Northwest Zone

April 4, 2025‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Best bets for weekend fishing

• North coast steelhead fishing slowed this week and while rivers are in good shape currently; dry weather this week will have them low and clear by the weekend. The Nestucca, Wilson and North Fork Nehalem rivers will offer the best opportunities for catching hatchery steelhead. Many tributaries and upper river sections close to steelhead angling March 31, so be sure to check the regulations before heading out in April.
• North Coast lakes have been stocked with trout and those listed below will be getting a second stocking this week. 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 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.
• Beaches in Lincoln City, Newport, and Siuslaw offer great opportunities for Surf Perch. Spring and early summer are great times to surf perch fish along the midcoast. If freshwater fisheries are slow, try your line on the shore and cast for schooled up surf perch on an incoming tide. This weekend looks good!
• Rains came late last week and into the weekend rising most of our Mid Coast rivers. The weekend may be fishable depending on how the rest of the week's rain comes in. Likely the water will be high going into the weekend.
• Several Lakes on the midcoast have been stocked with fish this week and last week. Lake trout are a fun alternative to freshwater angling for Steelhead this time of year when conditions can be less predictable on the rivers.

Trout stocking

Scheduled to be stocked the week of March 31:

Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, Vernonia Lake

Stocked the week of April 11:

Carter Lake, Cleawox Lake, Thissel Pond, Woahink 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 into another 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 04/03/25.

KILCHIS RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Kilchis River is in decent shape, will get low and clear this week. There are fish throughout the system, but no reports of Springers yet. There are no hatchery releases on the Kilchis, so it's mostly a catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead. Last updated 4/3/25.

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

Hatchery winter steelhead returns on the Lower Columbia tributaries are over, and there have not been any reports of Springers yet.. Last updated 4/3/25.

The Necanicum closed to all angling on April 1 to protect spawning steelhead and out-migrating smolts. It will re-open for trout season on May 22. Last updated 4/3/25.

NEHALEM RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Nehalem is dropping into good condition and there should be catch and release opportunity for wild steelhead (there are no hatchery releases on the mainstem) throughout the fishery. The Nehalem above the Highway 26 bridge at Elsie closes to fishing on April 1 and will re-open for trout season on May 22. Last updated 4/3/25.

NORTH FORK NEHALEM: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the North Fork has been fair but it will be getting low and clear this week which will make angling more challenging. There are still broodstock hatchery fish coming back in good shape and catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead throughout the fishery. Last updated 4/3/25.

NESTUCCA RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Nestucca is in good shape, and while it will get a little low this week, it should remain fishable. There are hatchery and wild (catch and release only for wilds) throughout the fishery. The Nestucca has been fair for winter steelhead, but it looks like it will be a little high this weekend and early next week. When it's in shape there should be fish throughout the fishery.

The upper Nestucca above Moon Creek closed to angling April 1 to protect spawning wild steelhead and out-migrating juveniles and will reopen for trout and summer steelhead on May 22. Last updated 4/3/25.

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.

This weekend is shaping up to be a decent fishery on the Salmon River with river levels decreasing. Last updated 04/03/25.

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.

We have had quite a bit of rain the past week and fish are likely pushing up further into the gorge and higher into the system.

We did have a few reports of early summer steelhead being caught as well the past week or so, as we move into spring more opportunity is available on the Siletz!

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 04/03/25.

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. Last updated 4/3/25.

THREE RIVERS: Winter steelhead

Three Rivers had still has some hatchery and wild (catch and release only for wilds) steelhead coming in. it will be getting low and clear this week. Last updated 4/3/25.

TRASK RIVER: Winter steelhead

The Trask is in good shape but will continue to drop this week and will be getting a little low by early next week. There are fish available throughout the fishery. 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.

The North and South Forks of the Trask closed to angling on April 1 to protect spawning wild steelhead and out-migrating juveniles but it will re-open for trout season on May 22. Last updated 4/3/25.

WILSON RIVER: Winter steelhead

Winter steelhead fishing on the Wilson has been fair to good since it dropped back into shape early this week. It is predicted to go up a little again on Friday but should be fishable through the weekend.

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.