Northwest Zone

NW Fishing

July 31, 2025

Best bets for weekend fishing

• August 1^st officially starts Fall Chinook Season on the Tillamook, Nestucca, and Necanicum basins. It is really early and there won't be many Fall Chinook around (although there are still a few springers out there). All of these basins have reduced bag limits for wild fall Chinook this season so check the regulation updates.
• Summer steelhead fishing has been picking up on the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers. Summers are throughout the fisheries and there have been an increasing number getting caught.
• Nehalem gets a run of Fall Chinook" and those fish are starting to show up. Several nice fish were caught down by the mouth of the bay. Check the regulation updates for wild fall Chinook bag limit.
• North Coast lakes trout stocking has been completed. The next stocking will be in September.. There will be trout available most of the summer, but fishing will get more challenging as the water warms up. Fishing early morning and late evening and targeting higher elevation lakes that stay cooler will up the odds of success.
• The North Jetty of Tillamook Bay (accessible through Barview County Park) provides some good angling opportunity for rockfish and kelp greenling this time of year.
• There are coastal cutthroat trout in all open areas, and sea-run cutthroat are in tidewater and should be starting to migrate into the rivers.
• Warm water fisheries are going and should be decent through the summer and into the early fall. Cape Meares Lake, Lake Lytle, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, and Vernonia Pond all have largemouth bass and other sunfish species to target. Many of the lakes that have these species tend to get weedy in the summer; using weedless rigs will up the odds of success (and lower frustration and gear loss).
• As we move through the summer months and water and air temperatures rise, please be mindful of catch and release techniques! Keep fish in the water as much as possible and ensure proper release techniques are used!
• We have recycled a few hatchery summer steelhead into the fishery and will continue to do so as temperatures allow! Olalla Reservoir is closed for the summer due to some timber management activities around the lake. Fish that were destined for Olalla Res. are being re-allocated to Big Cr. Res. near Newport.
• Check the stocking schedule for an up-to-date look at recently stocked lakes!
• Mid Coast beaches offer some great opportunity for surfperch and other near shore species and clamming as well. Check out this link for more information on clamming during the minus tides.

Trout stocking:

Stocked the week of June 2-6:

Lost Lake, Big Creek Res- 1 and 2, Hebo Lake, Cape Mears Lake, Cleawox Lake, Town Lake, Thissel Pond, Coffenbury Lake, Nedonna Pond.

Scheduled to be stocked Sept 15-19 (The next stocking begins in the Fall):

Lost Lake, Town Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Caper Meares Lake, Sunset Lake.

See 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

Toxic algae bloom in South Lake

A toxic algae bloom (possibly Cyanobacteria) has been detected in South Lake on Mount Hebo in the Siuslaw National Forest (Tillamook County). Cyanobacteria can be harmful to people and harmful or deadly to pets. Trout stocked in the lake are still safe to eat provided they are eviscerated and thoroughly cooked, but visitors should use extreme caution and avoid contact with or ingestion of lake water, for both them and their pets. More information on Cyanobacteria can be found on the Oregon Health Authority Website at: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/RECREATION/HARMFULALGAEBLOOMS/Pages/AboutAlgaeSeason.aspx

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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: Cutthroat trout

Coastal Cutthroat will be distributed throughout the Alsea basin and provide an excellent and fun opportunity during the summer months. As we move into August cutthroat will continue moving throughout the basin more and more. With the lower waters, hitting the river in the early mornings before temperatures rise can be a good bet for landing cutthroat in the basin! Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for use of bait and whether there are closed streams. Last updated 7/30/25.

KILCHIS RIVER: Cutthroat trout

Find resident coastal cutthroat trout throughout the basin and the Kilchis River has plenty of public access off Kilchis Forest Road. Concentrate on deep pools with cover, and you should find success. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out. Last updated 7/28/25

LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): Fall Chinook, cutthroat trout

Big Creek still has Chinook coming in, and the hatchery had almost 2,500 back to the trap. Fish are still returning to Gnat Creek as well. The number of fish at the hatchery has been low and angling pressure has been light but below the campground there has been steady pressure and some fish getting caught. Klaskanine should have some fish coming back as well but reports on how good fishing is, have been scarce. Last updated 7/21/25.

NECANICUM RIVER: Cutthroat trout

There is plenty of public access on the Necanicum off Hwy. 101 and Hwy. 26. This small stream has resident coastal cutthroat trout throughout the fishery and has a lot of downed wood which trout love to use as cover. Sea-run cutthroat move into the river in July. The Necanicum is very low, but concentrate on deep pools with cover, and you should find success. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out.

Fall Chinook season officially opens August 1^st, but there won't be any showing up in the river awhile yet. The bag limit for wild adult Chinook is 1 per day and 2 per season as part of the daily salmon and steelhead bag limit. See the regulation updates online for more details. Last updated 7/28/25.

NEHALEM RIVER: Chinook; Cutthroat trout

The Nehalem Fall Chinook run will start showing up in the bay this month. There have been some nice fish caught down by the mouth of the bay. The wild Chinook bag limit is one adult per day/two for the season (July 1 to November 30) as part of the overall daily bag limit. Anglers are reminded that since the Ocean is now closed to the retention of Chinook that if a Chinook has been landed in the bay, and is on board, they can not fish in the ocean beyond the jetty tips.

