Northwest Zone

NW Fishing

February 19, 2026

Best bets for weekend fishing

Winter steelhead fishing remains fair on the North Coast. The Nestucca River, Wilson, and North Fork Nehalem Rivers will provide the best opportunity to catch hatchery steelhead. The Wilson and Nestucca have both picked up a little following last weekend's rain and have some fresh fish showing up. The North Fork Nehalem continues to get hatchery steelhead back and recycled 300 last week for additional angler opportunity. Other basins (including the Little Nestucca, Trask, Kilchis, Nehalem, and Salmonberry Rivers) all have catch and release opportunities for wild steelhead.

Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond, Lost Lake, and Sunset Lake have all been stocked with hundreds of surplus hatchery winter steelhead (over 600 in Coffenbury) to provide additional angler opportunity. Catching a steelhead in still water can be a fun and unique experience and offer a chance for steelhead when the conditions on the rivers aren't good.

Winter Steelhead is off to a strong start on our midcoastal systems. After the rains we got the past few weeks, lots of fish have pushed in and up into our systems. The Alsea and Siletz have had a decent amount of fish being caught, and the Siuslaw is doing well!

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:

Scheduled to be stocked the week of MARCH 9-13:

Dune Lake, Big Creek Reservoir- 1 & 2, Elbow Lake, Mercer Lake, Cleawox Lake, Thissel Pond, Carter Lake, Woahink Lake, Munsel lake, Eckman Lake, Alder Lake, Siltcoos Lake, Olalla Creek Reservoir, Lost Lake, Buck Lake, Devil's Lake.

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

Sign up for the latest information on boater access

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.

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: Hatchery winter steelhead

Hatchery Steelhead is open on the Alsea River. The early bite has picked up and fish are reaching our Hatchery traps at the Alsea Hatchery! The Alsea River does have a hatchery component to its winter steelhead run offering additional opportunities for harvest! The traps at Alsea River Hatchery are open and continuing to see steelhead make it to the hatchery. However, the Alsea River fishing hotline is no longer in operation. For up to date upper/lower trap counts click here. For more information on steelhead fishing on the Alsea, reach out to Alsea Hatchery Staff or Midcoast District staff. The Alsea hatchery offers decent bank access through the hatchery holes, though fishing there is quite popular. Floating Salmonberry down river has been productive though as water levels drop the catch rate will likely drop moving into the dry weekend. Last updated 01/21/26.

KILCHIS RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Kilchis will remain low and clear this week but there should be steelhead throughout the fishery. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis, so this is mostly a catch and release fishery for wild steelhead. Last updated 2/10/26.

LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): Hatchery steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing is slowing down on the Lower Columbia tributaries as we approach the end of the hatchery run, but there are still a few fish around. Last updated 2/10/26.

NECANICUM RIVER: Winter steelhead

The hatchery steelhead run on the Necanicum River is slowing down, but there are still some fish around. There will also be wild steelhead available for catch and release through the end of March. There is good bank access at Peterson Point (off Hwy 101), Drake access (Hwy 26 and Sugarloaf Mainline) and Klootchy County Park (off Hwy 26).

The Highway 101 boat ramp south of Seaside has the combination lock back on it. Anglers can call the Tillamook office at (503) 842-2741 and provide their Hunter/Angler ID number to receive the combo. Last updated 2/10/26.

NEHALEM RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are throughout the Nehalem River fishery. There are no hatchery releases on the mainstem Nehalem, so it is mostly a catch and release fishery. The Nehalem should remain in decent condition this week. Last updated 2/10/26.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER: Winter steelhead.

Winter steelhead fishing on the North Fork Nehalem has remained fair this past week, with decent numbers of fresh fish still moving in. The North Fork has had good numbers returning this year and recycled an additional 300 hatchery steelhead downstream for additional angler opportunity last week. The early returning hatchery fish will start slowing down this time of year, but a portion of the hatchery run are from wild broodstock, and those hatchery fish should continue to return in good condition through the end of March. Last updated 2/10/26.

NESTUCCA RIVER & LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are throughout the Nestucca, and fishing has been fair. Last weekend's rain seems to have brought some fresh fish in. The river is in good shape currently and should remain so through the weekend. The Nestucca gets one of our largest hatchery winter steelhead releases and should be a top pick for those wanting to catch fish they can keep this time of year.

The Little Nestucca does not have a hatchery steelhead release but does provide some catch and release opportunity for wild steelhead. Last updated 2/10/26.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead have been moving into and up in the system. Wild fish can be retained on the Salmon River, and bank access can be found throughout the system though its less frequent through the lower stretches after the hatchery. The Salmon River tends to be one of the midcoastal rivers that settles out decently soon after a big rain event and may offer some opportunity for clearer waters earlier on! As we move into the dryer weekend fish will still be around but the cold clear water will have fish holding up rather than moving around. Check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 01/21/26.

SILETZ RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are moving into the Siletz! The town loop float and beyond have been productive through the holiday weeks, and moving into this weekend, the majority of the midcoast should be quite fishable! The Siletz Gorge offers additional bank opportunity but is only open for driving during the weekends. Fishing will likely be better a bit lower down in the system going into the dry cold weekend with better float bets being downstream of Illahee.

There was a landslide on HWY 229 resulting in a road closure at approximately milepost 14.5. HWY229 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 01/21/26.

SIUSLAW RIVER: winter steelhead

Like its neighbors, the Siuslaw has winter steelhead moving into the system. Fish are certainly around and are already showing up at our Trap on Whitaker. The bite has been fair for this time of year, and it is expected to pick up this weekend! Folks have had some decent success higher up in the system as the earlier fish moved high up into the systems with the December rains. Last updated 01/21/26.

THREE RIVERS: Winter Steelhead

Three Rivers has winter steelhead coming back and fishing has been fair. Last weekend's rain brought some fresh fish in. Last updated 2/10/26.

TRASK RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing is fair on the Trask. The Trask is in good condition and should remain so throughout the week. There are no hatchery releases on the Trask, so it is mostly a catch and release fishery, although it is known to get a few strays. There are steelhead throughout the river and in the North and South Forks. The angling deadline on the North Fork is Bark Shanty Creek and, on the South fork it is Edwards Creek. There is no angling above the deadlines this time of year.

Trask hatchery has some damage to the access road so anglers and visitors will need to park up top and walk down. Last updated 2/10/26.

WILSON RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Wilson River has fish throughout the fishery and has been fair to good this week for steelhead fishing.. Conditions are decent and last weekend's rain brought some fresh fish in. The Wilson has one of our largest hatchery steelhead releases and is should be a top pick for those wanting to catch a keeper this time of year. Last updated 2/10/26.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.

YAQUINA RIVER: winter steelhead

Like its neighbors, the Yaquina is starting to see winter steelhead moving into the system, though it's still early and the bite won't pick up until later in the winter, fish are around and offer a fun opportunity. There is additional opportunity to fish for winter steelhead on the Big Elk (tributary of the Yaquina) which offers additional retention. Remember to check your regs before heading out! Last updated 01/21/25.