Cutbow fishing
Oncorhynchus clarkii x Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fertile hybrid between rainbow trout and cutthroat trout, unlike the sterile tiger trout or splake.
Cutbow fishing uses a small inline spinner or a nightcrawler with an ultralight 5 to 6 foot spinning combo. Cutbow occur both as a natural hybrid where rainbow and cutthroat trout ranges overlap and as a sport fish some states stock directly.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
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- Line
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- Stocked in
- 4 states
- Peak in ID
- September
Identification
- Fertile hybrid between rainbow trout and cutthroat trout, unlike the sterile tiger trout or splake.
- Often shows a faint reddish-orange slash under the jaw like cutthroat trout, usually less vivid than on a pure cutthroat.
- White leading edges on the anal or dorsal fins can be a clue to hybrid origin in some populations.
- Identification from parent species by eye alone is notoriously unreliable; genetic testing is the only certain method.
Sources: cpw.state.co.us, accessed September 19, 2026 , nas.er.usgs.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Top baits
Threaded on a bait hook and fished under a bobber or on bottom, the standard trout bait rig.
Molded onto a treble hook and floated off bottom, the same rig used for stocked rainbow trout.
Line & tackle
- Rod power
- Ultralight 5 to 6 foot spinning combo, Idaho's standard trout outfit; a medium power rod for fish over 20 inches or for trolling
Stocked behavior
Cutbow occur both as a natural hybrid where rainbow and cutthroat trout ranges overlap and as a sport fish some states stock directly. In other waters, cutbow arise on their own after decades of rainbow trout stocking into cutthroat water, and wild populations are a conservation concern where they displace native cutthroat through hybridization.
Common mistakes
- Calling any faintly jaw-slashed trout a pure cutthroat; cutbow generally have the reddish or orange slash under the jaw too, but usually fainter.
- Missing the fin clue; in some populations a white leading edge on the anal or dorsal fin points to rainbow hybridization.
- Increased hybridization has imperiled or extirpated many populations of cutthroat trout.
Best time to fish Cutbow
Most commonly stocked in September in Idaho, based on 146 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in October in Nevada, based on 15 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in September and December in Utah, based on 15 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 20.30 lbs | Zach Cooper | Spinney Mountain Reservoir | 2025 |
| Idaho | 34.74 lbs | Mark Adams | American Falls Reservoir | 2011 |
Common questions
What lures work for Cutbow?
Small inline spinner, a spinner in gold, silver, and brown. Small spoon, a spoon in gold and copper. Nymph or small streamer fly, a fly in brown, olive, and black.
What bait works for Cutbow?
Nightcrawler: Threaded on a bait hook and fished under a bobber or on bottom, the standard trout bait rig. PowerBait dough bait: Molded onto a treble hook and floated off bottom, the same rig used for stocked rainbow trout.
How big do Cutbow get?
The Colorado record is 20.30 lbs from Spinney Mountain Reservoir in 2025. The Idaho record is 34.74 lbs from American Falls Reservoir in 2011.