Montana Fish Report

Fall Chinook have been present in the Nestucca estuary for some time, and fishing has been slow to fair. Fishing should continue to improve throughout the month as October brings the peak of the salmon run. Trolling herring is popular near the mouth, while farther up the estuary bobber fishing bait or casting spinners are popular techniques.

Very few Chinook have moved up into the Nestucca River as of yet, but as soon as we get a large rain event be ready to fish the lower river. Bobber fishing bait, back bouncing, back trolling divers and bait, and large plugs are all good river techniques for fall Chinook. Anglers are reminded that the Nestucca River is closed to fall Chinook fishing above first bridge (near the community of Beaver).

Three Rivers from the mouth to the hatchery weir opened Oct. 1, and there are still summer steelhead in the system. Fall Chinook should arrive later this month, but it will take a large rain event to move them into the system in any numbers.

There are hatchery summer steelhead throughout the system and there are some fish getting caught. Fall can actually be a great time to target summer steelhead, because these fish will get more active as water temperatures drop during the cooler nights and occasional rain freshens the river, and they’re still in good shape! 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.

Coho salmon will be showing up in the Nestucca later this month. Anglers are reminded that there is NO RETENTION of wild coho in the Nestucca River this year; only adipose fin-clipped coho may be retained. There is not a hatchery coho run on the Nestucca, but the occasional stray is caught.

Sea-run cutthroat are present in good numbers on the North Coast this year, and anglers will find them throughout the basin. Remember, the upper Nestucca upstream from Moon Creek at Blaine is restricted to artificial lures and flies.