Northwest Zone

March 19, 2025‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Best bets for weekend fishing

• North coast steelhead fishing picked up a little over the weekend and was fair on the basins that were in shape. This coming week once again has rain and a rise in the rivers predicted for the weekend. There are winter steelhead throughout the fisheries. The Nestucca, Wilson and North Fork Nehalem Rivers will offer the best opportunities for catching hatchery steelhead.
• North Coast lakes are getting the first spring stocking of rainbow trout this week and all of the lakes listed below should have fish by the weekend. The fish look really good this year and are a great size for catching and eating! One exception is South lake, which was not able to be stocked this week due to snow on the access road; we will be getting those fish in as soon as possible.
• Surplus winter steelhead have been released into Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond and Lost Lake, and surplus summer steelhead were released into Town Lake recently. 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.
• As rains continued last week and moving into the weekend, the Mid Coast should remain fishable. Steelhead are moving throughout our basins as the temperatures rise!

Trout stocking

Scheduled to be stocked the week of March 17:

Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, Sunset Lake, Lost Lake (Clatsop County), Vernonia Pond, Town Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Smith Lake, Tahoe Lake, Spring Lake, Lake Lytle, Loren's Pond, Nedonna Pond

Stocked the week of March 10:

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

NOTE: Ojalla Lake will be closed for maintenance from April-September 2025. Trout will still be stocked in the lake leading up to the closure, but will shift to other locations once the closure happens. Keep an eye out for updates to the stocking schedule to track where the fish are going.

Check out the 2025 stocking schedule.

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

Steelhead fishing continues to be fair on the Alsea River. A few folks are catching fish either floating lower down in the system or fishing near the hatchery holes. The bite has definitely slowed down but fish are still in the system as we head itno into a fishable weekend.

There's a lot of bank fishing access, and fish have been getting caught, near the hatchery holes. Drift fishing in the lower basin has also been productive for anglers in the Alsea Basin. Last updated 3/19/25.

KILCHIS RIVER: winter steelhead

The Kilchis River is in decent shape and there should be fish throughout the system. We've got rain coming in the end of the week so keep an eye on conditions. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis, so it's mostly a catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead. Last updated 3/19/25.

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

Hatchery winter steelhead returns on the Lower Columbia tributaries are mostly over and no adult fish were trapped this week. Last updated 3/19/25.

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 is in decent shape and there should be fish throughout the system. We have rain predicted for the end of the week so keep an eye on conditions. The hatchery steelhead run is over on the Necanicum but there is still good catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead throughout the fishery. Last updated 3/19/25.

NEHALEM RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the Nehalem mainstem was fair the end of last week, but with rain in the forecast again it's possible conditions may be poor this weekend and into next week. There are no hatchery steelhead releases in the Nehalem, so this is mostly a catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead which are throughout the fishery. Last updated 3/19/25.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the North Fork slowed over the past week and not much fish movement has been seen. Hopefully the rain this weekend will also bring another push of fish. There are still broodstock hatchery fish coming back in good shape and catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead throughout the fishery. Last updated 3/19/25.

NESTUCCA RIVER: winter steelhead

The Nestucca is just dropping into prime shape and anglers can expect fair to good steelhead fishing. Unfortunately, it isn't going to stay in shape long and will likely be high for the weekend.

The Nestucca has one of our largest releases of broodstock hatchery fish and they should be throughout the fishery with fresh fish still coming in. There are both hatchery and wild winter steelhead (catch-and-release only for wilds) throughout the fishery. Last updated 3/19/25.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: steelhead

Winter steelhead continues to be fair on the Salmon River. We're not getting a tone of reports of fish being caught, but there are definitely fish throughout the system. With the recent rains fish are likely pushing higher into the system. There is some decent bank access higher up in the system to chase these elusive fish. Last updated 3/19/25.

SILETZ RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead slowed down a bit on the Siletz. Like its neighbors, it's been a fair season on the Siletz, with fish seemingly being caught in big waves this year. Fish are taking advantage of the warmer weather and moving higher up into the basin. Fish have been caught in the upper gorge area and throughout some of the lower drift floats.

The upper gorge offers bank access for targeting winter steelhead. The gorge road has been cleared out and is accessible throughout the entire upper fishery. Fish don't seem to be quite so high in the system just yet, but they are definitely moving that direction.

Just a reminder that the gorge road is closed to public driving access during the weekdays M-F but opens for the weekend.

The Siletz is a truly unique system offering multiple opportunities for a variety of species. Last updated 3/19/25.

SIUSLAW RIVER: winter steelhead

The Siuslaw has been producing a decent run with good angler success. Like its neighbors, the Siuslaw basin's fish have been taking advantage of the warmer weather and moving about throughout the basin. Fish have been returning to our trap higher up in the system and are definitely moving throughout the upper basin. With the rains going into the weekend we expect to see more fish being caught. Last updated 3/19/25.

THREE RIVERS: winter steelhead

Three Rivers had some fair steelhead fishing this past week. Rain is predicted for the end of the week so keep an eye on conditions. Last updated 3/19/25.

TRASK RIVER: winter steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Trask has been slow to fair this week. It is in good shape as of this writing but will probably be high by the weekend with the coming rains. 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 3/19/25.

WILSON RIVER: winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the Wilson picked up a little early this week after a slow weekend. It will be on the rise again by Thursday but should drop back into good shape early next week.

The Wilson is one of our largest broodstock hatchery releases and there should be fish throughout the fishery and fresh steelhead still coming in. There are both hatchery and wild steelhead (catch-and-release only for wilds) throughout the fishery. Last updated 3/19/25.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.