Try for the Cutt-Slam this summer
by Wyoming Game & Fish
June 6, 2011
Wyoming’s Cutt-Slam program continues to be a very popular program with 117 anglers receiving Cutt-Slam certificates in 2010. A total of 826 anglers have qualified for the Cutt-Slam since the program was started 15 years ago.
Anglers who complete the Cutt-Slam are recognized for catching Wyoming’s four subspecies of cutthroat in their native range in Wyoming. The four subspecies are the Yellowstone, Snake River, Bonneville, and Colorado River cutthroat trout. Successful anglers receive a certificate listing the name of the angler, color artwork of the four subspecies, and notation on the date and location of each catch. The Cutt-Slam program has been featured in fly fishing magazines and on several television programs.
The program continues to grow in popularity and in recent years more than 100 anglers have completed certification each year. Typically, most entries are received in late summer and fall following the spring runoff as anglers take advantage of improved fishing conditions. The Cutt-Slam was the idea of the late Pinedale area fisheries supervisor Ron Remmick who wanted to draw attention to the management efforts being done on behalf of the cutthroat. He looked at Wyoming’s four cutthroat subspecies and the Cutt-Slam was born.
One of the key components of the Cutt-Slam is that each of the fish must be caught in their native range in Wyoming. Over the years, several of the cutthroat subspecies have been stocked in waters outside of their native drainages. Cutthroat caught in these waters do not qualify for the Cutt-Slam’s native range requirement. A map showing the native range of the different drainages where the four subspecies can be found is on the Game and Fish website http://gf.state.wy.us.
Click on Fish and Fishing then scroll down to the Cutt-Slam program. In addition to the map, the different drainages where these fish are found are listed along with phone numbers of the regional Game and Fish offices responsible for fisheries management in each drainage. Anglers can also view the Cutt-Slam certificate and obtain applications on the Game and Fish website.
The Cutt-Slam has enjoyed nationwide popularity. Anglers completing the slam come from most states and several foreign countries. To qualify, an angler needs to provide a photograph of each fish and information on the date of catch and water where it was caught. There is no minimum size requirement. Releasing of fish is encouraged and may be required depending on the regulations for different waters.
With the extremely high snowpack this year, it is likely many cutthroat waters will not be in good fishing condition until mid summer. However, the good snowpack should provide ample water for good fishing throughout the fall months.
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