{"id":24758,"date":"2021-05-31T10:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T17:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=24758"},"modified":"2021-06-01T16:56:15","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T23:56:15","slug":"fun-fish-facts-from-the-nrs-fishing-team-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2021\/05\/31\/fun-fish-facts-from-the-nrs-fishing-team-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun Fish Facts from the NRS Fishing Team | Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fun Fish Friday, where NRS Fishing Team Anglers share five fun facts\/tactics about their favorite fish species. We compiled the first five posts into one place in case you missed them. Follow NRS Fishing on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> for more!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Chris McAdams<\/a> | Westslope Cutthroat
\n<\/strong>One of many fond memories of fishing for the westslope cutthroat took place in interior British Columbia. It was over twenty years ago, before we could afford a drift boat or raft. We were walking along a cold, clean, intact western trout stream. I noticed the emergence of a few green drake mayflies and a few cutthroat trout feeding on the surface. I tied on an attractor pattern, the royal wolf was a crude tie of mine.<\/p>\n

These cutthroats were throwing caution to the wind, as they would\u00a0devour our flies upon landing on the surface. The hatch eventually diminished, and nothing but “Spinners” were on the water (The dead mayflies). Trout continued to feed on those until late evening. We would continue to return to that exact location for many years, hoping for a similar experience.<\/p>\n

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1. Although commonly associated with the state of Montana, the historic range of Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi)<\/em> is the most widespread geographically among the 14 subspecies of inland cutthroat trout.<\/p>\n

2. It\u2019s very important to handle these native trout with care. Always practice catch and release. If the water temperature is above 60 degrees refrain from taking them out of the water and use a barbless hook to help ensure an unharmed release.<\/p>\n

3. The introduction and spread of non-native trout such as brook, rainbow, brown, and lake trout is considered by many fisheries scientists to be the major threat to this precious native trout. However, mine waste, climate change, logging, and, in my opinion, fishing pressure in certain drainages, threatens the Westslope Cutthroat as well.<\/p>\n

4. Cutthroat trout are known for not being all that picky when feeding on a prolific hatch. And something about the green drake mayfly makes these native trout lose any sense of caution. However, they are known to grow more \u2018educated\u2019 after repeatedly getting caught, which requires anglers to adapt to their new feeding patterns.<\/p>\n

5. If you find yourself in need of adaptation, try longer leaders, more precise fly patterns, and a stealthier approach.<\/p>\n