Sept. 4, 2024
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Best bets for weekend fishing
- Summer steelhead are in the Nestucca and Wison Rivers and fishing has been fair. Cedar Creek hatchery has been recycling fish back to tidewater the past several weeks so there should be fish throughout the fishery on the Nestucca River. On the Wilson most fish should be in the upper river. These fish are hard to entice to bite but fishing first and last light, using lures or subtle presentations, and light line should help increase the odds.
- Warmwater fishing in the North Coast lakes is in full swing but the lakes are getting weedy. Using weedless set ups will up the odds of success and may reduce some frustration. Cape Meares Lake, Coffenbury Lake, Cullaby Lake, Lake Lytle, Town Lake and Vernonia Pond all have warmwater species and fishing opportunity.
- Chinook are in Nehalem. Fishing has slowed on the bay the last week but there are some fish in upper tidewater. Overall fishing seems a little slow, but more Chinook and some coho should start showing up soon.
- It's still early but fall Chinook should be starting to show up in small numbers on the North Coast bays over the next couple of weeks.
- Sea-run cutthroat trout should be migrating into most North Coast Rivers. Check the regulations for open areas and bait restrictions.
- Summer steelhead is still going strong on the Midcoast! It was a slower start but we are seeing more and more fish being caught in the Siletz basin. Fish are being caught most fish in the gorge! We have recycled several loads of hatchery summer steelhead back into the Siletz Basin. The fish are marked with a floy tag and will continue to provide excellent opportunity! Those fish are likely still moving about the basin
- Spring Chinook is slowing down on the Mid Coast. Fish are still around but most of the springers have moved higher up into the Gorge. With temps as high as they have been, if you hook into and land a springer, please minimize handling and keep those fish wet!
- Fall Chinook are starting to show up in the Siletz Bay! Fish have been taking advantage of a little rain and have been moving into the system.
Surplus summer steelhead are being stocking in Olalla Reservoir for an additional fishing opportunity.
Trout stocking
Spring stocking is done for the season. Some stocking will resume in September.
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
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.
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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: cutthroat trout, Chinook salmon
Fall Chinook is back open on the Alsea River! Fall Chinook reopened a few weeks ago and so far, it's been slow. Like its neighbors, the fishery will be best in the Alsea bay as fish are making their way back into the river system from the ocean. A few fish have been caught but it is still early in the season. With the rains we will get this week, the weekend could be a decent time to head out!
Trout fishing is still open on the Alsea. As we head into the later summer waters are low and clear and provide opportunity for trout fishing. Anglers have had decent success catching cutthroat of various sizes. The sea-runs have been moving throughout the basin with anglers having mixed success.
It's been warm so getting out early while temps are still cool will lead to the best success for trout. Try targeting cooler deeper pools, shaded banks, or heads of riffles to find fish holding in colder water. Last updated 8/21/24.
KILCHIS RIVER: cutthroat trout
Fishing for cutthroat trout should be fair to good throughout the river. No bait is allowed upstream of tidewater May 22-Aug. 31.
The Kilchis River (up to Tilden Bluff Road Bridge) is opened to fall Chinook angling on Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 by regulation, but realistically there won't be any salmon in the Kilchis until September or October depending on when we get rain this fall.
The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook River and Bay, Kilchis River, Miami River, Wison River, and Trask River) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.
Repairs are being made on the Mapes Creek boat launch (logging bridge) and it's not usable at this time. The repairs will be completed by Sept. 15 at the absolute latest. Personal watercraft can still be launched from the gravel bar. Last updated 8/28/24.
NECANICUM RIVER: cutthroat trout
Trout fishing should be fair to good. No bait is allowed above tidewater May 22-Aug 31. The Hwy 101 boat ramp is closed until fall.
The Necanicum River is open to Fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30. Realistically fall Chinook won't be showing up in the Necanicum estuary until September and won't be in the river until the fall rains come. The daily adult wild Chinook salmon bag limit is one fish. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period. See the regulation updates for more details. Last updated 8/28/24.
