The Nehalem mainstem is in good shape and should remain so until at least early next week. This large river fishes best when the rest of the North Coast is low and clear and will be a good bet for those looking for catch and release opportunities this weekend. The Nehalem mainstem is a mostly wild steelhead river without any hatchery releases, but there is plenty of catch-and-release opportunity for wild steelhead.

The upper mainstem Nehalem above the Hwy 26 bridge at Elsie closes to fishing on April 1 to protect spawning wild steelhead and out-migrating juveniles.