Montana Fish Report

Fall Chinook should start to sneak into the Trask River this month. With the rain Monday night and Tuesday a few may even start this week. The majority will stack up in the bay until the first big rains and river rise in the fall.

Hatchery Coho will be returning to the Trask hatchery this month. These fish usually don’t bite very well once in the river, but there is always the chance to get lucky. Anglers are reminded that there is NO RETENTION of wild coho in the Trask; only adipose fin-clipped coho may be retained.

The Trask Hatchery Hole (200 feet above and 900 feet below the confluence with Gold Creek at Trask Hatchery) is closed to all fishing, effective June 18 – Oct. 15.

Sea-run cutthroat are present in good numbers on the North Coast this year, and anglers will find them throughout the basin. Recent surveys found great numbers of sea-run cutthroat in the Trask, and some nice-size fish. Fishing should remain good well into the fall. Try casting spinners or flies to areas with depth or cover when targeting these fish. Use of bait is allowed on the main stem Trask, but the North, South, and East forks are restricted to artificial lures and flies until Aug. 31.