North Coast Angling Fishing Reports

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: March 23, 2011

2011-03-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Third time is the charm. Here's Ed with the third fish he hooked that morning and his first landed winter steelhead. River was in great shape with plenty of fish. Hopefully the good numbers will hold up well into spring. Call now for available dates.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: Febraury 21, 2011

2011-02-22T07:17:00.001-08:00

Here's a few pictures from the last couple of weeks. Note the Zandoli Worm. It works. There's still plenty of season left so call now (541-961-7749) to book a trip.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 23, 2011

2011-01-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

Finally, rivers are back in shape and fish abound. Troy, all the way from Central Washington, made the most of his weekend on the coast, hooking three chrome-bright winter steelhead. With good weather forecast for the rest of the week condition should continue to improve. Call now to book a trip for some great coastal steelhead action.

On a different note, I am giving a seminar at the Orvis store in Bridgeport Village in Tigard on January 29 at 10am. The topic of the seminar will be indicator tactics for winter steelhead. Hope you can make it.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 11, 2011

2011-01-13T06:54:00.001-08:00

A sharp, biting, cold wind, iced guides, an occasional flurry of snow and a few steelhead. Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday. Despite the cold water all of our fish where off and running once hooked. There was no sluggishness when the hook was set. Winter steelhead fishing has been great early so look for it to continue. Give me a call to take advantage once our coastal rivers subside.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 4, 2011

2011-01-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Despite iced guides and frozen fingers, fishing was great today. Sometimes it helps to put in a little later than usual. Water was perfect. There was little pressure on the river. What more could you ask for? Oh, and these were all caught using flies.

Fishing Report: January 2, 2011

2011-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

The coastal rivers are coming into shape and there are fish throughout the systems. Using flies has been very effective when the conditions are right. Winter steelhead take a fly when presented right. Come fish with us to learn the techniques useful in hooking into one of these beautiful fish.

December 7, 2010

2010-12-10T06:57:00.000-08:00

Winter steelhead are here. The water was ideal for fly fishing and we managed to hook a few fish before the heavy rains started. Fishing should be fairly good after this latest bout of rain. Fish the lower river for a higher percentage of hatchery steelhead.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: March 19, 2010

2010-03-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Fishing continues to be good. With the water dropping and clearing and the sun shining, fishing tends to be a little difficult during the middle of the day. Hopefully the it remains good well into April.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: March 8, 2010

2010-03-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

The last three days have presented some interesting angling challenges. With the low, clear conditions, coupled with the bright, sunny skies it felt at times like I couldn't keep the boat far enough away from the good holding water to give my anglers the proper chance at hooking fish. Despite my best efforts we worked our way into a pretty descent day on Saturday once you factor in those less than ideal scenarios. Sunday was much easier as some heavy cloud cover had moved in making the boat less of a threat on this low clear water and it showed in our catch numbers. Monday brought another fun challenge with some blustery winds that seemed to fight me at every opportunity and sometimes at the most inopportune moments, but again, the fishing was great, so great in fact that my guest forewent a second pass and decided to call it an early day. Thanks Mike and Derek for a great three days.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: March 5, 2010

2010-03-05T19:09:00.000-08:00

River was in great shape, a little too clear in my opinion, but we managed to hook some really nice fish. One of the guys had never hooked a steelhead, let alone fly fished, and he landed a pair. This has been a great steelhead season so far and should continue through March. Call now to book a trip.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: March 3, 2010

2010-03-03T18:42:00.000-08:00

The only problem that one might have with the last two days of fishing is which photo to include with the report. Our coastal rivers are in great shape and are fishing quite well. It's a good mix of hatchery and native stock and at times have a difficult time differentiating between the two before we have a chance to catch a glimpse of them, their fights being equally ferocious. There is still the month of March and some of April to take advantage of these great fish and with the Valley springer rivers heating up it's pulling the crowds eastward. Call now to book your trip.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: February 18, 2009

2010-02-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

The rivers continue to drop and along with their drop so goes the angling pressure. There are not as many fish around as there has been and with the heavy boat traffic people are having to work hard for a couple fish. We launched later, behind all the, "gotta have first water guys," and did really well while fishing flies. We put three fish in the box and long-distance-released a few others. Not a bad way to spend a gorgeous day fishing on the Oregon Coast.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: February 13, 2010

