Winter steelhead fishing has been slow on the Alsea River. Low and clear conditions combined with sunny blue skies have created tough conditions. The warmer weather is warming up the water temperatures and making the fish more active and they are starting to move around in the basin. Rain is in the forecast for later in the week and this should improve the fishing. The popular NF Alsea fishery is very low and clear and has been slow. The lower river has been in good shape and the drift boaters have been catching a few fish every day. Numbers are still low at Alsea hatchery but the fishing continues to be fair overall.

The later returning right maxillary clipped fish will continue to return through the month of March and into April. The earlier returning left maxillary clipped fish are past peak and numbers will continue to decrease for the rest of the season.

The Alsea still gets a good number of the early returning fish that peaks in December and January, as well as a later stock that peaks in February and March. Expect more fish to show up with each rise in the river level from now through April. Bobber fishing with jigs/bait, drift fishing, and casting lures are all effective ways to catch these hard fighting fish.

Trout fishing in streams will reopen May 22, 2019.