Montana Fish Report

Hatchery summer steelhead are available throughout the system and there are some fish getting caught. Low clear water can and warm water temperatures can put fish off the bite, and 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 small presentations, spinners, and flies are good choices to target these fish. 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.

It’s still early for fall Chinook, but normally we see the first fall salmon caught down in the estuary sometime in August. Trolling herring is popular near the mouth, while farther up the estuary bobber fishing bait or casting spinners are popular techniques.

Anglers are reminded that Three Rivers closed to all fishing 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.