NESTUCCA RIVER, LITTLE NESTUCCA RIVER, AND THREE RIVERS:

The Nestucca finally dropped into shape mid-week, and fishing was fair. The river got big again Tuesday night (Feb. 4) and is still on the rise today. It may fish by late this weekend but will be high. Probably won’t be back in truly good condition until early next week. There should be steelhead throughout the system and the broodstock hatchery fish should returning in decent numbers. 

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. 

Three Rivers also blew out, it drops faster than the Nestucca, and should fish by the weekend, but no guarantees. The early returning Three Rivers hatchery stock will start winding down, but there should still be broodstock hatchery and wild (catch-and-release only) fish available.

The Nestucca is one of the more popular steelhead rivers on the North coast, mostly due to a large hatchery steelhead release and the wild broodstock program. The Nestucca has two strains of hatchery steelhead, one early returning component that peaks in late December and January (best fishing for this run is in the lower river and in Three Rivers), and our broodstock hatchery run which is good January through mid-April. These fish are known to be large and aggressive, and are good fighters as well as excellent table fair.

There is good drift boat access to the mid and lower river, and public land bank access on the upper river.

There is a boating hazard in the form of a downed tree just below the camp 101 hole, but it is passable on River Right.

Trout season will reopen on May 22, 2020.

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation Farmer Creek Wayside and boat ramp will be closed late this summer through fall of 2020 due to construction associated with the Hwy 101 realignment.