Northwest Zone

NW Fishing

Dec. 18, 2025

Best bets for weekend fishing

• Winter steelhead are in the North Fork Nehalem, Necanicum River, Big Creek, Gnat Creek, and Klaskanine River. These streams get early returning hatchery steelhead and will provide the best opportunity for catching winter steelhead in December. These streams are likely to blow out again with heavy rains predicted on Thursday but hopefully will drop back to fishable levels by the weekend.
• Hatchery coho are still coming in on the Trask River and North Fork Nehalem River. Many fish are getting past prime, but there are still some in good condition available and will be throughout the month of December. The North Fork Nehalem was high but fishable last weekend with some fish (mostly steelhead) being caught but may blow out again with the heavy rain predicted for Thursday. The Trask has remained high and off color and may not be fishable until next week. (There is no retention of wild coho allowed.)
• Both the Nestucca River and Wilson River are still high and off color, and may remain so through the weekend, but once they come back into shape there should be some winter steelhead showing up.
• There are still hold over trout from last spring's stockings that are available to catch in some lakes. Hebo Lake, South Lake, Town Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Lost Lake should provide the best opportunity.
• Going into the weekend the rivers will likely be high and blown out, though a variety of the midcoast rivers settle fairly quickly! As we go into the weekend be mindful of the large amounts of rain expected Thursday into Friday and how that may impact the enviornment around your favorite fishing hole!
• 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.
• Fall Chinook in most of our midcoast basins is coming to a close. Those the season runs through December, the bite is quite slow as we move into the winter months!
• Wild coho retention is open on both Siltcoos and Takenitch lakes. The bite has been fair so far. Fish can access both lakes via the fish ladders and have been coming in over the past few weeks!

Trout stocking:

Regular stocking will resume in Feb. 2026.

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.

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Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st on the Nestucca, Tillamook basin rivers (Tillamook, Trask, Wilson, Kilchis, and Miami), Nehalem, and Necanicum. No retention or targeting of Chinook salmon is allowed the remainder of the year.

Catch and release fisheries for chum salmon closed November 15^th on the Kilchis and Miami Rivers.

There is no retention of wild coho in Nestucca, Tillamook, or Nehalem rivers and bays. The wild coho fisheries in these areas closed October 27.

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: Fall Chinook, hatchery winter steelhead

Fall Chinook is winding to a close on the Alsea river. Overall the bite was fair to good on the Alsea for Chinook! Hatchery Steelhead is open on the Alsea River. The early bite is starting to pick up more and more for winter steelhead and fish are reaching our Hatchery traps at the Alsea Hatchery! The Alsea River does have a hatchery component to its winter steelhead run offering additional opportunities for harvest! The traps at Alsea River Hatchery are open and currently seeing their first wave of winter steelhead hit the hatchery! However, the Alsea River fishing hotline is no longer in operation. For up to date upper/lower trap counts click here. For more information on steelhead fishing on the Alsea, reach out to Alsea Hatchery Staff or Midcoast District staff!  Last updated 12/16/25.

KILCHIS RIVER: winter steelhead

It is still early for winter steelhead on the Kilchis River, the run peaks January through March. There may be a few fish around now, but numbers will increase later in the run. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis River, so when the fishery does get going it will be mostly catch and release for wild steelhead. The Kilchis is still on the high side of good condition and will most likely blow out again on Thursday; it should drop into shape by early next week.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year.

The catch and release chum fishery closed November 15^th.

Cutthroat trout season closed November 1. Last updated 12/16/25.

LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): hatchery steelhead

The Lower Columbia tributaries have hatchery steelhead coming back. Big Creek and Klaskanine hatcheries have already recycled some fish for additional angler opportunity. Gnat Creek is reporting some steelhead being caught as well. The streams may blow out again on the heavy rains predicted for Thursday, but these basins drop quickly. Keep an eye on conditions and hit them as they drop and clear. Last updated 12/16/25.

NECANICUM RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Necanicum River gets a run of early returning hatchery winter steelhead (North Fork Nehalem stock) and has steelhead throughout the fishery at this point.. The Necanicum is in decent shape as of this writing but may blow out again on Thursday. Keep an eye on conditions and put in the effort when it drops and starts to clear. There is good bank access at Peterson Point (off Hwy 101), Drake access (Hwy 26 and Sugarloaf Mainline) and Klootchie County Park (off Hwy 26). For those looking to get an early winter steelhead the Necanicum will be one of the best chances.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year. Cutthroat trout season closed November 1.

The Highway 101 boat ramp south of Seaside has the combination lock back on it. Anglers can call the Tillamook office at (503) 842-2741 and provide their Hunter/Angler ID number to receive the combo. Last updated 12/16/25.

NEHALEM RIVER: Winter steelhead

No retention of wild coho is allowed. The wild coho fishery closed October 27.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year.

