Oregon Steelhead

The winter steelhead season on North Coast district streams is off to a good start for the winter of 2003-2004. Steelhead began showing in the catch before Thanksgiving, and numbers have increased since. Returns to area hatcheries - one of the best indicators of run size for early returning hatchery fish - have been good for this time of year. About
500 steelhead had been trapped at Nehalem Hatchery, more than 950 at Cedar Creek Hatchery and close to 300 at Big Creek Hatchery. Angling has generally been good when water conditions are favorable. Fishing for hatchery steelhead is best in December and January; fewer fish are caught in February or later. The Wilson River has hatchery steelhead available throughout the winter and early spring because a portion of the smolts from the hatchery are from a wild broodstock program, Wild steelhead are available throughout the winter, with the run reaching a peak in March.


Local north coast lakes remain open to angling all year. Some holdover trout should still be available. Trout stocking is complete for the year. Coffenbury Lake, Lost Lake, Vernonia Pond, Cape Meares Lake, Lorens Pond, and Town Lake receive excess hatchery steelhead periodically. Smith Lake and Spring Lake may also receive fish when available. Steelhead caught in lakes count as trout and do not have to be recorded on a harvest tag. Only one trout over 20 inches is allowed per day in the lakes.


All standard steelhead techniques will work for winter steelhead on North Coast streams. Drift fishing small, buoyant lures - with or without bait - along the bottom accounts for many fish each winter. Other popular methods include fishing a bobber and jig combination, or bait under a bobber. Casting spoons or spinners account for many fish. Fly fishing is less popular, as high water flows reduce the success rate. Boaters may backtroll plugs or diver-and-bait combinations behind the boat as well.


Casting lures or flies (from the shore or a boat) is the most common technique for catching steelhead released in local lakes.
The most popular baits are cured salmon or steelhead eggs and sand shrimp. Other baits used include worms, crayfish tails and prawns. Anglers are advised to check the angling regulations before fishing, as the use of bait is restricted in some areas. Anglers may contact the local ODFW District Office in Tillamook at 503-842-2741 for more information on angling techniques, locations and up-to-date angling conditions. Following is a description of steelhead angling opportunities in the Northwest District (only adipose fin-clipped steelhead may be kept).
ALSEA RIVER: Winter steelhead angling is fair. Anglers are asked to avoid disturbing spawning fish and their redds (nests). Anglers are reminded that there is no retention of coho salmon, non-finclipped steelhead, and cutthroat trout.


CAPE MEARES LAKE is open to angling all year and some holdover trout should still be available. The lake has been stocked with excess adult summer steelhead from the Cedar Creek Hatchery.


GNAT CREEK, BIG CREEK and NORTH FORK KLASKANINE RIVERS have hatchery steelhead. Angling is restricted to the lower portions of these streams below the hatcheries. The streams are small and are primarily fished from the banks. Access is available at the hatcheries, at Big Creek County Park and along roads following the streams. Anglers may call 503-458-6529 for recorded fishing information. Private land exists along each stream; anglers should use caution and avoid trespassing on private property.


LEWIS AND CLARK, YOUNGS and the SOUTH FORK KLASKANINE RIVERS are also open to steelhead angling. Aside from a few stray hatchery fish, these streams offer catch-and-release angling for wild steelhead. In 2004, these streams will be open to angling throughout the spring. The traditional April/May closure was lifted to allow anglers to catch stray spring chinook salmon, but as a result, opportunities for steelhead fishing have been extended.


NECANICUM RIVER offers excellent small stream steelhead fishing opportunity throughout the winter season. The river has a run of hatchery steelhead in December and January, with predominately wild fish being caught later in the season. The Necanicum is open to steelhead through March 31, downstream of the Highway 53 bridge at Necanicum Junction. Bank access is available along Highway 26, especially at Klootchy Creek Park and around Black's Bridge (about 1.5-2 miles above Klootchy Creek). Boaters may launch at the park, with a take out located along Highway 101 just south of Seaside.


NEHALEM RIVER BASIN offers a multitude of steelhead angling opportunities. Hatchery steelhead are released in the North Fork Nehalem from the Nehalem Hatchery on
Highway 53. Bank access is available near the hatchery and on neighboring industrial forestlands. Boaters may float the North Fork below the hatchery, but extreme caution is necessary. Several bedrock slides make drifting this river hazardous and should only be attempted by experienced boaters. Rafts are highly recommended. Best angling for hatchery steelhead is in December and January. Hatchery steelhead are recycled from Nehalem Hatchery, usually about once per week during the peak of the run. Call 503-368-5670 for recorded fishing information. Angling for wild steelhead in February and March can be productive, in relatively uncrowded conditions.


The main Nehalem River is a very productive catch-and-release fishery for wild steelhead. Best angling is February to early April. Some very large steelhead (topping 20 pounds) are caught from this river. Access is along Nehalem Forest Road. The lower river can be boated from the Beaver Slide (below Nehalem Falls) to Roy Creek County Park. NESTUCCA RIVER water levels have been high. Success will improve as the water levels drop. The Nestucca River basin offers very good angling prospects for winter steelhead. Early returning hatchery steelhead are available from late November into February, with a peak in late December to early January. Wild steelhead can be caught throughout the winter, with a peak in March. Summer steelhead are also planted in the river, with best angling opportunities in the spring and early summer.