NEHALEM RIVER: Chinook, coho, cutthroat trout
The Nehalem gets an early component of the fall Chinook run sometimes referred to as "summer Chinook" and those fish are in. Fishing has slowed the past week, especially in the lower bay. There have been some Chinook caught in the upper tidewater. The more traditionally timed fall Chinook should be starting to show up soon.
The Nehalem gets a return of hatchery coho salmon that should be showing up soon as well. In addition, the wild coho fishery starts this Saturday. Nehalem Bay is open to retention of 1 adult wild coho/day and 2/season on WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS only, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 23. See the regulation updates online for more details.
Trolling with flashers and spinners seems to be the go-to technique for this fishery in the bay, but trolling herring is always a good option for Chinook as well. In upper tidewater bobber fishing bait can be effective. The bag limit for wild adult Chinook is 1/day and 5 for the season from July 1 to Nov. 30. See the regulation updates for more details.
There are cutthroat trout throughout the Nehalem basin. Most of the sea-run cutthroat should be up in the rivers and tributaries by this time of year. Last updated 9/4/24.
NESTUCCA RIVER: summer steelhead, cutthroat trout
Summer steelhead are in the Nestucca and there are some fish being caught. Cedar Creek hatchery has been recycling steelhead for weeks. There are some big fish this year. Fish should be throughout the fishery (up to Elk Creek). These fish can be difficult to get to bite, but fishing first and last light will increase the odds of a hook up.
Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good, with fish spread through the river system. Sea-run cutthroat have been moving through the tidewater and should be making their way upriver.
The Nestucca River (up to First Bridge) and Bay, and the Little Nestucca River is open to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30. It is still early but there are a few Chinook being caught in the bay and more should be showing up as the month goes on. The daily adult wild Chinook salmon bag limit is one fish in aggregate. No more than five adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate.
Summer steelhead are in the Nestucca and there are some fish being caught. Cedar Creek hatchery has been recycling steelhead for weeks.. There are some big fish this year. Fish should be throughout the fishery (up to Elk Creek). These fish can be difficult to get to bite, but fishing first and last light will increase the odds of a hook up.
Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good, with fish spread through the river system. Sea-run cutthroat have been moving through the tidewater and should be making their way upriver.
The Nestucca River (up to First Bridge) and Bay, and the Little Nestucca River is open to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30. It is still early but there are a few Chinook being caught in the bay and more should be showing up as the month goes on. The daily adult wild Chinook salmon bag limit is one fish in aggregate. No more than five adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate.
River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available here.
SALMON RIVER: steelhead, Chinook
The Salmon River is back open for Fall Chinook. With the rains we get this week, hopefully the fishing will pick up in the bay this weekend. It's still a slower part of the season but the Salmon River does have a hatchery component to the run. Bank fishing on the lower portion of the basin offers decent opportunity to land a nice Chinook!
The Salmon River is open for trout fishing! Early mornings or later afternoons are the best times to hit the system. A bit further upstream where the water is more shaded may offer better opportunity. Last updated 8/21/24.
SILETZ RIVER: summer steelhead, Chinook
Fall Chinook is back open on the Siletz Chinook fishing has started to pick up as the earlier component of the fall run is starting to move into the basin. We had a smaller group of fish come in the first few weeks of August and they seem to be taking advantage of the rains and moving into the system. We haven't gotten enough rain yet to really pull fish in but we should see conditions and fishing improve in the next few weeks.
Anglers have still been catching summer steelhead throughout the Siletz Gorge. Fish are hiding in cooler waters especially throughout the daylight hours. This may make it a bit more challenging to land a fish and you may need to spend some additional time out on the water. We still seem to have a decent number of fish moving higher in the gorge and a few pockets of hatchery summer steelhead throughout the gorge.
We have recycled several loads of hatchery summer steelhead back into the system for additional opportunity over the past few weeks. Lots of fish should still be found in the basin going into this weekend, and the recycled fish are marked with a floy tag. We would like to hear if you caught any recycled fish- feel free to call or text 541-961-8360!
Trout fishing remains open through Oct. 31. Last updated 8/21/24.
SIUSLAW RIVER: cutthroat, Chinook
Fall Chinook is back open on the Siuslaw. Like nearby rivers, it's been a slow start but fish are moving into the bay. The boulder rip rap area in the bay offers decent bank fishing opportunities. There was construction in the area a few weeks back. We have had a few reports of fish being caught but it hasn't really picked up yet.
