for westslope cutthroat in Montana come mostly from fish from the South Fork Flathead River 

 Drainage. 



Cutthroat trout spawn in May and June in streams and rivers. The cutthroat is a very catchable 

 fish dq)aiding on the time of the year. During the heat of summer, cutthroat will move to cooler, 

 deeper water where they are not as easy to catch. Westslope cutthroat feed mostly on aquatic 

 insects. This trout averages a life span of five years and grows to lengths of 12 to 20 inches. 



Mountain Whitefish 



Mountain whitefish are a member of the trout and salmon femily and classified as gamefish. They 

 spawn in streams in late fall. They broadcast their eggs over fine gravels in riffles. They feed 

 primarily on insects and zooplankton. 



Although whitefish fight well, they arc not highly esteemed by most anglers. Their bony nature 

 diminishes their value as table fare although smoked whitefish are highly regarded. Small 

 whitefish provide good prey for large trout and other predators. 



Arrtir Grayling 



The arctic grayling is native to Montana waters. Male grayling are distinguished by their large 

 sail-like dorsal and beautiful colors. The range of this fish has been greatly reduced due to 

 introductions of non-native species and habitat degradation. 



The arctic grayling spawns from late March through early June, depending on water temperatures. 

 Grayling spawn over gravel substrate in smaller streams where they broadcast their eggs. The 

 grayling on average live less than six years but some may live as long as ten years. In Montana 

 the grayling can obtain sizes of 12-18 inches, but are most commonly much smaller. The largest 

 grayling caught in Montana weighed over three pounds. Arctic grayling feed primarily on aquatic 

 insects, and crustaceans, but feed very rarely on fish. Grayling are readily catchable on flies, bait, 

 and small spinners. 



Siickfixs 



Both coarsescale and finescale suckers occur in TCL. Finescale suckers have small, salmon-sized 

 scales and a more pointed nose. Suckers spawn in the spring and broadcast their eggs along 

 lakeshores or over sand and gravel in streams. Spawning males develop a dark red stripe along 

 their sides. 



Suckers are intensely disliked by anglers because they compete with gamefish for food, and eat 

 gamefish ^gs and angla''s bait. Suckra^ are important to the ecosystem as nature's recyclers but 

 their high fecundity (egg count) makes it easy for them to overwhelm a lake. Suckers are eaten 

 by other fish but most gamefish do not prefer them as prey. 



