Summer steelhead fishing continues to be fair

Nestucca River - Pacific, OR


by OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
8-18-2022
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Fall Chinook fishing in the Nestucca is slow as we are still early for this run, which really doesn’t kick off until mid-September. But some anglers have been fishing the bay, and there are always a few fish caught in the estuary this month.

Summer steelhead fishing continues to be fair. The fish are running big and healthy this season. Fishing for them may be challenging this time of year as conditions are low and clear and the water temperatures are warming up, which can put fish off the bite. Fishing early morning when fish are more active due to cooler temperatures can increase the odds of success. Mornings with a little cloud cover or drizzle are a great time to target these fish, and using either small lures or dark subtle presentations under a small float are effective techniques.

There are fish spread throughout the fishery at this point from the lower river all the way to Elk Creek, and we’ve had some reports of decent numbers holding in deep pools. Reminder: Elk Creek is the deadline for fishing on the Upper Nestucca, and it is closed to all fishing upstream of that point.

Cutthroat fishing can be good in Nestucca basin and should continue to improve as the summer goes on and more sea-runs come into the river. They should be in the bay and the river by this time of year.

The Nestucca is getting low, so only the lower sections will be floatable and drift boaters should expect to have to do some dragging.

ATTENTION: Three Rivers from the Cedar Creek Hatchery weir to the mouth is closed to fishing from July 16 – Sept. 30.

River levels and predictions for the Nestucca are available at here.




More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Thursday, August 18th, 2022
: ODFW Recreation Report
Anthony Lake: Fishing at Anthony Lake may be a bit slower than previous years
Balm Creek Reservoir: Earlier this year, Balm Creek Reservoir was stocked with fingerling trou
Phillips Reservoir: The reservoir only filled to about ¼ full before beginning to drain again
Pilcher Reservoir: Pilcher Reservoir still has a decent amount of water
Thief Valley Reservoir: The reservoir is currently only 33 percent full
Unity Reservoir: Unity Reservoir has been dropping throughout the summer and is about 1/2 full
Wolf Creek Reservoir: Continues to have a decent amount of water in it
Ben Irving Reservoir: Bass fishing is has been good at Ben Irving
Coos River: Best fishing is typically near slack tides
Coquille River: Smallmouth bass fishing has been decent
Elk River: Cutthroat fishing has slowed as water temperatures have increased
Floras Lake: Trout fishing has slowed down
Galesville Reservoir: Fish are likely seeking cooler water in deeper parts of the lake
Garrison Lake: The lake is getting pretty weedy, but boat anglers are still having success
Rogue River- Lower: Fall Chinook fishing has been good in the estuary
Rogue River - Middle: Fall Chinook have started entering the lower river
Rogue River- Upper: The summer steelhead run has been very good this year
North Umpqua River: Summer steelhead fishing is slowing with warmer temperatures
Winchuck River: Cutthroat are scattered throughout the river

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Tuesday, August 16th, 2022

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