Coastal cutthroat trout (O. clarkii clarkii, CCT) are arguably the most poorly
understood species of salmonid and little is known of their seasonal patterns of movement,
particularly in British Columbia. My study was conducted to assess the overwintering and
spawning behaviours of migratory CCT in the Kitimat River watershed and to evaluate how
behaviours were influenced by a suite of biotic and abiotic metrics. Radio transmitters were
surgically implanted into mature CCT in the late summer and fall of 2012 (Year 1; n = 41)
and 2013 (Year 2; n = 68). In the late fall, CCT aggregated within deep, slow moving pools.
During the winter, CCT either remained stationary within a single overwintering habitat, or
were mobile, moving among 2 to 5 habitats. Spawning occurred in first to third order
tributaries throughout the watershed, from April 14 to May 15. Spawning mortality was
high, and 57% of radio tagged CCT did not survive spawning. ...