The Nehalem Basin offers public access on the Nehalem and its tributaries and there should be resident coastal cutthroat trout throughout the basin. Sea-run cutthroat should be starting to show up in the river as well and the run improves throughout July. Concentrate on deep pools with cover, and you should find success. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out. Last updated 7/21/25.

NESTUCCA RIVER & LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER: Summer steelhead, Chinook, cutthroat trout

August 1^st is the official start of Fall Chinook season, but there won't be many around this early. The wild adult fall Chinook bag limit is 1 per day and 5 perseason in the Nestucca basin. See the regulation updates online for more details.

Summer steelhead continue to return to the Nestucca River and are throughout the fishery (up to Elk Creek). Fishing seems to have picked up with some fish being caught consistently. Light float fishing set ups with terminal baits like beads, jigs or small natural baits, as well as casting spoons or spinners can be effective. Early morning and late evening will be the best times to fish, although if there's good cloud cover or a little rain fish may stay on the bite more of the day.

There are resident cutthroat throughout the fishery and sea-run cutthroat should be moving into the river. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out.

Last updated 7/28/25.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: Cutthroat trout

The salmon river basin is another great spot for coastal cutthroat trout fishing! It will be low and warm and so targeting the river in the early mornings will provide excellent opportunities to catch sea run cutthroat.

Check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 07/28/25.

SILETZ RIVER: Fall Chinook, summer steelhead, cutthroat trout

There are a handful of bank angling spots within the fishery, but if you are targeting summer steelhead, reminder to check your regulations on where Chinook fishery closes. If you do happen to hook into a migrating Fall Chinook outside of the retention fishery, please follow safe handling techniques as we endure higher summer temperatures.

Summer steelhead have been reported in the catch. Angling should improve over the next month as these fish push to the gorge. Bank angling in the gorge is best from late June through July. If stream flows allow the float from Moonshine Park to Siletz can be productive as well! We saw more hatchery summers move into the basin in July, but numbers were low given the low river levels and high temps. The Siletz does have hatchery steelhead providing additional harvest opportunity!

Cutthroat will be distributed throughout the Siletz basin. Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for the use of bait and whether there are closed streams. Last updated 07/28/25.

SIUSLAW RIVER: Cutthroat trout

The Siuslaw is now closed for steelhead.

Cutthroat will be distributed throughout the Siletz basin. Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for the use of bait and whether there are closed streams. Last updated 7/28/25.

THREE RIVERS: Cutthroat trout

Three Rivers from the mouth to the hatchery deadline closed to angling July 16^{th –} September 30^th. Upstream of the hatchery weir is still open for cutthroat trout and hatchery steelhead but very few hatchery steelhead get past the weir. Last updated 7/21/25.

TILLAMOOK BAY: Chinook; cutthroat trout; marine species

August 1^st is the official start of fall Chinook season in Tillamook Bay but there won't be many around this early in the season. Surprisingly there are still a few spring Chinook in the Bay. Tillamook Bay and the rivers that empty into it have reduced bag limits for wild fall Chinook this year. The limit for wild adults is 1/day and 2/ season as part of the daily salmon and steelhead bag limit. Check the regulation updates online for more details.

Sea-run cutthroat trout fishing in the bay and tidewaters is usually pretty good in July. Fishing seems a little slower than the past couple years, but there are some around.

Fishing for rockfish and kelp greening should still be decent near the mouth of the bay (by boat or off the North Jetty). Ling cod fishing will start slowing down inside the bay as the summer goes on, but there is still a chance. Surf perch fishing also slows down in the bay and anglers will find better success on the beaches during the summer. Last updated 7/28/25.

TRASK RIVER: Chinook; cutthroat trout

August 1^st officially starts the fall Chinook season, but there won't be any moving up river for quite awhile yet. The Tillamook basin (including the Trask) has a reduced wild adult fall Chinook bag limit of 1/day and 2/season as part of the overall daily limit. See the regulation updates online for more details. The Trask from 200 feet above to 900 feet below Gold Creek at Trask Hatchery (which includes the "hatchery hole") is closed to angling July 16 – October 15.

Trout season opened in the streams on May 22^nd and there are resident coastal cutthroat trout throughout the Trask basin, including the forks and sea-run cutthroat should be showing up. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out.

Last updated 7/28/25.

WILSON RIVER: Summer steelhead; cutthroat trout

The Wilson gets a run of hatchery summer steelhead. There are fish throughout the fishery (up to South Fork). Reports from the Wilson have been scarce, but given the recent improved fishing on other basins, I would expect the same for the Wilson. The upper river below the South Fork will probably hold the best numbers of fish this time of year. For summer steelhead, fish early in the morning and cover lots of water including deep holes, pocket water, and drifts with some chop to them. Light line, subtle terminal presentations like beads, jigs, or small natural baits and hardware like spinners and spoons should all produce fish. There are no spring Chinook releases on the Wilson.

The Wilson tends to be a little slower for coastal cutthroat trout than some of the neighboring basins, but there are resident trout throughout the fishery and lots of public access off of Hwy 6. Sea-run cutthroat should be showing up in the river.

Last updated 7/21/25.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.

YAQUINA RIVER: Cutthroat trout

Steelhead fishery is now closed on the Yaquina. Coastal Cutthroat will be distributed throughout the Yaquina basin and should be really pushing into the system this time of year. Yaquina Bay offers additional opportunity for crabbing, clamming, and near shore marine fishing off the jetties. Though it may be slower for freshwater fisheries this time of year! Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for use of bait and whether there are closed streams. Last updated 07/01 /25.