Utah Cutthroat Slam sees record number of yearly completions

Cutthroat Trout caught as part of the Utah Cutthroat Slam. Photo: Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Since 2016 nearly 4,900 registered anglers have completed the Utah Cutthroat Slam, raising more than $91,000 for native cutthroat trout conservation work and outreach

UTAH — Following a record number of completions in 2023, the Utah Cutthroat Slam is releasing a new medallion for anglers who tackle the challenge.

The Utah Cutthroat Slam was launched in 2016 by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Trout Unlimited  to encourage anglers to catch Utah’s four native subspecies of cutthroat trout in their native ranges. The slam also raises money for cutthroat trout conservation.

The first in a series of four medallions that will be released to highlight each of Utah’s native cutthroat trout species, a medallion by artist Tim Johnson highlighting the Colorado River cutthroat trout drove new interest in the Utah Cutthroat Slam this year. More than 240 people completed the slam in 2023, more than any other year since the challenge’s inception.

“This has been a banner year for the Utah Cutthroat Slam with the release of another new medallion and a record 245 completions this year,” said Trina Hedrick, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources sportfish coordinator. “To date, there have been more than 1,302 completions of the slam, and we are grateful to the many anglers who participate and help fund cutthroat trout restoration and outreach in Utah. We also appreciate our partners Utah Trout Unlimited, and others involved in these efforts.”

The second medallion in the series, also designed by Johnson, will highlight the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and will be awarded until 1,500 slams are completed. 50 anglers have already completed the challenge to earn the new medallion.

“When we started the slam with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, we knew people would be interested in the program, but the response has been amazing and beyond our wildest expectations,” said Brett Prettyman, Utah Cutthroat Slam program director for Utah Trout Unlimited. “It is very rewarding to know we are getting people out on the water to fish for native subspecies while generating money to support cutthroat trout restoration work around the state. It’s a win-win situation for anglers and the fish.”