Montana Fish Report

Chinook salmon are in the bay in low numbers this time of year. Trolling herring or spinners in the lower bay is generally the most productive. A modest run of Chinook is expected this year, so expect fishing to be slow, especially early in the season. That said, there were some fish being caught last week! Sea run cutthroat are starting to enter tidewater areas. Fish will begin moving upriver over the next few weeks, but for now will be most abundant in tidal areas. Casting spinners or streamer flies are good techniques. Concentrate on early morning and late evening when temperatures are cooler for the best results. Warm water temperatures can stress fish and increase hooking mortality, so anglers are encouraged to avoid catch-and-release fishing during the heat of the day. Most of the rivers are restricted to artificial lures and flies above tidewater until Aug. 31, so check the regulations before you go.