Northwest Zone

Feb. 19, 2025‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

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Best bets for weekend fishing

• North coast rivers went from low to blown out over Sunday night, but many dropped back into shape yesterday and there have been some fish getting caught. Conditions are going to continue to be problematic this week with more heavy rain predicted for the weekend which may blow rivers out again. As of now, Friday and possibly Saturday may offer some good fishing opportunity, but it looks as though we will have muddy waters again late Saturday or Sunday. The Nestucca, Wilson and North Fork Nehalem Rivers will offer the best opportunities for catching hatchery steelhead.
• Surplus winter steelhead have been released into Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond and Lost Lake, and surplus summer steelhead were released into Town Lake last week. These fish can be a great alternative when conditions in the rivers are less than ideal, and fighting a steelhead in still water is a unique and fun experience.
• With the recent rains the Mid Coast rivers have seen a fresh push of fish in the basins! Lots of folks reporting good catch numbers as fish are moving throughout the systems

Trout stocking

Scheduled to be stocked the week of Feb. 17:

No stocking scheduled

Stocked the week of Feb. 10:

Alder Lake, Olalla Creek Reservoir, Dune Lake, Big Creek Reservoir 1&2, Cleawox Lake, Munsel Lake

Trout stocking maps

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

Announcements

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: Steelhead

Hatchery steelhead opened on Nov. 1 from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South Forks. The run is finally started back again! We have had a decent amount of rain the past weekend and going into this week. Although it wasn't enough to really move fish we have seen more fish being caught in the basin.

The hatchery holes have continued seeing decent catches! Last updated 02/5/25.

Winter steelhead fishing in the mid-coast district – check out this video.

KILCHIS RIVER: winter steelhead

The Kilchis River is in prime shape as of this writing and should stay that way through Friday (and maybe Saturday morning). There should be plenty of steelhead coming in and available throughout the system. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis, so it's mostly a catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead. Last updated 2/19/25.

Winter steelhead fishing in the north coast district – check out the video.

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

Hatchery winter steelhead returns on the Lower Columbia tributaries are really slowing down and numbers will be low. Last updated 2/21/25.

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.

The Necanicum River hatchery steelhead run is just about over and numbers of hatchery fish in decent condition will be low. There is still catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead throughout the fishery and conditions are good as of this writing and should remain so through Saturday morning. The Necanicum drops and clears fairly quickly so this will be a good one to keep an eye on early next week after the rains subside as well. Last updated 2/19/25.

NEHALEM RIVER: winter steelhead

The lower Nehalem River will most likely stay high and off color through the weekend making for less-than-ideal fishing conditions. The upper river is probably in decent shape today and Friday but may get muddy again by Saturday afternoon. When conditions are fishable there should be steelhead throughout the basin. There are no hatchery steelhead releases in the Nehalem so this is mostly a catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead. Last updated 2/19/25.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the North Fork really picked up the last few days as the water greened up. There have been a lot of steelhead on the move and returning to the hatchery (which recycled fish back downstream yesterday). Fish are being caught and there are still some broodstock hatchery fish in great shape and should continue to be through March. Keep an eye on conditions as this stream will likely blow out over the weekend, but if you can catch it on drop and green opportunity should be good. Last updated 2/19/25.

NESTUCCA RIVER: winter steelhead

The Nestucca is running a little on the high side and will probably blow out again this weekend given the predicted rain. Fishing conditions may be challenging until it drops next week. That said there are both hatchery and wild winter steelhead (catch-and-release only for wilds) throughout the fishery and these high flows should be bringing fresh fish in. Last updated 2/19/25.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: steelhead

Winter Steelhead is picking up in 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. So far folks have been out fishing some of the more productive holes on the Salmon and we've gotten reports of varied success. Higher up in the system there is a decent amount of bank access to the fishery. Fish are throughout the system at this time moving into the upper reaches of the fishery with the recent rains. Last updated 02/5/25.

SILETZ RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead are definitely in the Siletz! Last weekend we got a few reports coming in of fish being caught throughout some of the more productive floats around the upper system.It's still early in the season, but fish have taken advantage of the recent rains and spread further out in the system.

The upper gorge offers bank access for targeting winter steelhead, though with the icy winter conditions it could be a tough drive - worth the effort! The gorge road is currently icy and covered in quite a bit of snow, so be prepared for icy wintery conditions heading up into those bank areas.

The Siletz is a truly unique system offering multiple opportunities for a variety of species. Last updated 02/5/25.

Floating the Siletz – check out this video.

SIUSLAW RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead is open in the Siuslaw basin. However, we haven't had a ton of reports coming in of fish being caught. The recent rains have definitely moved fish around the basin and we are seeing fish throughout the system and in the upper fishery! Last updated 02/5/25.

THREE RIVERS: winter steelhead

Three Rivers has been getting some hatchery steelhead in with the recent rains. It should be fishable through Saturday morning but will likely get muddy over the weekend. Last updated 2/19/25.

TRASK RIVER: winter steelhead

The Trask is running high as of this writing although the color is good at least for now. It may be fishable through Saturday morning but will likely blow out again after that. Keep an eye on conditions and try to hit it when it greens up on the drop; there should be plenty of fish around. The Trask does not have a hatchery steelhead release, but provides some good catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead and the occasional hatchery stray. Last updated 2/19/25.

WILSON RIVER: winter steelhead

The Wilson River has been fishable the past couple days and a few fish are getting caught. As of now it looks like conditions will be decent Friday and possible Saturday morning before it blows out again. Keep an eye on conditions and hit this river as it drops and greens up next week. When conditions are good there should be plenty of both hatchery and wild steelhead (catch-and-release only for wilds) throughout the fishery. Last updated 2/19/25.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.