The colours of the Cuthtroat Trout is not consistent as there are over 13 subspecies so coloration varies from one species to another. Their colour ranges from golden, gray and green on its back. Some sub species have red, pink, or orange lines along the bottom of the mandible in the lower folds of the gill plates.

Cutthroat Color Range

A short, conical head with a somewhat pointed to rounded snout and a rather large mouth with well developed teeth on both jaws characterize the fish.

Inland versus Coastal

The inland species of Cutthroat Trout differ from those that have access to the ocean. Inland Cutthroat Trout have spots that differ in size and location on their body from subspecies to subspecies. Coastal and inland Cutthroat Trout have red, pink, or orange marks on the underside of their lower jaw.

The coastal cutthroat trout is colored dark to olive-green with numerous black spots and may appear more blue with silvery sides. The interior cutthroat trout (Yellowstone/Westslope cutthroat) has a body of yellow-green with red on the sides of the head and front of the body and the belly.

Breeding Characteristics

In breeding males, the kype is slightly developed in the anadromous population and the lower jaw appears extremely long. One of the main color characteristics is two yellow or orange to red lines in the skin folds of each side of the lower jaw, which creates a distinctive look only available in the Cutthroat Trout sub species.

All Tackle Record

The average length of cutthroat trout is 12-15 inches and generally one-half to 17 pounds. Their size across all sub species range from 6 to 40 inches/ 15 to 102 cm.

The Cutthroat Trout can reach 40 pounds, which is a large fish by any measure, but considered very large for a fresh water fish with very few capable to reaching this large size.