Photo - Summit Lake stock, 1994. Coloration is variable but generally heavily marked with large rounded black spots, more or less evenly distributed over the sides, head and abdomen.
Lahontan cutthroat are obligate but opportunistic stream spawners.
Autumn spawning runs have been reported from some populations. Lake residents migrate into streams to spawn, typically on well washed gravels in riffles. Behavior is typical of stream spawning trout. Adults court, pair, deposit and fertilize eggs in a redd dug by the female. The redd may then be defended for some period.