Northwest Zone

Dec. 18, 2024‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

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Best bets for weekend fishing

• Winter steelhead fishing is fair to good on the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum River, and Lower Columbia tributaries (Gnat Cr, Big Cr, and Klaskanine R) with hatchery fish available.
• Winter steelhead are starting to show up with some catch being reported on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers.
• A fair number of coho have entered Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes. These lakes can be great choices when the rivers are blown out. Focus your efforts on the lake fingers. Both lake fisheries will close at the end of December.

Trout stocking

Trout stocking is scheduled to resume in February 2025.

Trout stocking maps

Check out the ODFW fishing and trout stocking maps to find nearby fishing locations, driving directions and descriptions of amenities.

Announcements

Recreation Report holiday break

Due to the upcoming holidays, we'll be taking a break from the Recreation Report the weeks of Dec. 23 and 30. The Rec Report will resume publication the week of Jan. 6, 2025.

No access to Tillamook's South Jetty

The Army Corps of Engineers is making repairs to Tillamook's South Jetty and as a result there is no public access this summer. Bay Ocean spit is still open for walking/hiking and biking but is closed to public access about a mile from the jetty.

Sign up for the latest information on boater access

Marine Board's Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.

Updates by waterbody‌

ALSEA RIVER: Chinook salmon, steelhead

Fall Chinook has slowed way down on the Alsea River. There are still a few fish around, though most have spawned or are on the spawning grounds. It was a fair season overall on the Alsea for fall Chinook and coho.

Wild coho retention closed on Nov. 10.

Hatchery steelhead opens on Nov. 1 from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South Forks. Anglers should avoid encounters with spawning Fall Chinook. The entire North Fork Alsea is closed to all angling on Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. Last updated 12/18/24.

KILCHIS RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead should be starting to show up on the Kilchis River. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis so it is mostly a catch and release fishery for wild steelhead. The run peaks January – March, but there are probably a few around. Last updated 12/18/24.

LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Cr., Gnat Cr. Klaskanine R.): hatchery steelhead

The hatchery winter steelhead run is going on the Lower Columbia tributaries. Gnat Creek reports a few steelhead around and light fishing pressure. Big Creek has gotten around 100 steelhead back so far. Fishing pressure is steady with some fish being caught. Klaskanine also has steelhead returning with steady fishing pressure and some fish getting caught.

We've gotten significant rain the last couple days which should bring more fish in and make for good fishing when the creeks drop back into shape. Last updated 12/18/24.

NECANICUM RIVER: winter steelhead

Attention boaters: There is a boating obstruction/hazard upstream of Mail Creek on the Necanicum River (between the Hwy 26 bridge and Klootchy Park). This is a large log/debris jam blocking the river. Boaters should use extreme caution. Check the Oregon State Marine Board boater obstruction map here.

The Hwy 101 boat ramp on the Necanicum has been re-opened for angler access. The gate remains up but has a combination lock on it. Anglers can get the combination by calling the Tillamook District office at (503) 842–2741 and providing their name and ODFW Hunter/Angler ID number.

Hatchery winter steelhead are in the Necanicum. The River is high and off color as of this writing but should be dropping the next couple days and could be in good shape by the weekend. The rain should bring a fresh push of fish as well. Last updated 12/18/24.

NEHALEM RIVER: winter steelhead

The Lower Nehalem is blown out and may stay that way for a while. The upper river may come back into shape a little quicker. Once fishable, there should be a few fish around. There are no hatchery releases on the Nehalem mainstem, so this is a catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead. The run will peak January – March. Last updated 12/18/24.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM: hatchery coho, winter steelhead

The hatchery coho run on the North Fork Nehalem is starting to wind down and many of the fish are getting close to spawning but there are still a few bright fish around.

Hatchery winter steelhead have been returning to the North Fork for a few weeks now and fishing has been fair. The hatchery recycled almost 50 steelhead downstream last week. The North Fork is blown out today but should start dropping and could be in good condition by the end of the week. Last updated 12/18/24.

NESTUCCA RIVER: winter steelhead

The winter steelhead run is getting started on the Nestucca with the first few reports of anglers catching fish coming in this week. It is high and muddy as of this writing and looks to stay on the high side for the next week, although it should green up by the end of the week. The Nestucca gets a large hatchery steelhead release and those fish will be returning and providing good fishing opportunity late December through early April. Last updated 12/18/24.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: steelhead, Chinook

Similar to its neighboring basins, fall Chinook fishing is coming to a close on the Salmon River with most Chinook having made it to the spawning grounds.

Although it's still early in the season, winter steelhead is open on the Salmon River. The Salmon River is a unique and accessible system for steelhead and can offer decent opportunity as other rivers get blown out. The steelhead season on the Salmon River has only just begun! Last updated 12/18/24.

SILETZ RIVER: Chinook

Fall Chinook is winding down on the Siletz River. Almost all fish that entered the system have made it through to the spawning grounds. The Siletz had a fair fishery for fall Chinook again this year.

The wild coho retention closed on Nov. 15.

As the salmon seasons wind down, winter steelhead is starting to pick up. Though it's still early in the season, some fish have been moving into the system and are starting to spread out. With rain expected during the holidays, we should see more fish moving in and being caught. The Siletz is a truly unique system offering multiple opportunities for a variety of species. Last updated 12/18/24.

SILTCOOS LAKE: coho

Coho retention continues through Dec 31. Few reports have come in, but anglers are still catching a fair number of fish. A few more fish may still move in with the rains we should be getting in the coming week. Focus efforts on the fingers of the lake to maximize success. Last updated 12/18/24.

SIUSLAW RIVER: Chinook

Fall Chinook is winding to a close on the Siuslaw River. Fishing was good early in the season and tapered off the run progressed.

Winter steelhead is open in the Siuslaw basin. However, like our other Mid Coast basins it's still early in the season to get getting reports of fish being caught. Though with the rains predicted for the coming weeks it is likely fish will start moving back into the system!

The wild coho retention closed on Oct. 15. Last updated 12/18/24.

TAHKENITCH LAKE: coho

Coho retention remains open through Dec 31. Similar to Siltcoos, few reports have come in but anglers have been catching a fair number of fish. With rain expected in the next few weeks, a few later fish should be moving in. Focus efforts on the fingers of the lake to maximize success. Last updated 12/18/24.

THREE RIVERS: winter steelhead

Three Rivers should have a few winter steelhead showing up when it drops back into shape late this week. Last updated 12/18/24.

TRASK RIVER: hatchery coho, winter steelhead

The Trask has a hatchery coho salmon run, and those fish are throughout the fishery. The coho run is winding down with many fish getting close to spawning, but there are still a few fish around.

Winter steelhead should be showing up, at least in low numbers, following the recent rain. The Trask does not have a hatchery steelhead release, but provides some good catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead with the occasional stray hatchery fish being caught.

The Trask peaked over 12 feet and is muddy today, but it should drop and be fishable by the weekend if the weather forecast is correct. Last updated 12/18/24.

WILSON RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead have started showing up on the Wilson River with the first few fish being caught last week. The Wilson went almost to flood stage with the recent rain, but the forecast shows it dropping fast the next couple days and it should be fishable by the weekend.

The Wilson gets a large hatchery steelhead release and those fish will be returning and providing good fishing opportunity late December through early April. Last updated 12/18/24.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.