The upper Nestucca River is followed closely by Nestucca River Road, beginning at Beaver and continuing upstream to the angling deadline at Elk Creek. The best bank access is above Blaine, with several pullouts along the river. Angling in the upper Nestucca is best later in the season because primarily wild fish return to the upper river. Boat access is available at boat ramps located at the first and fourth bridges above Beaver, at a primitive boat slide above the fifth bridge and at the sixth bridge. Only experienced boaters should launch upstream of the fourth bridge due to some hazardous water.


The lower Nestucca River offers less bank access, but some very good boat access. Launching/takeout is available at boat ramps located at the Rock Hole, Farmer Creek wayside, the mouth of Three Rivers, and at Cloverdale. Bank access is available at those sites also.
The Little Nestucca River offers a fair opportunity for steelhead. A few stray hatchery steelhead are present early in the winter season. Wild fish may be caught through the winter, with the run peaking in March. Limited public access is available along Little Nestucca River Road between Highway 22 and Highway 101.


THREE RIVERS: The best angling has been in Three Rivers, a tributary entering the Nestucca at Hebo, which offers very good bank access and excellent opportunity for anglers targeting early returning hatchery steelhead. Large numbers of steelhead ascend Three Rivers on their return to Cedar Creek Hatchery. Bank access is available at the hatchery, at the "heart attack" hole (on the south side of the stream), on the "S" corner just above Hebo and by the sewage treatment plant in Hebo. The upper Three Rivers is accessible along Highway 22, but fewer fish are present above the hatchery weir. Fish are recycled downstream from Cedar Creek Hatchery, usually at least once a week during the peak of the run.


SALMONBERRY RIVER - a tributary of the Nehalem about seven miles above Nehalem Falls - offers good wild steelhead angling in February and March. The Salmonberry closes
March 31.


SALMON RIVER: Winter steelhead angling is slow. Anglers are asked to avoid disturbing spawning fish and their redds (nests) and are reminded that there is no retention of non-finclipped coho salmon, non-finclipped steelhead, and cutthroat.


SILETZ RIVER: Winter steelhead angling is slow. Anglers are asked to avoid disturbing spawning fish and their redds (nests) and are reminded that there is no retention of coho salmon, non-finclipped steelhead, and cutthroat trout.


SILTCOOS and TAHKENITCH LAKES: Anglers may harvest one adult and one jack coho per day from the two lakes. Anglers are limited to retaining five adult coho from the two lakes during the season. The fishery is at the tail end of the run so the majority of the fish are on the spawning grounds.


SIUSLAW RIVER: Winter steelhead angling is slow. Anglers are asked to avoid disturbing spawning fish and their redds (nests) and are reminded that there is no retention of coho salmon, non-finclipped steelhead, and cutthroat trout.


TILLAMOOK and NESTUCCA BAYS: Angling for sturgeon has been slow.
TILLAMOOK BAY STREAMS: The Tillamook River is open to steelhead fishing though March. A few stray hatchery fish and smaller populations of wild fish are present. Public access is limited on this river.
TOWN LAKE is open to angling all year. Some holdover trout should be available. The lake has been stocked with excess adult steelhead from the Cedar Creek Hatchery.


WILSON, TRASK, KILCHIS, and MIAMI RIVERS: Angling is fair to good for winter steelhead. Success has improved as water levels drop. A few chinook are still being caught. Angling for chinook closes Dec. 31st. The Wilson River, Kilchis River and Trask River offer excellent angling opportunities. Hatchery steelhead began returning in late November, with good angling through January. Although not stocked, hatchery strays are numerous in the Trask River. Wild broodstock hatchery steelhead are caught in the Wilson River throughout the winter. Wild steelhead are available through the winter in each stream, with the best angling in March. Summer steelhead may also be caught in the Wilson and Trask rivers, with the best fishing in spring and early summer.


All three streams offer good access. Highway 6 follows the Wilson River from the lower reaches to the angling deadline at the South Fork. The Kilchis River is accessible at the Mapes Creek launch, Kilchis Park and along Kilchis Forest Road. The Trask River is accessible at Trask Hatchery, Lorens Drift off Chance Road and along the Trask River Road. The North and South Fork Trask are accessible by forest roads that follow each stream. Boat launches are available on all three.
The Miami River is open to steelhead fishing though March. A few stray hatchery fish and smaller populations of wild fish are present. The Miami River has reasonable access in the upper stretches along Miami Forest Road.


YAQUINA RIVER: Winter steelhead angling is slow. Anglers are asked to avoid disturbing spawning fish and their redds (nests) and are reminded that there is no retention of coho salmon, non-finclipped steelhead, and cutthroat.


Shellfish
Beginning Jan.1, 2004, everyone over 14 needs a license to harvest recreational shellfish (abalone, clams, crabs, crayfish, mussels, oysters, piddocks, scallops, shrimp and other marine invertebrates with shells). The best clam tides - during the fall and winter months - are in the afternoon and evening hours.


The Oregon Department of Agriculture has announced that domoic acid in all Oregon Dungeness crab are now at safe levels, and earlier restrictions on harvesting have been lifted. Whole, cooked Oregon Dungeness crabs are now safe to consume no matter where they are harvested. For more information, contact Ron McKay at 503-986-4720.