Recreation Report
Northwest Zone
Recreation Report
Crooked River rainbow trout -Photo by Mike Belcher-
NW Fishing
May 14, 2026
Spring Chinook are in the Lower Columbia Tributaries with fish being caught in Big Creek and Gnat Creek (there should be some fish in the Klaskanine River as well).
Spring Chinook fishing is finally getting started in Tillamook Bay and Nestucca Bay with reports of a few fish being caught the past week. There have even been a few coming out of the lower Trask River up to hatchery hole, and there are probably low numbers in the lower Nestucca River as well.
The Nestucca and Wilson Rivers should be starting to get some summer steelhead back into them and we've heard rumors of a few being caught. Fishing should continue to improve through June.
North Coast lakes received the first hatchery rainbow trout stocking in mid-March. Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, and Vernonia pond were stocked a second time the week of March 30th. Town Lake, South Lake, Hebo Lake, North Lake, Tahoe Lake, Nedonna Pond, Lake Lytle, Cape Meares Lake, Loren's Pond, Sunset Lake, Lost Lake, and Coffenbury Lake received a second stocking the week of April 13th. Town Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Meares Lake, and Vernonia Pond received additional stockings the week of 4/27. Nehalem hatchery had some surplus trout so Coffenbury lake received an extra stocking (not on the schedule this week (5/11). The next stockings will be the week of June 1. Water conditions are still decent in most of the lakes, and rain falling on the North Coast should help them stay that way this week.. Lake Lytle is very weedy making angling difficult; if you're planning to fish there do some research on weedless fishing rigs to up the odds of success and reduce frustration! There is active logging on the South Fork Trask Road which leads to Tahoe Lake, anglers accessing the lake from Monday – Friday should use caution. North Lake was NOT stocked this spring because of extremely low water levels.
Warm water fisheries for bass and sunfish are picking up as water temperatures warm and these fish start spawning. Cape Meares Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, and Vernonia pond all have decent populations of warm water species available for catching. Lake Lytle also has a good largemouth bass population but it is very weedy making angling a challenge. Recent sampling showed that the population of bass in Cape Meares and Coffenbury are healthy with decent numbers and size of fish, however in Town Lake the population is down with low numbers remaining.
Currently, only the Siletz River is open for steelhead on the Mid Coast. Steelhead fishing on the Siletz may be slow in the transition period between winters and summers. Anglers have reported landing a few summer steelhead on the Siletz, but reports have been minimal with current low water conditions. The extended weather forecast is looking dry so this will likely slow fish movement. As a reminder, many streams are closed until May 22 for trout angling. Be sure to double check the regulations before heading out and be aware of seasonal angling closures.
Many Mid Coast lakes have been stocked with hatchery rainbow trout this spring, but more are on the way! Big Creek Reservoir 1 and 2, Cleawox Lake, Thissel Pond, Woahink Lake, Carter Lake, Mercer Lake, Dune Lake, Alder Lake, Buck Lake, Sutton Lake, Olalla Reservoir, Siltcoos Lake, and Perkins Lake were all stocked during the month of April.
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:
April 20- May 8:
Devil's Lake, Vernonia Lake, Hebo Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Town Lake, Munsel Lake, Carter Lake, Sutton Lake, Thissel Pond, Cleawox Lake.
May 11- 29:
Eckman Lake, Big Creek Res 1 and 2, Alder Lake, Olalla Creek Res, Dune Lake, Thissel Pond, Perkins Lake, Cleawox Lake, Scout Lake, Alder Lake, Buck Lake. Coffenbury 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
Gear restrictions went into effect May 1st on Three Rivers and the Trask River. See waterbody updates below and the regulation book for details.
Many small streams, upper river reaches, and tributaries closed to steelhead angling on April 1, check the sport fishing regulations for the waterbody you plan to fish before heading out in April.
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.
Alsea River closed for winter steelhead angling April 30.
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Updates by waterbody
ALSEA RIVER: Crabbing, clamming, surf perch
Steelhead fishing on the Alsea River closed April 30. Trout angling will open May 22 – trout angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Alsea Bay can be a great option for crabbing and bay clamming. Be sure to watch the tides and be sure to follow daily limits. For more information of crabbing and clamming, refer to the Marine Recreation Report. Last updated 5/12/26.
KILCHIS RIVER:
No new reports from the Kilchis River. Winter steelhead fishing is over and the Kilchis does not get any spring Chinook or summer steelhead so there won't be much going on there until trout season opens in the streams on May 22nd. Last updated 5/13/26.
LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): spring Chinook
It sounds like spring Chinook fishing is getting started on the Lower Columbia tributaries. Big creek and Gnat Creek are starting to produce some fish, and Big Creek has gotten some back to the hatchery trap. Klaskanine should have a few around as well. Fishing should continue to improve from here on out. Last updated 5/13/26.
