Northwest Zone

NW Fishing

March 12, 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 rain is coming down, and North Coast Rivers are on the rise as of this writing; many rivers may be high for the weekend but should be dropping into shape early next week. Other basins (including the Little Nestucca, Trask, Kilchis, Nehalem, and Necanicum 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 number 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. For up to date upper/lower trap counts click here. The Alsea hatchery offers decent bank access through the hatchery holes, which is quite popular. Floating Salmonberry down river has been productive as water levels rise the catch rate will likely increase after a wet week. Last updated 3/4/26.

KILCHIS RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Kilchis is on the rise today and will probably blow out by later today. This basin will drop quickly once the rains stop later this week and should be in good shape by early next week; keep an eye on conditions. There are steelhead throughout the fishery, and fishing should be good when it drops back into shape. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis, so this is mostly a catch and release fishery for wild steelhead. Last updated 3/11/26.

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

Winter steelhead fishing is slow on the Lower Columbia tributaries as the hatchery run is pretty much over. Last updated 3/11/26.

NECANICUM RIVER: Winter steelhead

The hatchery steelhead run on the Necanicum River mostly done, and there won't be many left in good condition. On the other hand, wild steelhead should be found throughout the fishery and available for catch and release through the end of March. The Necanicum comes back into shape quickly after high water and may be a good bet for late this weekend or early next week with rivers currrently on the rise; keep an eye on conditions. 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 3/11/26.

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. Heavy rains are falling on the North Coast the next few days and the Nehalem will most likely blow out. This large river takes a while to drop and clear and may not come back into shape until next week. Last updated 3/11/26.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the North Fork Nehalem remains fair. The river may get off color over the next few days but should drop quickly and may be in shape by early next week. A portion of the hatchery steelhead on the North Forkare from wild broodstock, and we saw several in good condition moving through the river early this week. They should continue to do so through the end of March and into early April. Last updated 3/11/26.

NESTUCCA RIVER & LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are throughout the Nestucca, and fishing has been fair. It is on the rise as of this writing and will probably blow out by later today; it's predicted to start dropping by Saturday but may not be back in prime shape until next week. 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 lower river is primarily a drift boat fishery with some limited bank access but there is plenty of bank access on the upper river.

The Little Nestucca does not have a hatchery steelhead release but does provide some catch and release opportunity for wild steelhead and should come back into decent fishing condition a little quicker than the big river. Last updated 3/11/26.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are moving into 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. Check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 3/4/26.

SILETZ RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are moving into the Siletz! The majority of the midcoastal area should be quite fishable! The Siletz Gorge offers additional bank opportunity but is only open for driving during the weekends.

A landslide on HWY 229 has resulted 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 3/4/26.

SIUSLAW RIVER: Winter steelhead

Like its neighbors, the Siuslaw has winter steelhead moving into the system. Fish are showing up at our Trap on Whitaker. The bite has been fair for this time of year, and it is expected to pick up later this week after the rain. Last updated 3/4/26.

THREE RIVERS: Winter Steelhead

Three Rivers has winter steelhead coming back and fishing has been fair. The heavy rains falling for the next couple days should bring another shot of fish in. While it may be off color late this week it should fish early next week. Last updated 3/11/26.

TRASK RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are throughout the fishery on the Trask and fishing has been fair. The Trask is on the rise today and will probably blow out. It should start dropping by Saturday but probably won't be back in prime condition until next week. There are no hatchery releases on the Trask, so it is mostly a catch and release fishery, although it is known to get an occasional stray. 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 3/11/26.

WILSON RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Wilson River has been fair to good for winter steelhead. Heavy rains are falling in Tillamook and the coast range the next few days and the Wilson will most likely blow out later today. It is predicted to start dropping by Saturday and should fish by early next week.There are fish throughout the basin. 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; the lower river is mostly a drift boat fishery but there is plenty of bank access higher up off of Highway 6. Last updated 3/11/26.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.

YAQUINA RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Yaquina is seeing winter steelhead moving into the system, 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 3/4/25.