Nehalem River Report

Nehalem River - Nehalm, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
1-2-2020
Website

Fishing conditions on the main stem don’t look great for this week given the weather forecast. It’s likely the Nehalem will “blow out” tomorrow and possibly through the weekend. Friday would be the best day to try, but I’m not convinced it will have time to come back into shape.

When fishing high or colored up water, large presentations and bright colors are key. This is also a good time to break out the bait or scents for added attraction. In addition fishing techniques that keep the presentation near the bottom (drift fishing, bobber doggin’, side drifting) are a good bet. 

The main stem Nehalem is a mostly wild fish river for steelhead, and as peaks January through early April. This is a large basin and as such can blow out easily and stay muddy for long periods. The plus side of is that it often fishes well when other North Coast Rivers are low and clear. There is primitive boat access, and plenty of bank access available from state forest lands.

Catching and releasing a big wild winter steelhead is one of the best experiences I know of, but anglers are encouraged to treat these fish with care. The best practices for a good release are to not over fight the fish, and release them as quickly as possible without taking them out of the water.

Trout season will reopen on May 22, 2020.





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, January 2nd, 2020

Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Report
Applegate River: Applegate River Fishing Report
Arizona Pond: Arizona Pond Report
Ben Irving Reservoir: Ben Irving Reservoir Report
Chetco River: Chetco River Report
Coos River: Coos River Basin Report
Coquille River: Coquille River Fishing Report
Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake Fishing Report
Elk River: Elk River Fishing Report
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Reservoir Fishing Report
Empire Lake Upper: Empire Lake Fishing Report
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Fishing Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake Report
Floras Lake: Floras Lake Report
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville Reservoir Fishing Report
Garrison Lake: Garrison Lake Fishing Report
Hemlock Lake: Hemlock Fishing Report
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie Fishing Report
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt Lake Fishing Report
Illinois River: Illinois River Fishing Report
Lake Marie: Lake Marie Fishing Report
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Fishing Report
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo Lake Report
Loon Lake: Loon Lake Fishing Report
Lost Creek Lake: Lost Creek Reservoir Fishing Report
Rogue River- Lower: Lower Rogue River Report
Rogue River - Middle: Middle Rogue River Fishing Report
Rogue River- Upper: Upper Rogue River Fishing Report
Sixes River: Sixes River Fishing Report
Smith River: Smith River Fishing Report
Soda Springs Reservoir: Soda Springs Remains Closed
Tenmile Lakes: Tenmile Lakes Fishing Report
Toketee Lake: Toketee Lake Fishing Report
Umpqua River: Umpqua River Fishing Report
Willow Lake: Willow Lake Report
Alsea River: Alsea River Fishing Report
Kilchis River: Kilchis River Report
Necanicum River: Necanicum River Report


12-23-2019
CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers in Oregon and Washington are extending the Columbia River steelhead fishing closure upstream of McNary Dam to...... Read More