Customer Reviews

Cutthroat: Native Trout of the West, Second Edition, Revised and Updated

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a definate must for anyone interested in Cutthroat trout. Not the cooking and eating of , or the fishing for, but the trout themselves. It is a complete and detailed look at all known or possible subspecies of the Cutthroat trout from the Coastal species to Lahontan cutthroat to lesser known species such as the Paiute cutthroat.

The book is divided into 15 chapters, thirteen of which cover the various subspecies. Information on their native range, morphology, life history, current status, as well as their management (or mismanagement as the case may be) is included in each chapter. The first two chapters include an overview of the species as a whole, evolution, and prehistoric distributions. There is also a forward by Dr. Trout himself, Robert Behnke in which he gives his blessing to the book and adds much credibility to the information within.

One of the finest things about the book is its readability. Trotter is a fisherman turned biologist and the text reflects this by being unassuming yet very informative. I gave the book a 9 only because it suffers from a slight case of outdatedness as it was published in 1987. Much knowledge has been gained on the subject since, but the book is still a very important overview of Cutthroat trout ecology and noone who professes to understand salmonids should be caught without having read it.

I might add that Pat Trotter is currently working in the Seattle area as a salmonid ecology consultant. I have heard him speak and highly recomend him as a benefactor of the often neglected Cutthroat trout.

This is an awesome, in-depth description of the all the recognized and "proposed but as yet unnamed" subspecies of the great Western Trout, (Onchorynchus clarkii), known to so many through out the inter-mountain and coastal Western States. Life histories, maps of past and present ranges, accompanied with Tomelleri's incomparable illustrations all serve to illustrate this species-wide overview with literally VOLUMES of information from all the best sources. Benke... Jordan & Everman... literally ALL the best-known experts on salmonids, and especially the true trouts, are cited and their information compiled in a lengthy, though easy to read work that stands as THE authoritative work on Cutthroat. It will long be a treasured classic in my library.

Trotter's book contains a wealth of information, especially on what is currently going on with particular subspecies of cutthroat. It is organized well and the footnotes are meticulous and well done. A must read for anyone into salmonid taxonomy.

This is an in-depth and geographically wide-ranging study of cutthroat trout in the Western USA. I'm still reading/studying the book. Some info relates to my Montana background, a lot does not. But it sure is interesting! Great cover painting; I'm not bragging but I caught them this size way back when!

The book I received was not in the condition advertised. The seller was very good about taking the book back and providing a refund.