Recreation Report
Northwest Zone
Recreation Report
Crooked River rainbow trout -Photo by Mike Belcher-
NW Fishing
June 4, 2026
Trout season opened in the Northwest Zone streams Friday, May 22nd. See the regulation booklet for limits, open areas, and bait restrictions. Cutthroat trout are present in almost all areas open to angling and sea-run cutthroat will start coming in this month.
Spring Chinook are in the Lower Columbia Tributaries with fish being caught in Big Creek, Gnat Creek, and the Klaskanine River. Fishing is slow to fair but still improving.
Spring Chinook fishing is in full swing on Tillamook Bay, Nestucca Bay, the Trask River, Nestucca River, and Little Nestucca River. Catches have been sporadic but there are some fish being caught in all areas. The bays, tidewater, and the lower rivers have been fishing the best so far.
Summer steelhead fishing is improving on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers with some nice fish being caught.
North Coast lakes received the first hatchery rainbow trout stocking in mid-March. Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, and Vernonia pond were stocked a second time the week of March 30th. Town Lake, South Lake, Hebo Lake, North Lake, Tahoe Lake, Nedonna Pond, Lake Lytle, Cape Meares Lake, Loren's Pond, Sunset Lake, Lost Lake, and Coffenbury Lake received a second stocking the week of April 13th. Town Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Meares Lake, and Vernonia Pond received additional stockings the week of 4/27. Nehalem hatchery had some extra trout this year, as a result Coffenbury lake and Lost Lake received an extra stocking the week of 5/11; South Lake and Hebo Lake recieved an extra stocking the week of 5/20. These stockings were not on the schedule. Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Hebo Lake, Nedonna Pond, and Town Lake will all be stocked this week (week of June 1), just in time for free fishing weekend on June 6th and 7th! Lake Lytle is very weedy making angling difficult; if you're planning to fish there do some research on weedless fishing rigs to up the odds of success and reduce frustration! There is active logging on the South Fork Trask Road which leads to Tahoe Lake, anglers accessing the lake from Monday – Friday should use caution. North Lake was NOT stocked this spring because of extremely low water levels.
Warm water fisheries for bass and sunfish are picking up as water temperatures warm and these fish start spawning. Cape Meares Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, and Vernonia pond all have decent populations of warm water species available for catching. Lake Lytle also has a good largemouth bass population, but it is very weedy making angling a challenge. Recent sampling showed that the population of bass in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy with decent numbers and size of fish, however in Town Lake the population is down with low numbers remaining.
Summer steelhead are on the move in the Siletz River. Reports have been light but angling activity should pick up in the coming weeks. A few batchers of summer steelhead have been recycled to the lower river for additional angler opportunity. Recycled steelhead will have a colored tag at the base of the dorsal fin. Anglers are asked to please report tagged steelhead caught in the Siletz River to caleb.w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov to monitor recapture and harvest rates in the basin.
Trout angling opened in many Mid Coast streams on May 22. Anglers are reminded to be aware of daily bag limits, bait restrictions and additional angling closures.
Warmwater fisheries can be a great option this time of year. Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes can be great places to target largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. Anglers can find success by targeting the margins as fish move in for spawning. Recent surveys indicate that largemouth bass are doing well at both locations.
Many Mid Coast lakes have been stocked with hatchery rainbow trout this spring, but more are on the way! Big Creek Reservoir 1 and 2, Cleawox Lake, Devil's Lake, Thissel Pond, Woahink Lake, Carter Lake, Mercer Lake, Dune Lake, Alder Lake, Buck Lake, Sutton Lake, Olalla Reservoir, Siltcoos Lake, and Perkins Lake have all been stocked between April and May.
Mid Cost STEP will be hosting a free fishing event at Olalla Reservoir in Toldeo on Saturday June 6 from 10am-2pm. No angling license is required, and ODFW staff and volunteers will be onsite to hand out equipment, provide instructions on gear rigging, casting, and cleaning your catch.
Siletz River HWY 229 is closed at approximately milepost 14 due to a large land slide covering the road. It will be closed for an undetermined amount of time.
Trout stocking:
April 27- May 8:
Devil's Lake, Vernonia Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Town Lake, Munsel Lake, Carter Lake, Sutton Lake, Thissel Pond, Cleawox Lake.
