Northwest Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
March 13, 2024
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Best bets for weekend fishing
- Spring might finally be making an appearance on the North Coast; the rivers are starting to drop and the forecast is dry. Most of the rivers in the district will be in great shape for steelhead fishing this weekend and into next week. There are still plenty of winter steelhead around including hatchery steelhead on the Nestucca and Wilson.
- Surplus hatchery winter steelhead have been planted in Town Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond, and Lake Lytle. Catching a steelhead out of still water can be a fun and unique experience and may be a good option when the rivers are blown out, or low and clear.
- The Mid Coast steelhead bite has slowed down and continued to remain fair after the rains and snow we got last weekend. Going into our upcoming week end it's likely the fishery will stay slow to fair. However, with temps and river levels dropping we may see a decent bite this weekend.
- As you head out this weekend be wary of roads that may be icy and more treacherous than what we seen the past few weeks. Especially as you head higher in elevation the ice and snow are persisting.
- Anglers that catch a hatchery steelhead are encouraged to donate the snout at the ODFW office in Roseburg. Collection barrels are at many boat ramps on the South Umpqua. These snouts may contain a coded-wire tag that will help inform managers on the best release strategy to improve the program. Those who contribute snouts with coded-wire tags are entered into a monthly drawing for a gift card to Sportsman's Warehouse. Last updated 2/28/24.
- Lakes up and down the Mid Coast are back on stocking schedule. As rivers are blown out lake fishing offers additional opportunity to catch some fish! Check the stocking schedule for an up-to-date look at recently stocked lakes!
- If you're striking out on the rivers, the Mid Coast beaches offer some great opportunity for surfperch and other near shore species. The surf going into the weekend is a bit high for surf perch most of the weekend, but Thursday and Friday may offer some decent opportunity. Head out a few hours before high tide to scout your spot!
Recently stocked
Scheduled to be stocked the week of March 11:
Big Creek Reservoir 1&2, Lost Lake, Munsel Lake, Devil's Lake, Carter Lake, Thissel Pond, Buck Lake, Siltcoos Lake, Eckman Lake, Cleawox Lake, Georgia Lake N, Mercer Lake, Alder Lake, Woahink Lake, Elbow Lake, Dune Lake
Recently stocked:
Cleawox Lake, Olalla Creek Reservoir
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-tagging tips for anglers
It's important for anglers to tag their salmon and steelhead immediately, which means you'll need to know how to navigate the MyODFW app outside of cell phone range. Here are some tips for e-tagging in the field.
Watch for boating hazards
Boaters should use extreme caution following this storm. The high water may have brought down new trees and created new obstacles. Check the Oregon State Marine Boards, Boating Obstructions map.
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: winter steelhead
The Alsea river has been fair the past few weeks. The first component of the run has come in and as we move further into March fish are still being caught. The Alsea Hatchery holes have been providing some excellent bank fishing for some of these fish. There are hatchery steelhead open for retention in the Alsea Basin.
The upper Alsea floats have also been producing a decent number of fish as a new batch of fish works its way up into the system. Newer fish have been filtering into the system, as the water stays cold and clear.
After the rains we got last week, the river should see some more fish moving throughout the basin, and levels will be low and clear going into this weekend. Expect to see some rain Saturday and Sunday, which may shift conditions.
Check the regulations before you head out this weekend! Last updated 3/6/24.
KILCHIS RIVER: winter steelhead
The Kilchis is looking very fishy right now, in other words it is in great condition for angling, and should stay that way through the weekend. There should be good opportunity with the catch mostly consisting of wild steelhead (catch-and-release only).
The Mapes Creek (logging bridge) boat ramp was damaged in the December storm and is still closed. Boaters should use extreme caution and check the ramp before launching there. Last updated 3/13/24.
LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): winter steelhead
The hatchery steelhead returns in Big Creek, Gnat Creek and Klaskanine River are over for the most part. Last updated 3/6/24.
MIAMI RIVER: winter steelhead
Fishing conditions are good on the Miami River and should continue to be through the weekend. Wild fish are present and provide catch-and-release opportunity. Angler access is limited on the Miami. Last updated 3/13/24.
NECANICUM RIVER: winter steelhead
The hatchery steelhead run on the Necanicum River is nearly over, and there will be very few still around. There are wild steelhead throughout the fishery that provide catch-and-release opportunity, and fishing has been good when conditions cooperate. The Necanicum should be in good shape through the weekend and into the early part of next week.
Boaters should use extreme caution on the Necanicum as the winter weather over the last few weeks could have brought down trees and created new boating hazards.
The boat ramp on the Necanicum at Hwy 101 has been gated to prevent illegal camping and dumping, but anglers can call the Tillamook office at (503) 842 – 2741 to receive the combination to the lock and access to the ramp. Anglers will need to provide their ODFW hunter/anger ID number to receive access. Last updated 3/13/24.
NEHALEM RIVER AND BAY: winter steelhead
The Nehalem has good catch-and-release opportunities for wild steelhead throughout the basin. The upper river should be in shape by the weekend, the lower river is just now starting to drop and probably won't be in decent shape until early next week. Last updated 3/13/24.
