Northwest Zone

Oct. 9, 2024‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

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Best bets for weekend fishing

• Fall Chinook and coho fishing is fair to good in Nestucca, Tillamook and Nehalem bays. Coho and Chinook are throughout the bays and tidewaters in these basins. Check the regulation updates for the most recent bag limits, open areas, and seasons.
• Summer steelhead are in the Nestucca and Wilson Rivers and fishing has been fair. Cedar Creek hatchery has been recycling fish back to tidewater the past several weeks so there should be fish throughout the fishery on the Nestucca River. On the Wilson most fish should be in the upper river. While many anglers are targeting salmon in September and October, this is a good time of year to chase summer steelhead as well. Cooler water temperatures and some rain will get these fish that have been holding all summer more active and more willing to bite. These fish aren't going to spawn until January and February, so they are still in good condition.
• Sea-run cutthroat trout are in most North Coast Rivers and fishing should be fair to good through then end of the season on Oct. 31. Check the regulations for open areas and bait restrictions.
• Surplus trophy trout were stocked in Town Lake and Hebo Lake this week. These fish are 3 to 4 pounds and fun to catch!
• Fall Chinook are starting to show up in the Siletz Bay! Fish have been taking advantage of a little rain and have been moving into the system.
• Surplus summer steelhead are being stocking in Olalla Reservoir for an additional fishing opportunity.

Trout stocking

Trout stocking is scheduled to resume in February 2025.

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

‌E-taggers: Update your app

ODFW's Electronic Licensing System (ELS) and the MyODFW companion app got a major update on Monday, Sept. 30. Be sure to visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your phone and update your MyODFW app to version 4.0.

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: cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon, coho

Fall Chinook fishing on the Alsea has been fair to good. Fishing will be best in the Alsea Bay as fish are making their way back into the river system from the ocean. With the rains we will get this week, there may be some fish moving upriver.

The wild coho retention begins Sept. 14-Oct. 13 and Oct. 26-Nov. 10 this split season is new for the Alsea so anglers are reminded to check the regulations and dates before going out. Anglers should focus their efforts in tidewater until we see significant rainfall.

Trout fishing is open on the Alsea. As we head into the later summer, waters are low and clear so adjust techniques for conditions to help improve success. Anglers have had decent success catching cutthroat of various sizes. The sea-runs have been moving throughout tidewater and lower river with anglers having mixed success. Last updated 9/25/24.

KILCHIS RIVER: Chinook cutthroat trout

Fishing for cutthroat trout should be fair to good throughout the river.

The Kilchis River (up to Tilden Bluff Road Bridge) opened to fall Chinook fishing on Aug. 1. There should be some fish in tidewater portions of the river but it will take some significant rainfall before they move upriver in any decent numbers.

The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook River and Bay, Kilchis River, Miami River, Wison River, and Trask River) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.

Cutthroat trout fishing is still open through Oct. 31 and there are resident and sea-run cutthroat throughout the fishery. Last updated 10/9/24.

NECANICUM RIVER: Chinook, cutthroat trout

Trout fishing should be fair to good through the end of the season on Oct. 31.

The Hwy 101 boat ramp is closed until the river flows come up.

The Necanicum River is open to Fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30. There are a few showing up in the estuary. Fishing has been fair. Chinook won't move into the river in any numbers until we get some significant rain. The daily adult wild Chinook salmon bag limit is one fish. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period. See the regulation updates for more details. Last updated 10/9/24.

NEHALEM RIVER: Chinook, coho, cutthroat trout

The Nehalem fall Chinook fishing has been fair although sporadic with the creel sampler checking an average of 10 fish/day over the past couple weeks. Harvest has been about equally split between the lower and upper bay so far this season although the past week or so most harvest has been from Wheeler to Nehalem.

The Nehalem gets a return of hatchery coho salmon that should be showing up soon as well. Nehalem Bay is also open to retention of 1 adult wild coho/day and 2/season on WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS only, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 23. See the regulation updates online for more details. There appears to be plenty of coho in the bay. Fishing has been sporadic with some good bites here and there.

Trolling with flashers and spinners seems to be the go-to technique for this fishery in the bay, but trolling herring is always a good option for Chinook as well. In upper tidewater bobber fishing bait can be effective. The bag limit for wild adult Chinook is 1/day and 5 for the season from July 1 to Nov. 30. See the regulation updates for more details.

There are cutthroat trout throughout the Nehalem basin. Most of the sea-run cutthroat are up in the rivers and tributaries by this time of year. Last updated 10/9/24.

NESTUCCA RIVER: Chinook, coho, summer steelhead, cutthroat trout

The Nestucca River (up to First Bridge) and Bay, and the Little Nestucca River and are open to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30. There are Chinook being caught in the bay and tidewater, and fishing has been good at times. More should be showing up as the month goes on. It will take some decent rain to bring fish up the rivers. The daily adult wild Chinook salmon bag limit is one fish in aggregate. No more than five adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.

