SPAWNING ECOLOGY OF CUTTHROAT TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS-CLARKI) IN THE RAM RIVER, ALBERTA

Spawning movements of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) were evaluated using radiotelemetry in a montane river and a headwater tributary. The movements of 23 fish were monitored in spring 1991 and 1992. Fish moved upstream and downstream to spawning areas. These movements fell into two distinct patterns: in one, fish emigrated to tributaries and in the other they traveled to main-stem or side-channel spawning grounds. The pre- and post-spawning movements made by fish that spawned in tributaries were longer than those made by fish that spawned in the main-stem or side-channel areas. While spawning, the fish stayed within 400-m sections of a stream but frequently moved within this area. After spawning, trout moved upstream or downstream to summer rearing habitats where they stayed until observations were ended.