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The sun was out today after some stormy days. I decided on a morning fishing trip. I wanted to fish this lake before it closes at the end of the week. No trout bites until about 10 am. I did get a couple of sunfish on the bottom. Too foggy early and not enough movement on the water. I did see trout jumping like crazy before 10 am but all out of my reach. I knew they would come in close at some point. They started hitting my weighted bobber and worm but they kept stripping it. Switched up to a smaller hook on one. I put out another poll with bobber to make use of my two poll endorsement. I had about a foot and half of lead. Not sure how far I was out but not too far. I got my first hit saw him jump and knew he was hooked. Pulled in a skinny trout that looked a bit like a cutthroat but might be a cutbow. Swallowed that hook good. Just as I got him in I had another fish on my other line the second one was also long and skinny both about 13 inch. They both had splotches of yellow and red tipped fins on bottom as well as red slits. Not long after I pulled in another fatter looking trout about 9 inches. Not a rainbow maybe another cutbow or cutthroat. Then the forth fish hit. It was much larger but came off as I brought em up. I was near leaving it was about 11 and some preschool kids where having a field trip. I saw some feeding. By this time the wind had picked up well. adding just a touch of movement to the water. I recast and while I was showing the kiddos the fish. I got another one on. This one jumped and then dove like mad. Gave me a good play. It was fatter than the others, cutthroat maybe. It was also about 13 inches. Having caught my limit I decided to head home.
I honestly cannot tell the difference with these. Cottage lake does have a native population of coast cutthroats but just hard to tell. Anyone have any idea how to tell what they are? This whole month of October has been pretty amazing for trout. On nice days I have caught my limit almost every time or I have seen other people catching. I have even pulled in some nice rainbows but more of these hybrids or cutthroats than anything else.

Steelhead6438

10/28/2014 10:09:00 AM

Hi Heatherly fish,
Those are West slope Cutthroat trout. They're not a hybrid, just a type of cutthroat trout. Sounds like you had a great time. Have fun and catch more fish. :)

colel311

10/28/2014 10:22:00 AM

If you did catch cutthroat, they are coastal. Westslopes are not native this close to the sound

Heatherlyfish

10/28/2014 11:15:00 AM

I thought as much. I should submit more reports for this lakes for other dates I went and show you the other fish I caught. there is a ton of variation and none look like true rainbows. I think I have only caught two rainbows from cottage lake. The only things I know about these fish is they hit hard, swallow the bait almost every time and are mostly female. With the coastal cuts do they have sea run markings even if they are a resident fish? or do they have to be sea run that are somehow in this lake. Since they do stock rainbows there have to be some cutbows. But it would be very hard to figure that out. Either way this lake is way fun and better fishing than most at the right time of year.

Stansjoy

10/28/2014 11:18:00 AM

Hello Heartherlyfish... Beautiful fish... congrats for hanging in there and landing your fish! Definitely native Cutthrout, Coastal. Two identifying marks of the Cutthroat, apart from the orange slash at the throat (may not be visible at all times), are 1) the jaw line extends beyond eye... in Rainbows and Cuttbows it stops before or at the eye, and 2) all Cutthroat species have teeth at the end of the tongue.

oxmary

10/28/2014 12:36:00 PM

Hello Heatherlyfish! I met you yesterday at Cottage lake. After you left i caught another couple cutthroats. I have been also been cathching other species there lately. I caught a large catfish (probably 2 lbs), small perch and probably the largest Sunfish I ever caught. All released to live another day. It was a pleasure talking to you.

Heatherlyfish

10/28/2014 8:15:00 PM

That is awesome oxmary always nice to get a couple more. Honestly Cottage lake is a pretty great lake for many fish. Although I have yet to see the crappie that are supposed to be in there. A 2lb cat is not bad at all.

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