Tiger Trout, a hybrid between Brown Trout and Brook Trout are becoming more and more popular across Utah. They are a beautiful sport fish displaying a dark maze-like pattern over most of it's body. They have yellow-orange underbellies and squarish tails. Fisheries management favor this species because it is disease resistant and sterile making it easy to control populations. The Tiger Trout is a veracious feeder, focusing on small fish this species can consume large amounts of food even from a young age. They were planted in several fisheries such as Scofield Reservoir and Joe's Valley Reservoir in the hope that they would subdue the overpopulating chub.
Tiger Trout do not naturally occur in Utah as there are few waters the provide productive habitat for both Brown Trout and Brook Trout. Reproduction in hatcheries is difficult as it takes many fertilized eggs in order develop only few releasable sized fish. This species diet consist of both fish and invertebrates and are commonly drawn into the shallows to hunt. Tiger Trout grow extremely fast, the state record being 19 lbs 2 oz and over 37 inches long. Tiger Trout are commonly found in the following waters across Utah: Scofield Reservoir, Huntington Reservoir, Birch Creek Reservoir, Joe's Valley Reservoir, Electric Lake, Causey Reservoir, Duck Fork Reservoir, Otter Creek Reservoir and Palisade Reservoir.
How to Fish
Tiger Trout have similar habits to Cutthroat and fishing tactics are not much different. Just like Cutthroat,Tiger Trout can be found deeper in the water column but also move up into the shallows to hunt. Minnows and night crawlers are effective bates as well as most minnow imitating lures. Early mornings and late evenings are good time to target shallow feeding flats. Trolling techniques are also effective using Rapala like lures, spoons and flatfish. Flasher-worm combinations are also effective.
Ice fishing is another productive method for caching Tiger Trout. Use jigging spoons, ice flies or jig heads tipped with a mill worm or night crawler.
Fishing Regulations
State wide the trout limit is 4, check the regs for special requirements on specific bodies of water.
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