May 11- June 5:
Alder Lake, Big Creek Res 1 and 2, Buck Lake, Cape Mears Lake, Cleawox Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Dune Lake, Eckman Lake, Lost Lake, Hebo Lake, South Lake, Nedonna Pond, Olalla Creek Res, Perkins Lake, Scout Lake, Thissel Pond, Town Lake.
Stocking stops after June 5 and resumes in September.
Check out the trout stocking schedule.
Trout stocking maps
Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.
Announcements
Gear restrictions went into effect May 1st on Three Rivers and the Trask River. See waterbody updates below and the regulation book for details.
New for 2026: Tillamook Bay and River upstream of the Hwy 131 bridge is closed to all sturgeon angling (including catch and release).
Trask hatchery has some damage to their access road, the hatchery is still open to the public, but as a result anglers and visitors alike will need to park up top and walk down.
Free fishing weekend is June 6 and 7. Check out the Free Fishing Days and Event Schedule for more information: https://myodfw.com/workshops-and-events/free-fishing-days-events-schedu…
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Updates by waterbody
ALSEA RIVER: Cutthroat trout, crabbing, clamming, surf perch
Trout season in the Alsea River opened May 22. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Alsea Bay can be a great option for crabbing and bay clamming. Be sure to watch the tides and be sure to follow daily limits. For more information of crabbing and clamming, refer to the Marine recreation report. Last updated 6/3/26.
KILCHIS RIVER: cutthroat trout
Trout season opened in the Kilchis River May 22nd. There are cutthroat trout throughout the Kilchis and plenty of public access off Kilchis forest road. The water is low and clear so light line, small terminal presentations, and stealthy tactics will up the odds of success. Last updated 6/1/26.
LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): spring Chinook
No new reports this week but spring Chinook are still in the Lower Columbia tributaries, and there should be some opportunity to catch them, although these streams are getting very low. Last updated 6/1/26.
NECANICUM RIVER: cutthroat trout
Trout season opened on the Necanicum River May 22nd. There are cutthroat trout throughout the Necanicum River fishery. The water is low and clear so light line, small terminal presentations, and stealthy tactics will up the odds of success.
The Highway 101 boat ramp south of Seaside will be closed to vehicle access until next fall to reduce dumping and illegal camping. A combination lock will be put back on the gate for angler access next fall usually around mid-October. Walk in access is still permitted through the summer. Last updated 6/1/26.
NEHALEM RIVER & NORTH FORK NEHALEM: cutthroat trout
Trout season opened on the Nehalem May 22nd. There are cutthroat trout throughout the Nehalem basin and no shortage of places to fish for them. Sea-run cutthroat should start showing up in the bay and tidewater this month. Last updated 6/1/26.
NESTUCCA RIVER & LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER: Spring Chinook, summer steelhead, cutthroat trout
Spring Chinook fishing is slow to fair on the Nestucca and Little Nestucca. The bay and the lower river below Three rivers will hold the most fish this time of year. The Little Nestucca should have some springers in the river as well.
The Nestucca also gets a hatchery summer steelhead run, and those fish are coming in. There have been reports of some decent catching in the lower river (below Three Rivers) and fish should be spreading out upriver as well. Last updated 6/1/26.
Trout season opened in the streams May 22nd and there are cutthroat trout throughout the Nestucca basin.
River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.
SALMON RIVER: Cutthroat trout
Trout season in the Salmon River opened May 22. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 6/3/26.
SILETZ RIVER: Summer steelhead, spring Chinook, cutthroat trout
Summer steelhead are moving throughout the Siletz River. The river is low and clear and will remain that way for the foreseeable future. A fair number of summers are pushing upriver, and angling pressure has been light. Summer steelhead will be recycled for additional angler opportunity when available. Recycled steelhead will have a colored tag at the base of the dorsal fin. Anglers are asked to please report tagged steelhead caught in the Siletz River to caleb.w.yann@odfw.oregon.gov. The bank access in the upper gorge offers a unique and often remote fishing experience for anglers looking to get away from crowds.