The Siuslaw is open for trout fishing through Oct. 31. Not a ton of reports of fish being caught but again trying in early morning or later afternoon is best.
Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for the Siuslaw. Last updated 8/21/24.
THREE RIVERS: cutthroat trout
Three Rivers from the mouth to the hatchery deadline closed to fishing on July 16 and will remain closed until Oct. 1.
Three Rivers above the hatchery weir remains open for hatchery steelhead and cutthroat trout. There probably are not many steelhead up there as hatchery fish are not passed above the weir, but there should be cutthroat trout throughout the basin. Last updated 7/17/24.
TILLAMOOK BAY: Chinook, coho, sea-run cutthroat trout
Tillamook Bay is open to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 30 to Nov. 30. It's early and numbers are low but there are a few Chinook getting caught and fishing should continue to improve as the month goes on. The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook River and Bay, Kilchis River, Miami River, Wison River, and Trask River) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.
Coho salmon should also start showing up in the bay this month. There is a hatchery coho release on the Trask River and those fish usually stack up in the bay early season waiting for rain to go up the river. In addition, the wild coho fishery opens in Tillamook Bay this Saturday. Tillamook Bay is open to retention of 1 adult wild coho/day and 2/season on WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS only, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 23. See the regulation updates online for more details.
Sea-run cutthroat trout fishing has slowed in tidewater, probably indicating that fish are moving into the rivers, but there is still some opportunity. Last updated 9/4/24.
TRASK RIVER: cutthroat trout
The Trask River is closed to angling from the marker at Dam Hole (MP 7 on Trask River Road) up to Blue Ridge Creek Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.
The Trask River 200 feet above and 900 feet below Gold Creek at Trask Hatchery (which includes the "hatchery hole" closed to fishing July 16 and will remain closed until Oct. 15.
The Trask does NOT have a release of hatchery summer steelhead but there are a few strays in the river with some being caught.
Cutthroat trout fishing should be fair to good, with fish spread through mainstem and forks of the river. Sea-run cutthroat are throughout the fishery at this point. Just remember no bait is allowed May 22-Aug 31 in the North, South and East forks.
The Trask River is opened to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 by regulation (up to the forks), but realistically there won't be Chinook salmon showing up in any real numbers until September or later depending on when the fall rains start.
The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook (including bay), Kilchis, Miami, Wison and Trask rivers) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details.
The Trask also has a hatchery coho salmon run, but like the Chinook those fish won't show up above tidewater in any numbers until we get some rain. Last updated 9/4/24.
WILSON RIVER: summer steelhead, cutthroat
The Wilson gets a release of hatchery summer steelhead and those fish throughout the river. There are quite a few fish holding in the upper river and while it's been hard to entice them to bite, there are some being caught. I gave it a try late last week at daylight and can attest to the fact that these fish are pretty lock jawed. I had one good bite on a lure and a couple of followers but came home empty handed.
Trout fishing should be fair throughout the river. The Wilson River is opened to fall Chinook fishing Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 by regulation (up to Jordan Creek), but realistically there won't be Chinook salmon showing up in any real numbers until September or later depending on when the fall rains start.
The adult wild Chinook daily bag limit for all Tillamook Rivers (Tillamook River and Bay, Kilchis River, Miami River, Wison River, and Trask River) is one fish in aggregate. No more than two adult wild Chinook salmon may be retained for the period in aggregate. See the regulation updates for more details. Last Updated 9/4/24.
Wilson River levels and predictions are available here.
YAQUINA RIVER: cutthroat, Chinook
Chinook fishing is open on the Yaquina. It is still a little early but expect fishing to improve over the next couple weeks. Similar to its neighbors, it will take some rain to improve fishing conditions over the next few weeks get fish moving into the bay and up river.
Folks have had some decent success for lingcod and rockfish off the North and South Jetties in Newport - as well as bay crabs throughout the bay. If you do head out on the jetties, be mindful of the tides moving in and out as well as wet slick rocks from the rains!
Trout fishing is open on the Yaquina through Oct. 31. Last updated 8/21/24.
