2) Cutthroat tend to be oriented more toward pool habitat than toward riffle habitat.
3) Cutthroat are intermediate between steelhead trout and coho salmon in their preference for fast water velocities. Steelhead prefer higher velocities than coho salmon.
4) In streams without cover, juvenile cutthroat tend to be dominated (out competed) by steelhead trout and coho salmon of similar or larger size. Larger cutthroat, however, are piscivorous (fish eaters) and may benefit from the presence of salmonid fry of other species.
5) Optimum rearing temperature for juveniles is about 15 C (~60 F) and the ability to swim is lost at about 28 C (~82 F).
6) Juvenile cutthroat have been known to remain in a single pool for several years and to make significant migrations within a basin.
2) Abundance of fry has been correlated with abundance of suitable spawning gravel and edge complexity.
3) Cutthroat trout larger than 9 cm (~4 inches) total length showed a preference for water depths >25 cm (~10 inches) and where instream and overhead cover exceed 40% of the local surface area. They also tend to favor areas with average water velocities <20 cm/s.
4) Little change in habitat requirements between seasons. Maybe a slight preference for pools with surface areas less than 20 square meters during winter.
5) Cutthroat trout frequently attain a large size in beaver ponds.
2) Shallow rapids and riffles with gravel and/or cobble substrate.
3) Stream margins with low complexity.