Catchability of Three Strains of Cutthroat Trout

In 1983 and 1984 two ponds near Three Forks, Montana, were stocked at equal rates with catchable-size cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki of three strains-Snake River O. clarki subsp., Colorado River O. c. pleuriticus, and the McBride Lake strain of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout O. c. bouvieri. The mean percent harvest for the different strains during a creel census conducted during both stocking years differed significantly: Snake River, 51.9%; McBride Lake, 28.3%; and Colorado River, 11.2%. Thus, the Snake River strain was the most susceptible to angling, and the Colorado River strain the least susceptible. Catch rates among these strains was significantly different and ranged from 0.07 fish/h for the Colorado River cutthroat to 0.3 fish/h for the Snake River cutthroat trout, with the McBride Lake fish being intermediate. Susceptibility to angling appeared directly related to the degree of domestication among the strains.