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Cutthroat Trout and Dolly Varden

Coastal Cutthroat Trout
(Oncorhynchus clarki clarki)

Cutthroat trout are found throughout southeast Alaska as sea-run (anadromous) or resident (freshwater) fish. Cutthroat are distinguished by a red to orange mark on the underside of the jaw and are densely covered with small to medium, irregularly shaped black spots. The lower fins are yellow to red-orange. Sea-run cutthroat are quite silvery with a brassy or yellow hue. Resident cutthroat are typically darker, a silver/green color with a yellow or brassy wash. During its spawning period the fish takes on a rose color along its side.

Cutthroat trout are highly prized sport fish. Though they are generally considered inferior to the rainbow because they do not jump as much, they are hard fighters. They will take a wide variety of artificial lures - small spinners, spoons, wet and dry flies. The flesh is orange-red and quite tasty. However, because populations of cutthroat are generally small and slow growing they may not stand up well to fishing in some locales.

Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma)

Dolly Varden are closely related to the arctic char. Like cutthroat trout Dolly Varden are found throughout southeast Alaska and exhibit both sea-run and lake resident life cycles. Their bodies are elongate and rounded. Their most distinguishing characteristic is pink or red spots on the side. Pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins typically have white or creamy leading edges followed by a black or red line. Body color is extremely variable. Spawning males turn bright orange to red on the lower sides. Sea-run Dollys tend to be darker on top with silvery sides and resident fish are often dusky to brown.

Dolly Varden are not highly prized sport fish, though they will bite artificial lures. They seem more attracted to shiny spoons and spinners, and flies. The Dollys I've caught have fought well, but not spectacular and they don't jump. The angling record for Dolly Varden is 32 lbs. taken from Lake Pend in Oreille, Idaho. However, in southeast Alaska these fish rarely exceed 7 lbs.

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Last Modified: November 29, 2007