containing native BCT. The following areas/streams will provide the best opportunities to catch native Bonneville cutthroat trout in Utah:
Weber River: Special fishing regulations are present in portions of the Weber River Drainage so check the Fishing Guidebook before planning a trip.
Ogden River:
Northern Wasatch Front streams: The UDWR Northern Region Office has restored native BCT to several of the small streams along the Wasatch Front north of Salt Lake City. For more information on these angling opportunities, call the Northern Region Office at 801-476-2740.
Provo River:
Jordan River:
Southern Wasatch Front high mountain lakes: Many of these lakes require a 2-3 hour hike on a good Forest Service trail in order to access the lake.
Spanish Fork River:
Deep Creek Mountains (eastern slope): These are extremely remote, small, brushy streams that terminate at the valley floor. These streams can be accessed from the valley floor by a dirt road and most have poorly defined trails along the streams. For more information on angling opportunities in this mountain range call the UDWR Central Region Office at 801-491-5678.
Sevier River:
Bear River cutthroat trout (BRCT) are native to the Bear River and its’ tributaries, including Bear Lake. While the Bear River terminates in the Bonneville Basin, these cutthroat trout have evolved on a separate path from other Bonneville cutthroat trout because of a historic stream capture of the Bear River from the Snake River to the Bonneville Basin. This native cutthroat trout subspecies remains abundant and additional pure populations are being protected/restored in Rich County through chemical restoration projects. While the Weber River (including the Ogden River) is not in the Bear River Drainage, the Bonneville cutthroat trout in this drainage historically mixed with Bear River cutthroat trout and cutthroat trout angled in this drainage can count toward either the Bear River or Bonneville cutthroat trout catch, BUT NOT BOTH. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU CLAIM A BEAR RIVER CUTTHROAT TROUT CATCH FROM THE WEBER RIVER, THEN YOU NEED TO CATCH A BONNEVILLE CUTTHROAT TROUT FROM A DIFFERENT DRAINAGE AND VICE VERSA. Any cutthroat trout caught while angling streams in the Utah portion of the Bear River and Weber River (including the Ogden River) drainages will be accepted as BRCT for the Utah Native Cutthroat Slam. Some headwater lakes in the Bear River have been historically stocked with non-native cutthroat trout. If you wish to angle BRCT from any headwater lakes, check with the Northern Region UDWR Office (801-476-2740) for a list of lakes containing native BRCT. The following areas/streams will provide the best opportunities to catch native Bear River cutthroat trout in Utah:
Upper Bear River: This is the headwater portion of the Bear River, including its’ major tributaries: East Fork, West Fork, Stillwater Fork, Hayden Fork, and Mill Creek. The majority of this area lies on the Uinta Wasatch Cache National Forest and is easily accessible.
Rich County:
Cache County:
Weber and Ogden Rivers: Special fishing regulations are present in portions of the Weber River Drainage so check the Fishing Guidebook before planning a trip.
Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) are native to the Snake River Drainage and in Utah their distribution is limited to the northwest corner of the state. Historically, YCT occurred in Goose Creek and the Raft River drainages in Utah, but presently populations only occur in the Raft River drainage. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) is working on establishing more populations of YCT that are accessible to anglers in the Raft River drainage. Any cutthroat trout caught in the Utah portion of the Raft River Drainage will be accepted for the Utah Native Cutthroat Slam, however, these streams will provide the best opportunities to catch this native fish in Utah:
Johnson Creek: Brook trout were chemically removed from this stream in 2013-2014. The genetically pure population of YCT located in the headwaters is beginning to build in numbers and slowly disperse downstream. For the next few years, the concentration of YCT will be in the headwater tributary, the Left Hand Fork, however, YCT will be present throughout the Sawtooth National Forest portion of this stream in the near future.
Onemile Creek/Sawmill Canyon: Yellowstone cutthroat trout are the only species of trout in Onemile Creek and its’ tributary, Sawmill Canyon. Yellowstone cutthroat trout occur in good densities in both of these streams on the Sawtooth National Forest, but angling conditions can be tough as these are small, brushy streams.
Wildcat Creek: Yellowstone cutthroat trout are the only species of trout in Wildcat Creek on the Sawtooth National Forest. The population of YCT has been depressed since a wildfire in the mid 2000s, however YCT that would have been lost in the chemical treatment of Johnson Creek recently were transplanted into Wildcat Creek during 2012-2013. These fish should help this population continue to build post-wildfire. The best bet to catch fish in this stream is in the headwaters, downstream from the two headwater forks. Angling conditions can be tough as Wildcat Creek is a small, brushy stream.
For those unfamiliar with this part of Utah, please contact the Northern Region Office (801-476-2740) and ask for a fisheries biologist that can discuss streams in the Raft River.
Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT) are native to streams that flow into the Green and Colorado rivers. Any cutthroat trout caught while angling streams that are tributaries to the Green or Colorado rivers will be accepted as a CRCT for the Utah Native Cutthroat Slam. Some headwater lakes in the Uinta Mountains have been historically stocked with non-native cutthroat trout. If you wish to angle CRCT from headwater lakes in the Uinta Mountains, check with the Northern Region UDWR Office (801-476-2740) or Northeastern Region UDWR Office (435-781-9453) for a list of lakes containing native CRCT. While many of the streams containing CRCT in Utah are remote and access can be difficult, the following areas/streams will provide the best opportunities to catch native Colorado River cutthroat trout in Utah:
North Slope of the Uinta Mountains:
South Slope of the Uinta Mountains:
North Tavaputs Plateau:
Southeastern Utah: (for more information contact the Southeastern UDWR Office 435-613-3700)
Fremont River:
Escalante River:
Southern Utah Lakes: CRCT are stocked annually in several Boulder Mountain lakes, including Dougherty Basin Lake, Round Willow Bottom Reservoir, Long Willow Bottom Reservoir, Pine Creek Reservoir, Solitaire Lake, Crescent Lake, and Short Lake. Several other lakes on Boulder Mountain and Thousand Lake Mountain have had non-native cutthroat trout stocked historically. For a full list of lakes stocked with CRCT, refer to the Boulder Mountain Sport Fish Management Plan, Boulder Mountain fishing brochure, or call the Southern Region Office at 435-865-6100.
The Utah Cutthroat Slam is a challenge and an adventure. Visit incredible waters to see what trout fishing in Utah was like way back then. Help Trout Unlimited and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources restore and protect Utah’s incredible trout legacy and have fun along the way.