River levels and predictions for the Nehalem are available here.
NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER: winter steelhead
The North Fork is slightly on the high side but has good color and is on the drop. It should fish through the weekend and into early next week before getting too clear.The majority of the hatchery run is over, but there are still wild broodstock hatchery steelhead coming in and will continue through the season, although numbers will be lower than earlier in the run. There's also catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead. Last updated 3/13/24.
NESTUCCA RIVER: winter steelhead
Steelhead fishing on the Nestucca picked up last week before the rain event blew it out. It is still high as of this writing but should drop into great shape by the weekend (bank fishing on the upper river should be good before that). There is still good opportunity for hatchery fish in the Nestucca as well as catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead. This river would be the authors pick for the weekend, with higher water but good green color look for fish to be holding in the tailouts and along the margins as well as in the usual spots. Last updated 3/13/24.
River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.
SALMON RIVER: steelhead
Early winter steelhead have been entering the system, though the bite hasn't picked up quite yet. With the rains coming in, the fishery has set up similarly to the Alsea where those early fish coming in went high into the system quickly. As the river levels dropped and cleared out, the fishing has certainly picked up. Floating from Red Bridge down is a great opportunity, as well as bank casting further up in the basin. More fish have been caught in the past few weeks and we should see additional fish coming into the basin as we move into March.
Check your regulations before you head out. Last updated 2/21/24.
SILETZ RIVER: winter steelhead
Like the Salmon and Alsea rivers, the first big push of winter steelhead have entered the system. The Siletz also has a hatchery component to its steelhead run and provides a great opportunity for early season steelhead retention. Most of the earlier fish have shot up and are hanging around in the upper Siletz Gorge. Some of the deeper pools after the 4-mile bridge likely have some fish hanging around. The Gorge provides excellent bank fishing opportunity but as winter flows settle in, be mindful of traversing the river at higher flows.
Lower down in the system floating through town, anywhere between Moonshine and Morgan has shown some excellent success. Folks are landing several fish per trip! The bite has slowed over the past week, although conditions have remained fair. This weekend is set to be low and clear with rains arriving Saturday and Sunday, which may change conditions.
Trout fishing will reopen May 22. Last updated 03/6/24.
SIUSLAW RIVER: steelhead
The Siuslaw is open for retention of hatchery winter steelhead. Fish have moved higher up into the system and it's been a fair fishery so far. Folks are catching fish throughout the basin as fish are moving through. The bite has remained fair but higher up into the system anglers should see some success on fish coming through!
Trout fishing will reopen May 22. Last updated 2/21/24.
THREE RIVERS: winter steelhead
Three Rivers should be dropping into shape today and will fish through the weekend and into next week. Expect fair opportunity for hatchery steelhead as well as catch-and-release opportunity for wild fish. Last updated 3/13/24.
TRASK RIVER: winter steelhead
The Trask River is high as of this writing but is greening up and is on the drop and should be in prime shape for the weekend (The North and South Forks are probably in decent shape already). There are no hatchery steelhead releases on the Trask, but wild steelhead are spread throughout the basin and provide catch and release opportunity. Last updated 3/6/24.
Trask river levels and predictions are available here.
WILSON RIVER: winter steelhead
The Wilson is a little high still but is greening up and should be in prime shape tomorrow. It'll fish through the weekend although might get clear by early next week. Fishing has been fair to good on the Wilson this year and there is good opportunity for both hatchery and wild steelhead (catch-and-release only for wilds).
The upper river, below the South Fork, is probably already in shape although still a little high. Last Updated 3/13/24.
Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.
YAQUINA RIVER: winter steelhead
Winter steelhead will be entering the system and like our other basins will likely take advantage of the recent rains to move quickly upriver. It's been slow on the Yaquina. Last updated 2/7/24.
Regulation Updates
Regulation updates as of December 8, 2023.
The following regulations reflect changes or additions to the permanent regulations listed in the 2023 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. All other permanent regulations remain in effect. Please see e-regulations.
As part of the wild coho salmon aggregate bag limit, no more than 5 wild coho salmon may be harvested per year in the Northwest and Southwest Zones with open wild coho salmon fisheries. Wild coho jacks may only be retained on days open to adult wild coho retention.
Hatchery steelhead, hatchery coho salmon, pink salmon, and sockeye salmon, may be retained as part of the adult and jack salmon daily bag limit in all Northwest Zone waters that are currently open to angling for Chinook salmon or steelhead, except as specified in Exceptions.
Aggregate: The total number of fish or shellfish in a bag limit. Generally used where several species make up a combined bag limit, or where a single species bag limit is set for the combined harvest from a specified group of water bodies.
For more information contact your local ODFW office:
- Tillamook North Coast Watershed District Office (503) 842-2741 (north of the Salmon River).
- Newport District Office Annex (541) 812-8689 (Salmon River south to Umpqua Basin).