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Colorado Fish Species

Arctic Char
Arctic Grayling
Bigmouth Buffalo
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Blue Catfish
Bluegill
Bluehead sucker
Bonytail Chub
Brook Trout
Brown Trout
Channel Catfish
Colorado Pikeminnow
Colorado River Cutthroat
Common Carp
Creek Chub
Cutbow Trout
Cutthroat Trout
Emerald Shiner
Flannelmouth Sucker
Flathead Catfish
Flathead Chub
Freshwater Drum
Gizzard Shad
Golden Shiner
Golden Trout
Goldfish
Grass Carp
Green Sunfish
Greenback Cutthroat
Hybrid Striped Bass(wiper/palmetto)
Kokanee
Lake Chub
Lake Trout
Largemouth Bass
Longnose Sucker
Mountain Whitefish
Northern Pike
Orangespotted Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Rainbow Trout
Redear Sunfish
River Carpsucker
Roundtail Chub
Rudd
Sacramento Perch
Sauger
Saugeye
Smallmouth Bass
Snake River Cutthroat
Splake
Spottail Shiner
Spotted Bass
Striped Bass
Sunfish (Bream)
Tiger Muskie
Tiger Trout
Walleye
White Bass
White Crappie
White Sucker
Yellow Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Yellowstone Cutthroat

Colorado River Cutthroat
Historically, Colorado River Cutthroat Trout were found throughout portions of the Colorado River drainage in Colorado, southern Wyoming, eastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico. Due to completion with other species and habitat degradation it is estimated that this cutthroat occupies less than 5% of its historical range, primarily in high mountain streams. Currently, approximately 100 pure-strain populations exist, mostly in small, isolated streams.  Like most trout species, Colorado River cutthroat require clear, cold water of streams, rivers, and small to medium sized lakes. 
 
Cutthroat trout are named for the reddish/orangish slash under its jaw. Giving the appearance that fish’s throat was cut.  Colorado River cutthroats are among the most colored of the cutthroats.  While their color varies from location, they generally have greenish hued backs transitioning to golden-yellowish side, sometimes with orange hues.  Some fish may sport bright reddish colored bellies, especially males during spawn.  They all have large spot uniformly distributed over the body and tail.  Unlike rainbow trout it lacks white tips on the fins. As most Colorado River cutthroat trout are found in small, headwater streams, typically they are under 10 inches, but in lakes and rivers they can reach 20 inches or so.
 
Sexually mature at two to three years of age, cutthroats spawn in the spring. A red is built in a gravelly area, where the female lays her eggs.  The male simultaneously deposits his milt over the eggs. The fertilized eggs are then covered with gravel. Fry emerge in late July through early September, about six weeks after spawn.
 
In lakes cutthroat feed on plankton and aquatic insects.  In streams a variety of aquatic and terrestrial insects make up the bulk of their diet.  Larger fish, over 12 inches will feed on small fish and crayfish.

Colorado River Cutthroat in Colorado

Courtesy of NDIS Colorado Division of Wildlife

Found in the Colorado River drainage, the Colorado River cutthroat is the ancestor of the other two native Colorado varieties. Current distribution is limited to a few, small headwater streams and lakes in northwest Colorado. Like all native cutthroat, the Colorado River variety spawns from April to June in running water. Fertilized eggs are buried in a gravel nest by females and hatch in the summer. The cutthroat, like all trout, feeds on terrestrial insects and aquatic invertebrates, but includes small fish, frogs, and mice in its diet after reaching maturity.

Status: State Special Concern
Most Recent Colorado River Cutthroat Forum Posts
Big beautiful Cuttys 10.22.22 by Team CO.F.F.
Colorado River Cutthroat 09.28.21 by The Fishing Junky
Vertical Jigging was the ANSWER!! 08.26.21 by Team CO.F.F.
Broke my PB2x in one Day on the Fly 10.06.20 by Team CO.F.F.
VERY ACTIVE CRC Bite! 09.20.20 by Team CO.F.F.
Great Day at Trappers 08.31.20 by Team CO.F.F.
Underwater Cutthroat Action! 06.24.20 by Team CO.F.F.
Big Trout during HIGH Runoff. (MA) 05.29.20 by Team CO.F.F.
Deep Mountain Adventure for Cuttys 02.16.20 by Team CO.F.F.
Colorado River Cutthroat Articles, Blogs, & Podcasts
Blog: Heaven On Earth (Pt. 2) 09.03.15 by Rob Stout
Blog: Heaven On Earth (Pt. 1) 09.02.15 by Rob Stout
Blog: Fifteen, But Who’s Counting? – Oh, I Am! 10.17.14 by David Coulson
Blog: Skip the Dunkin Donuts 08.05.14 by Alan Peak
Blog: Rocky Mountain National Park Waters Added 05.17.14 by Tom McInerney
Blog: Boomerang Tool Co. Grip 11.07.12 by Joshua Christensen
Blog: 4 Apps Every Angler With A Smartphone Should Use 02.09.12 by Joshua Christensen
Recent Colorado Colorado River Cutthroat Photos by Fish Explorer Members
by Banzai Jimmy - by Banzai Jimmy - by xavierk31 - by Banzai Jimmy - by thmclaugh - by thmclaugh - Colorado River Cutthroat by John John - Fish from The Loch by Banzai Jimmy - by Banzai Jimmy - Spring time colors during ice off by rodmans - by Duke trout 32 - by fargingicehole - by fargingicehole - by fargingicehole - by fargingicehole - by Miley - Caught 12 total fish raindows, browns and cutthroats. one 5 pounder and this Nice 18 inch cutthroat Gotta love the DreamStream
Operation Game Thief
Call to report illegal fishing/hunting:
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