The Siletz is currently open for spring Chinook (April 1- July 31). Trout season in the Siletz opened May 22. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. As a reminder, the Siletz River and tributaries upstream of Siletz Falls are closed to angling.
A landslide on HWY 229 has resulted in a road closure at approximately milepost 14.5. HWY 229 will be closed for the unforeseeable future until crews are able to safely remove the debris from the roadway.
As a general reminder for Anglers: Help to protect boating opportunities by maximizing distance from bank anglers and other boats. Safely row or motor around anglers and other boats and avoid motoring nearshore and in shallow areas. Last updated 6/3/26.
SIUSLAW RIVER: Cutthroat trout, rockfish, surf perch, crabbing
Trout season in the Siuslaw River opened May 22. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. The jetties can be a great place to target rockfish and surf perch during the spring. For more information on surf perch, crabbing, rockfish and lingcod, refer to the Marine Recreation Report. Last update6/3/26.
THREE RIVERS: spring Chinook, summer steelhead, cutthroat trout
Three Rivers gets a run of hatchery spring Chinook, it's a little early in this small tributary although there's been a few springers caught already, and a few observed in the river. Summer steelhead are coming in as well, numbers are low, but there are some fish getting caught. Anti-Snagging Gear Restrictions are in effect May 1st to July 15th (See page 18 and page 30 of the regulation booklet).
Trout angling opened in streams May 22nd and there are cutthroat trout in Three Rivers. Last updated 6/1/26.
TILLAMOOK BAY: Spring Chinook, marine bottom fish, surf perch, cutthroat trout.
Spring Chinook fishing is fair in Tillamook Bay. The lower bay was slow this week with only single digits checked in at Garibaldi, fishing seemed a little better in the upper bay with some sporadic good bites.
Spring can be a good time to target rockfish off the Tillamook Bay jetties (the North jetty provides the only bank angling this spring as the South jetty is still undergoing repairs/construction). Ling cod fishing tends to slow down as we get closer to summer but there should still be some around. Concentrate on slack tides for the best odds of success. Jigs, bait, and shrimp flies are all good methods.
No reports of surf perch yet but they should start moving into the bay to spawn and will provide some fishing opportunities through early July.
Trout angling opened in Tillamook Bay May 22nd, it's a little early for sea-run cutthroat in the bay but I've heard of at least one being caught by a spring Chinook angler and fishing should continue to improve through mid-August.. Last updated 6/1/26.
TRASK RIVER: Spring Chinook, cutthroat trout
Spring Chinook are in the Trask and there have been some fish getting caught in tide water as well as in the lower river (primarily at Loren's Drift and the Hatchery Hole). Overall fishing is slow to fair, but there have been some sporadic good bites. The Trask does NOT get a hatchery summer steelhead release but is known to get some strays out of the Wilson River, and it sound like a few of them have been getting caught by springer anglers this week.
Angling is restricted to fly fishing or bobber fishing from the marker at Loren's Drift (RM 9) up to Cedar Creek Boat slide (RM 10.9) from May 1st to July 31st (See Bobber Fishing Rule on page 18 of the regulation book).
Trout angling opened in the Trask basin May 22nd and there are cutthroat trout throughout the fishery, which includes the North, South, and East forks (no bait allowed in the forks May 22nd – Aug 31).
Trask hatchery has some damage to the access road so anglers and visitors will need to park up top and walk down. Last updated 6/1/26.
WILSON RIVER: Summer steelhead, cutthroat trout.
Summer steelhead are in the Wilson River with a few fish getting caught. Fishing for summers should continue to improve though June. Trout angling opened in streams May 22nd and there are cutthroat trout throughout the Wilson River. The water is low and clear so fishing early mornging and using light line, small terminal presentations, and stealthy tactics will up the odds of success. There are no hatchery spring Chinook releases on the Wilson River. Last updated 6/1/26.
Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.
YAQUINA RIVER: Cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon, rockfish, surf perch
The Yaquina River and bay are open for Chinook salmon April 1 – December 31. Trout season in that Yaquina River opened May 22. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. The jetties can be a great place to target rockfish and surf perch during the spring. For information on marine species such as surf perch, rockfish and lingcod, refer to the Marine Recreation Report. Last updated 6/3/26.