Montana Fish Report

The Nestucca and Three Rivers have Spring Chinook available, but fishing has been slow. The lower river, below Farmer Creek, usually produces the best. Bobber and eggs or sand shrimp, drift fishing, back bouncing, and divers and bait are all good techniques. These fish can be finicky, but are worth the effort!

Hatchery summer steelhead fishing has picked up lately and there are some fish getting caught. Low clear water can make fishing for summer steelhead challenging, but there can be some good action at first and last light, or on those drizzly overcast days. Concentrate on deep pools and riffles with some chop and cover to them. Drift fishing (yarn and sand shrimp seem to be working well lately), spinners, and flies are good choices to target these fish.

Anglers are reminded that from the area from Cedar Creek Hatchery deadline to the marker below Gauldy Mt Rd bridge is youth angling only (ages 17 and under) from June 1 to July 15, and Anti-Snagging Gear Restrictions are in effect from May 1 to July 15. And Three Rivers closes to all angling below the hatchery weir July 16.

There are cutthroat trout throughout the river, with fresh sea-run cutthroat beginning to show in tidal areas, and these aggressive fish can be fun to catch. Anglers are reminded that the upper Nestucca upstream from Moon Creek at Blaine is restricted to artificial lures and flies.