A native cutthroat subspecies (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) of cold, clear waters in the upper Columbia, Fraser and Saskatchewan drainages of British Columbia and Alberta. Free-rising and drawn to sparkle, so it comes up to royal-coloured dries — though a blanket hatch makes it as selective as any trout. Threatened in its Alberta range and a species of concern in BC, pressured by hybridization with introduced rainbows. The East Kootenays are its stronghold and the most fun fly target around Creston.
Key points
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Range: native to the upper Columbia, Fraser and Saskatchewan watersheds of BC and Alberta (source). In the Kootenays, the East Kootenays are primarily cutthroat fisheries (West Kootenays skew rainbow) creston flyfishing web research 2026 06.
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Status: Threatened in its native Alberta range and a species of concern in BC; hybridization with introduced rainbows (see cutbow) is the main threat (source).
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Behaviour: free-rising; a bit of sparkle/shine brings them to the surface creston flyfishing web research 2026 06.
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Selectivity: during blanket hatches they focus on specific patterns — match the hatch creston flyfishing web research 2026 06.
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Where:goat river, feeder creeks (Sanca, Kidd, Summit, Meadow), alpine lakes like wooden shoe lake and Boundary. Within a day's drive, Fernie's Elk River is world-renowned for big topwater "cutties" gofishbc articles 2026 06.
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Neighbours: shares East Kootenay water with rainbow, bull trout, brook char, kokanee, Rocky Mountain whitefish and bass gofishbc articles 2026 06.