Chasing Cutties at McLeod Lake

McLeod Lake is a catch-and-release-only fishery, home to Lahontan cutthroat trout and one of the few places in the Mammoth Lakes Basin where anglers can target a native species in a protected environment. Its short hike from Horseshoe Lake makes it easily accessible, while still offering a backcountry feel.

McLeod is sometimes called “McCloud,” but instead of being named after the popular local astrologer Clouds McCloud, it’s actually named after former district ranger Malcolm McLeod.

McLeod is just a short hike from the Horseshoe Lake parking lot, so its sandy shores and its protected Lahontan cutthroat trout see plenty of action. That’s what makes catching a cuttie at McLeod one of the more rewarding experiences for anglers fishing in Mammoth Lakes. Well, that, and the beautiful orange/red strip under the jaw, and the fact that you’re hooking into a living part of California’s history.

Lahontan cutthroat trout were once found throughout the Sierra, eastern Oregon, and the western Great Basin, and were considered a truly native fish for the region. But habitat loss, commercial harvesting, water diversions, and the spread of non-native fish have resulted in near extinctions. Lahontan cutthroat trout are federally listed as a threatened species. According to CalTrout, the species can now only be found in 11% of its native waters.

But hope is on the way.

Lisa Heki is the project manager at the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery in Gardnerville, Nevada. For two decades now, she and her team have been trying to bring back a species that has long been the stuff of legend, the largest inland trout in the world.

“It was an internationally known game fish,” Lisa said, “They’re a really exciting fish to fish for. They’re very powerful. One fisherman said it was like getting hold of a torpedo.”

Despite being pushed to the brink of extinction and even reaching endangered status in 1970, Lahontan cutthroat trout have proven to be pretty resilient.

“They have evolved and have been able to survive in some pretty tough conditions. If we can just give them half a chance, they do extremely well,” said Lisa, a self-proclaimed “Nevada girl” with a degree in aquatic biology from UNLV.

Lahontan cutties can handle higher water temperatures and alkalinity than other trout species, but they don’t like to compete with non-native salmonoids. They also need a lot of room to roam around. That’s why the species has begun to thrive at large fisheries like Nevada’s Pyramid Lake. But their toughness is why they’ve continued to make it in little McLeod Lake.

“It’s exciting to see the successful reintroduction of this trout into its native lands,” Lisa said. “The uniqueness and life history trait is just remarkable to bring back, especially from a recreational standpoint.”

Lisa said that in places where habitats have been improved and strains have been successfully reintroduced, like the Lake Tahoe Basin and Humboldt drainage, the positive changes have gone beyond the water. “This isn’t just about the trout; bringing back a healthy aquatic environment really helps the entire community, from more people fishing to healthier water supplies,” she said.

While Lahontan cutties still have a long way to go before they’ll get off the threatened list, there is reason to be hopeful, especially if more anglers take up their cause. “It helps if all of us work together,” Lisa said. “It’s taken 20 years to get to this point, and it’s really satisfying to show that it can work; that you can reach a goal that once seemed impossible.”

Which is exactly the type of determination it sometimes takes to land a torpedo of a trout at a catch-and-release fishery like McLeod Lake.