Idaho Fish Report
Nestucca is Getting A Little Low and Clear
by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
2-26-2020
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The Nestucca is getting a little on the low and clear side, but fishing has remained fair for steelhead. The little bit of rain predicted for the weekend won’t be enough to raise the river, but may provide a little color and possibly get a few fish moving.
It’s prime time for both broodstock hatchery fish and wild steelhead (catch-and-release only) on the Nestucca. Although conditions are a little more challenging, this is still probably the best bet for anglers wanting to find a hatchery fish this coming weekend.
Three Rivers is low, which will make conditions challenging. 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