The mainstem Nehalem will likely go another weekend without dropping into decent condition. The upper river should come back into shape quicker. Winter steelhead fishing on the mainstem Nehalem won't really get started until late December anyway. The run on the mainstem peaks January through March. There are no hatchery releases in the mainstem so when the fishery does get going it will be mostly catch and release for wild steelhead.

Cutthroat trout season closed November 1. Last updated 12/16/25.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER: hatchery coho; winter steelhead.

The North Fork Nehalem dropped back into fishable condition last weekend and there were some steelhead caught. It will probably blow out again on Thursday but once it drops into shape again there should be steelhead throughout the fishery. For those wanting to get an early winter steelhead the North Fork provides one of the best opportunities.

Hatchery coho are also still returning to the North Fork Nehalem and while many fish are getting dark, there will still be some fish in good condition well into December.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year.

Last updated 12/16/25.

NESTUCCA RIVER & LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER: winter steelhead

The Nestucca peaked over 16 feet last week and is still high and off color. With another heavy rain predicted for this Thursday it is unlikely it will be fishable this weekend, but once it does come back in shape there should be some steelhead around. The Nestucca gets one of our largest releases of hatchery steelhead and provides good fishing opportunity late December through early April.

No retention of wild coho allowed. The wild coho fishery closed on October 27.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year. Winter steelhead should start showing up this month, but numbers will be low this early in the season. The run on the Nestucca peaks January through March.

Cutthroat trout season closed November1. Last updated 12/16/25.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.

SALMON RIVER: Fall Chinook, winter steelhead

Like its neighbors the Fall Chinook fishery on the Salmon River is winding down to a close. The bite was fair overall, and some fish are still to be found in the upper reaches of the fishery but for the most part fall chinook fishing is slowing down. There is no wild coho fishery on the Salmon River!

Winter steelhead will start moving into the basin, though it is still early it is likely fish will be moving into the basin in the coming weeks! The Salmon River tends to be one of the midcoast rivers that settles out decently quick after a big rain event and may offer some oppurtunity for clearer waters earlier on!

Check your regulations before you head out for bait or stream restrictions. Last updated 12/16/25.

SILETZ RIVER: Fall Chinook winter steelhead

Fall Chinook is slowing down as we progress towards the end of the season. Folks have been fishing higher up in the system down through the town loop, and chinook are still around but more than likely starting to get skunky!

Wild Coho retention on the Siletz is now closed! If you hook into wild coho, please remember to practice good catch and release tactics!

Winter steelhead are also entering into the Siletz! It is earlier in the season but anglers are starting to catch fish.

There was a landslide on HWY 229 resulting in a road closure at approximately milepost 14.5. HWY229 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 12/16/25.

SIUSLAW RIVER: Fall Chinook, winter steelhead

The Siuslaw is still open for Fall Chinook. Like its neighbors, for the most part fish have moved up and out of the lower stretches of the Siuslaw and are moving further up into the basin. As a general reminder: Lake Creek Basin is CLOSED to all Salmon Angling!

Like its neighbors, the Siuslaw is starting to see winter steelhead moving into the system, though it's still early and the bite won't pick up until later in the winter, fish are around and offer a fun opportunity! Last updated 12/15/25.

THREE RIVERS: Winter steelhead

Three Rivers has some steelhead showing up. It will probably blow out again on Thursday but may fish by the weekend (although still on the high side).

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year. No retention of wild coho is allowed. Cutthroat trout season closed November 1. Last updated 12/16/25.

TRASK RIVER: hatchery coho; winter steelhead

The Trask River remained high through last weekend and with heavy rains predicted for Thursday will probably blow out again. Once it does come back in shape there should be opportunity for winter steelhead and hatchery coho. The hatchery coho run is winding down a bit as many fish are getting close to spawning but there are still some bright fish. Steelhead are just getting started and will peak January through March. There are no hatchery steelhead releases on the Trask, so it is mostly a catch and release fishery for wild steelhead.

There is no retention of wild coho.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year. Last updated 12/16/25.

WILSON RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Wilson peaked near 15 feet (flood stage) and is still high as of this writing. It will probably blow out again with the heavy rain predicted for Thursday. Once it does come back into shape there should be some winter steelhead showing up. The Wilson gets a good release of hatchery winter steelhead which usually show up late December and peak January through March, but there have been some early fish caught already this month.

No retention of wild coho is allowed.

Fall Chinook season closed December 1^st. There is no retention or angling for Chinook salmon allowed the rest of the year. Last updated 12/16/25.

Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.

YAQUINA RIVER: Fall Chinook, winter steelhead

Fall Chinook is open on the Yaquina but slower than most of its neighbors. Chinook are moving further upstream, and folks have had some decent luck higher up in the system! As we progress further towards the end of the season, the bite continues to slow down as fish move higher up into the system to spawn.

Like its neighbors, the Yaquina is starting to see winter steelhead moving into the system, though it's still early and the bite won't pick up until later in the winter, fish are around and offer a fun opportunity!

Wild coho retention is now closed on the Yaquina . Last updated 12/15/25.