A wild coho fishery is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, in Nestucca and Little Nestucca Bay from Sept. 7 through Oct. 23. Fishing has been slow so far. Bag limit is 1 adult wild coho per day as part of the 2 salmon or steelhead daily bag limit, and 2 adult wild coho for the season. See the regulation updates for open areas and more details.

Summer steelhead are in the Nestucca and there are some fish being caught. Cedar Creek Hatchery has been recycling steelhead for weeks. There are some big fish this year. Fish should be throughout the fishery (up to Elk Creek, which is the angling deadline). These fish should start to get more active this time of year as water temperatures begin to drop.

Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good, with fish spread through the river system. Last updated 10/9/24.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: steelhead, Chinook

Fall Chinook fishing has been good. With the rains we get this week, hopefully the fishing will pick up in the bay this weekend. Bank fishing on the lower portion of the basin offers decent opportunity for Chinook.

The Salmon River is open for trout fishing. Early mornings or later afternoons are the best times to hit the system. A bit further upstream where the water is more shaded may offer better opportunity. Last updated 9/18/24.

SILETZ RIVER: summer steelhead, Chinook, coho

Fall Chinook is open on the Siletz and fishing has been fair to good. We haven't gotten enough rain yet to really pull many fish into the river system, but we should see those conditions and fishing improve in the next few weeks.

The wild coho retention begins Sept.14-Nov. 15. Anglers should focus their efforts in tidewater until we see significant rainfall.

Anglers have been catching summer steelhead throughout the Siletz Gorge. Good numbers of fish are moving higher in the gorge.

Trout fishing remains open through Oct. 31. Last updated 9/25/24.

SIUSLAW RIVER: cutthroat, Chinook, coho

Fall Chinook is open on the Siuslaw and fishing has been fair to good. Anglers should focus their efforts in the bay until significant rains occur.

The wild Coho retention begins Sept. 14-Oct. 15. Anglers should focus their efforts in tidewater until we see significant rainfall.

The Siuslaw is open for trout fishing through Oct. 31. Focusing efforts in the early morning or later afternoon will be best. Last updated 9/25/24.

THREE RIVERS: cutthroat trout

Three Rivers from the mouth to the hatchery deadline opened to steelhead and Chinook fishing on Oct. 1. There is some opportunity for hatchery summer steelhead. It will probably take some rain before fall Chinook start to show up in this small tributary.

Three Rivers above the hatchery weir remains open for hatchery steelhead and cutthroat trout. There probably are not many steelhead up there as hatchery fish are not passed above the weir, but there should be cutthroat trout throughout the basin. Last updated 10/2/24.

TILLAMOOK BAY: Chinook, coho, sea-run cutthroat trout

Tillamook Bay was a little slow forfall Chinook last week, but there are salmon present in both the lower and upper bay.There are fish being caught daily. Fishing should continue to improve throughout the rest of the month. The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook River and Bay, Kilchis River, Miami River, Wison River, and Trask River) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.

Coho salmon are also present in the bay. Fishing is starting to improve with more coho showing and some getting caught although it's a little on the slow side; it should keep getting better as the month goes on. There is a hatchery coho release on the Trask River and those fish are showing in the catch as more fish arrive in the bay. In addition, the wild coho fishery opened in Tillamook Bay on Saturday, Sept. 7. Tillamook Bay is open to retention of 1 adult wild coho per day and 2 per season on WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS only, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 23. See the regulation updates online for more details.

Sea-run cutthroat trout fishing has slowed in tidewater, but there are still some around. Last updated 10/9/24.

TRASK RIVER: Chinook, hatchery coho, cutthroat trout

The Trask River is closed to angling from the marker at Dam Hole (MP 7 on Trask River Road) up to Blue Ridge Creek Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.

The Trask River 200 feet above and 900 feet below Gold Creek at Trask Hatchery (which includes the "hatchery hole" closed to fishing July 16 and will remain closed until Oct. 15.

Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good, with fish spread through mainstem and forks of the river. Sea-run cutthroat are throughout the fishery at this point.

The Trask River opened to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 (up to the forks), Fish are present in the tidal portion of the river, with fair fishing opportunity. It will take some significant rain to move Chinook into the river in any numbers.

The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook (including bay), Kilchis, Miami, Wison and Trask rivers) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.

The Trask also has a hatchery coho salmon run, but like the Chinook those fish won't show up above tidewater in any numbers until we get some rain. Last updated 10/9/24.

WILSON RIVER: summer steelhead, cutthroat

The Wilson gets a release of hatchery summer steelhead and those fish are throughout the river. Most fish are holding in the upper river and while it's been hard to entice them to bite, there are some being caught. As the fall brings cooler water temperatures these fish should get more active, and hopefully more willing to bite.

Trout fishing should be fair throughout the river.

The Wilson River is open to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 by regulation (up to Jordan Creek), but right now fish are only present in the lower tidewater areas until we get more rain.

The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook River and Bay, Kilchis River, Miami River, Wison River, and Trask River) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details. Last Updated 9/25/24.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.