10-30-2013, 11:21 PM
Leaky have you asked your DWR what they define as "cutthroat markings". That is the standard you should go by.
I am not sure that all cutthroats' and hybrids markings are the same for the different species of cutthroats. So I will just list some that are for the cutts up here and hope it is the same.
If they are defining it as the red throat slash, make sure you put anything back that has one. That is the most distinguishing "cutthroat mark" most people associate with. Scientifically it isn't very accurate though. Many pure blood rainbows have throat slashes and many pure cutthroats don't ... go figure! But if that rainbow has red slashes I would release it.
Besides the throat slashes next look at fin color. Orange fins are usually cutts. White fin tips or grey fins ...it is usually a rainbow or a cuttbow. If the cutbow, has red throat slashes and your regulations say "cutthroat markings, I would release it even if all of the other signs say hybrid or even rainbow!
Another indication is the number of spots on the head. More than 5 spots on the top of the head usually indicates a bow or a hybrid..(.Yellowstone trout anyway) Again if it has most of the other cutthroat markings .... release it, even if you think it is a hybrid.
Cutthroats have teeth on their
and at the base of their , on the roof of their mouth, as well as on their jaws. Much more "toothy" than a pure rainbow. I am very reluctant to get my fingers in a large cutt's mouth. I have had my fingers shredded by them before!
Pure blood rainbows don't have the teeth on the. Hybrids frequently do.
Again I suggest that you request from DWR what their criteria for identification is!
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I am not sure that all cutthroats' and hybrids markings are the same for the different species of cutthroats. So I will just list some that are for the cutts up here and hope it is the same.
If they are defining it as the red throat slash, make sure you put anything back that has one. That is the most distinguishing "cutthroat mark" most people associate with. Scientifically it isn't very accurate though. Many pure blood rainbows have throat slashes and many pure cutthroats don't ... go figure! But if that rainbow has red slashes I would release it.
Besides the throat slashes next look at fin color. Orange fins are usually cutts. White fin tips or grey fins ...it is usually a rainbow or a cuttbow. If the cutbow, has red throat slashes and your regulations say "cutthroat markings, I would release it even if all of the other signs say hybrid or even rainbow!
Another indication is the number of spots on the head. More than 5 spots on the top of the head usually indicates a bow or a hybrid..(.Yellowstone trout anyway) Again if it has most of the other cutthroat markings .... release it, even if you think it is a hybrid.
Cutthroats have teeth on their
and at the base of their , on the roof of their mouth, as well as on their jaws. Much more "toothy" than a pure rainbow. I am very reluctant to get my fingers in a large cutt's mouth. I have had my fingers shredded by them before!Pure blood rainbows don't have the teeth on the
. Hybrids frequently do. Again I suggest that you request from DWR what their criteria for identification is!
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