The Bonneville cutthroat's secondary forage is insects, especially in high mountain lakes or streams where other fish may be scarce, which makes the Bonneville cutthroat a complimentary catch for dry-fly anglers who are primarily targeting brown trout and brook trout in Utah's streams, creeks, and mountain rivers.

Lake and reservoir Bonnevilles will display subdued colors of silver-gray to charcoal, with the upper body having sometimes subtle hues of pink on the sides, blending to deep green along the spine.

These fish, particularly the Bear Lake strain, sometimes lack the bright crimson jaw slash that, at times, may be yellow, pink, or orange.

As one of the features of native trout of the Mountain West, Bonneville cutthroats suffered intense fishing pressure for commerce and sustenance from the 1850s through the 1920s.

Bonneville cutthroats spawn near the mouths of streams, over gravel substrate in the springtime; having an incubation period of 24 to 25 days.