Spring Chinook are mostly done and will begin to spawn later this month. Although fall Chinook officially opened today on the Nestucca the run does not really get going until September. For those willing to go after “the needle in the haystack” there are always a few fish caught in the Nestucca estuary this month.

Summer steelhead fishing continues to be fair. The fish are running big and healthy this season. Fishing for them may be challenging this week as conditions are low and clear and the water temperatures are warming up, which can put fish off the bite. Fishing early morning when fish are more active due to cooler temperatures can increase the odds of success. They are spread throughout the fishery at this point. Reminder: Elk Creek is the deadline for fishing on the Upper Nestucca.

Cutthroat fishing can be good in Nestucca basin and should continue to improve as the summer goes on and more sea-runs come into the river. They should be in the bay and the river by this time of year.