Northwest Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
April 24, 2024
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Best bets for weekend fishing
- Spring Chinook fishing doesn't usually heat up on the North Coast until May but there are a few showing up on the Lower Columbia tributaries, and there could be a springer or two poking into Tillamook or Nestucca bays.
- Most of the North Coast lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout, and stocking will continue through May. Water conditions and temperatures are good for fishing and the weeds haven't gotten going yet, so it is great time to take advantage of the stockings listed below and go catch some trout!
- Surplus hatchery steelhead have been planted in Town Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Vernonia Pond, Lost Lake, and Lake Lytle. Catching a steelhead out of still water can be a fun and unique experience.
- Summer steelhead should start showing up in the Wilson and Nestucca Rivers anytime now.
- Warmwater fishing in the North Coast lakes should get started soon. Warm water fish get more active, and thus fishing improves, as water temperatures get in the mid to upper 50s and we are still a little cooler than that. In the early season, concentrate on deeper parts of the lake.
- The Mid Coast steelhead bite has slowed down and continued to remain fair. We are supposed to get a decent amount of rain going into this weekend and most of the midcoast rivers wil jump about a foot. The remaining steelhead in the basins will take advantage of this and head into higher waters in the upper basins.
- 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 and clamming as well. Check out this link for more information on clamming during the minus tides.
Trout stocking
Scheduled to be stocked the week of April 22:
Big Creek Reservoir 2, Munsel Lake, Devil's Lake, Lost Lake (Clatsop County)
Recently stocked:
Sunset Lake, Mercer Lake, Loren's Pond, Lyle Lake, Big Cr Reservoir 1,
Cleawox Lake, Town Lake, Tahoe Lake, Georgia Lake, Siltcoos Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cape Meares Lake, Sutton Lake, Hebo Lake, Nedonna Pond, Olalla Cr Reservoir, Perkins Lake, South Lake
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 winter storms and high water events. 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 remained fair the past few weeks. Anglers are catching fish around the hatchery but the bite has definitely slowed. Water levels will be on the rise going into the weekend, so it's likely any fish lower down will start moving higher into the system. Lower down in the system will offer some decent floating opportunities although fish will likely be moving higher up this weekend.
Check the regulations before you head out this weekend! Last updated 4/24/24.
KILCHIS RIVER:
Winter steelhead on the Kilchis River is all but over, the fish that are still around will be spawned out or actively spawning. There are no spring Chinook releases in the Kilchis.
There won't be much fishing opportunity here until trout season opens in the streams on May 22. Last updated 4/24/24.
LOWER COLUMBIA TRIBUTARIES (Big Creek, Gnat Creek, Klaskanine River): spring Chinook
A few spring Chinook are starting to show up in these streams. It's still early and numbers are low but there is the chance of catching a springer. Last updated 4/24/24.
NEHALEM RIVER AND BAY:
The Nehalem River winter steelhead run is pretty much over and most remaining fish will be spawned out or actively spawning. There are no spring Chinook releases in the Nehalem.
There won't be much fishing opportunity in this basin until the streams open for trout on May 22. Last updated 4/24/24.
River levels and predictions for the Nehalem are available here.
NORTH FORK NEHALEM RIVER:
The North Fork Nehalem steelhead run is pretty much over. There won't be much fishing opportunity here until trout season opens in the streams on May 22. Last updated 4/24/24.
NESTUCCA RIVER: summer steelhead, spring Chinook
The Nestucca River winter steelhead season is just about over but the first summer steelhead of the season should show up anytime now.
There should be a spring Chinook or two showing up in the bay, although it is usually very slow until May. Last updated 4/24/24.
River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.
SALMON RIVER: steelhead
The Salmon River is now closed for steelhead. It was a decent season with some nice fish being caught once the winter rains slowed.
Check your regulations before you head out. Last updated 4/3/24.
SILETZ RIVER: winter steelhead, spring Chinook
The Siletz has been remaining fair and steady throughout March and moving into April. 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 Old Mill has shown some excellent success. The bite has slowed over the past week, although conditions have remained fair. This weekend will have a decent amount of rain coming through which will have fish pushing higher into the gorge.
We are still seeing fresh fish reaching the trap, which bodes well for bank angling along the upper gorge road! The obstruction land slide at mile post 12.1 has been removed allowing full access to the fishery.
Spring Chinook fishing has begun on the Siletz. Although it's still early in the season we have had a few reports of fish being caught lower in the system. With the rains we are getting this week going into the weekend we should see some fresh fish moving into the system.
Trout fishing will reopen May 22. Last updated 4/24/24.
SIUSLAW RIVER: steelhead
The Siuslaw is now closed for steelhead. Like its neighbors the Siuslaw was a fair and steady fishery with most fish being caught in and around late February into March.
Trout fishing will reopen May 22. Last updated 4/3/24.
THREE RIVERS: spring Chinook; summer steelhead
Three Rivers is pretty much done for winter steelhead, but there could be a summer steelhead or spring Chinook showing up anytime now. Last updated 4/24/24.
TILLAMOOK BAY: spring Chinook; marine species
The spring Chinook fishery on Tillamook Bay doesn't really get going strong until May but there could be the odd fish around. We've noticed a couple boats out trying already but haven't yet had any reports of springers being caught. Spring is also a good time of year to fish the jetty for rock fish, ling cod and surf perch. Last updated 4/24/24.
TRASK RIVER: spring Chinook
The Trask River is just about done for winter steelhead and most remaining fish will be spawned out or actively spawning. It is early for spring Chinook in the Trask, but there are probably a handful in the bay and we should start seeing some moving into the river by May. The Trask does not have a release of hatchery summer steelhead but is known to get the occasional stray. Trout fishing will open on the Trask on May 22. Last updated 4/24/24.
Trask river levels and predictions are available here.
WILSON RIVER: steelhead
Winter steelhead is just about done on the Wison, but the first summer steelhead should be showing up any time now. The Wilson does not get a hatchery spring Chinook release. Trout fishing will open in the Wison River on May 22. Last Updated 4/24/24.
Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.
YAQUINA RIVER: winter steelhead
Steelhead fishery is now closed on the Big Elk. It was a fair fishery overall. Last updated 4/3/24.
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).