Montana Fish Report

Summer steelhead are starting to show up on the Wilson River, and the run will continue to improve over the next month or more. Low clear water can make fishing for summer steelhead challenging, but there can be some good action. Drift fishing, spinners, and flies are good choices. Light line, small presentations, and fishing the riffles and deep pools at first and last light can increase success.

There are still a few spring Chinook available in the Wilson River, although numbers will be low. Bobber and eggs or sand shrimp, drift fishing, back bouncing, and divers and bait are all good techniques for springers; these fish can be finicky, but are worth the effort!

The North Coast Rivers open for trout fishing on May 22. There are some nice cutthroat around, and these aggressive fish can be fun to catch. Most of the rivers are restricted to artificial lures and flies above tidewater until Aug. 31, so check the regulations before you go.