NECANICUM RIVER: Closed to angling April 1 through May 21
The Highway 101 boat ramp south of Seaside will be closed to vehicle access until next fall to reduce dumping and illegal camping. A combination lock will be put back on the gate for angler access next fall usually around mid-October. Walk in access is still permitted through the summer. The Necanicum will re-open to angling on May 22.
NEHALEM RIVER & NORTH FORK NEHALEM:
No new reports on the Nehalem. Winter steelhead is over, and there are no summer steelhead or spring Chinook on the Nehalem basin. There won't be much opportunity on this river until trout season opens on May 22nd. The upper Nehalem River (above the Hwy 26 bridge at Elsie closed to angling on April 1). Last updated 5/13/26.
NESTUCCA RIVER & LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER: Spring Chinook, summer steelhead
Spring Chinook is getting started on Nestucca Bay. The Little Nestucca gets some hatchery spring Chinook back as well. Numbers of springers above tidewater will be low on both rivers early in the season, but there is probably a few sneaking into the lower river.
The Nestucca also gets a hatchery summer steelhead run, and those fish should be showing up as well. Last updated 5/13/26.
River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.
SALMON RIVER: Closed to angling April 1 through May 21
Salmon River closed to angling April 1. Trout angling will open May 22 – trout angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 5/4/26.
SILETZ RIVER: Summer steelhead, spring Chinook
The Siletz is low and clear and looks to remain that way for the foreseeable future. The lack of rain will likely slow fish movement, but dedicated anglers could still test their luck at an early summer steelhead! Anglers had reported catching a few early summers at the end of April, but angling pressure and reports have been minimal due to low water conditions. The bank access in the upper gorge offers a unique and often remote fishing experience. Anglers are reminded to be mindful of late spawning winter steelhead and to avoid disturbing redds. The Siletz is currently open for spring Chinook (April 1- July 31). Trout angling will open May 22 – trout angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures.
A landslide on HWY 229 has resulted in a road closure at approximately milepost 14.5. HWY 229 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 5/12//26.
SIUSLAW RIVER: Rockfish, surf perch, crabbing
The jetties can be a great place to target rockfish and surf perch during the spring. For more information on surf perch, crabbing, rockfish and lingcod, refer to the Marine Recreation Report. Trout angling will open May 22 – trout angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 5/12/26.
THREE RIVERS: spring Chinook, summer steelhead
Three Rivers gets both hatchery spring Chinook and hatchery summer steelhead but it's a little early for both species in this small trib. They should start to show up this month. Anti-Snagging Gear Restrictions go into effect May 1st to July 15th (See page 18 and page 30 of the regulation booklet). Last updated 5/13/26.
TILLAMOOK BAY: Spring Chinook, marine bottom fish, surf perch
Spring Chinook are finally starting to show up in Tillamook Bay with some fish being checked in at Garibaldi over the past week. There has also been a little angling effort in the upper bay. Fishing should continue to improve throughout the month and into June.
Spring can be a good time to target rockfish and ling cod off the Tillamook Bay jetties (the North jetty provides the only bank angling this spring as the South jetty is still undergoing repairs/construction). Concentrate on slack tides for the best odds of success. Jigs, bait, and shrimp flies are all good methods.
Surf perch will start moving into the bay in May to spawn and will provide some fishing opportunities from May through early July. Last updated 5/13/26.
TRASK RIVER: Spring Chinook
The Trask gets a run of hatchery spring Chinook and angling effort has been picking up below the hatchery, and there have been some confirmed catches. Numbers of fish above tidewater will probably be low, but some rain this week might get a few more on the move.
The North and South Forks of the Trask closed to angling on April 1.
Angling is restricted to fly fishing or bobber fishing from the marker at Loren's Drift (RM 9) up to Cedar Creek Boat slide (RM 10.9) from May 1st to July 31st. (See Bobber Fishing Rule on page 18 of the regulation book).
Trask hatchery has some damage to the access road so anglers and visitors will need to park up top and walk down. Last updated 5/13/26.
WILSON RIVER: Summer steelhead
The Wilson gets a run of hatchery summer steelhead and there are rumors of a couple being caught. Fishing is still slow but should continue to improve though the month of May and into June. Tillamook is getting a little rain this week which might push a few fish into the river.
The Little North Fork Wilson, and South Fork Wilson closed to angling on April 1.
There are no hatchery spring Chinook releases on the Wilson River. Last updated 5/13/26.
Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.
YAQUINA RIVER: Chinook salmon, rockfish, surf perch
The Yaquina River and bay are open for Chinook salmon April 1 – December 31. Trout angling will open May 22 – trout angling is restricted to artificial flies and lures. Be sure to check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. The jetties can be a great place to target rockfish and surf perch during the spring. For information on marine species such as surf perch, rockfish and lingcod, refer to the Marine Recreation Report. Last updated 5/12/26.