2010-02-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

The river was in good shape when we launched this morning and was in perfect shape by the time we got off the water. Pressure was a little heavy, but we hooked some fish while side-drifting roe. The fish we hooked were hot, making for some entertaining, in-the-boat, antics. The forecasted weather looks to be fairly mild, allowing the coastal rivers to stay in shape.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: February 12, 2010

2010-02-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

While coastal rivers maintained their tenuous grasp of fishable conditions we took advantage of the situation and caught some steelhead. Seems that the possibility of dirty water and some nasty weather kept a lot of people off the river. We hooked a fair number of fish today including a couple for the fish box and tested our fortitude as squall after squall assailed us throughout the day.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: February 10, 2010

2010-02-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

Oregon Coast rivers remain low and clear and the fishing remains consistently good. We caught some really nice fish on flies today including a great broodstock that took us through two runs until we brought it to net. By mid-morning the rain was coming down pretty hard bringing hope that the river's forcasted rise will occur, bringing in a fresh batch of fish. The fish we caught were found throughout the system keeping the anticipation levels high until we reached our takeout point. Give me a call to take advantage of what is turning out to be a great winter steelhead season.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: February 1, 2010

2010-02-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Rivers on the Oregon Coast are really starting to clear. As the water continues to drop the steelhead are slowing down in their march up stream, but as you can tell from this photo some fish are not to be deterred. Until the rivers bump up I'll be concentrating my efforts lower in the systems. We were fly fishing today and again had a fairly productive day indicator fishing. So far this winter steelhead season has been outstanding and have rarely experienced a slow day. I have had a mixed bag of broodstock and native fish and of the hatchery steelhead we have landed all have been large, strong fighters. Give me a call to book a trip and take advantage of what is shaping up to be an incredible winter steelhead season.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 29, 2010

2010-01-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

Fishing was incredible today, again. What else is there to say. The water was perfect and the fish were where they should have been. I didn't have a trip today so I took advantage and took a friend down the river. Book a trip to enjoy some amazing fishing.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 27, 2010

2010-01-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Fishing was exceptional today. We hooked into double digit fish and put a couple of nice, bright hatchery fish in the box. The conditions were perfect and it seemed that the fish were feeling it to. Today was one of those day where you felt that you could do no wrong. Give me a call to reserve space for a great winter steelhead trip.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 25, 2010

2010-01-27T21:24:00.001-08:00

Fishing over the weekend was outstanding with the water levels at the perfect height for any techniques. Although angling pressure was fairly high we had great success, boating some hard fighting, chrome steelhead. With the forecasts not predicting any significant rain the good fishing should continue.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 22, 2010

2010-01-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the coastal rivers are back in shape with steelhead waiting. There was plenty of boat traffic today, but that did not seem to matter as we hooked into plenty of fish. Water clarity improved throughout the day making great conditions for the weekend. Call now to take advantage of this great fishing.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: January 8, 2010

2010-01-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

When the rivers are too high and off-color to fish I take that time to replenish my stock of flies and jigs, tie worm leaders, put fresh hooks on my plugs, whatever it takes to pass the time until I can be back on the water. All of my posts thus far have pertained to fly fishing, which is an oft overlooked or scorned method of catching winter steelhead. I read too often that with the water temperature down around 40 degrees the steelhead are less likely to bite flies. That might be the case if you are swinging. When the water is that cold, unless you are able to fish a heavy fly and shooting head in a run of appropriate depth, putting that fly close enough to entice a reaction, then you are better off indicator fishing. Here are a couple of my favorite and most effective flies to fish under an indicator for winter steelhead.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 30, 2009

2009-12-30T19:33:00.001-08:00

After the rains yesterday there was a little dirt in the Siletz River, but the water was still good. There are some fish to be caught and we got into a few of them, mostly hatchery, but fishing could be better. Hopefully the heavier rains that are forecasted will bring a bunch of fresh fish into the system.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 29, 2009

2009-12-30T19:30:00.001-08:00

There are fish throughout the Nestucca River and we got into a few of them today. The water is continuing to drop and clear, but the rains are supposed to be here soon. Fishing should continue to be good once the water drops back into shape.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 27, 2009

2009-12-28T16:39:00.000-08:00

Again, the Nestucca River was in perfect shape to fish flies. We had a two boat trip today and each boat landed their share of steelhead. The action was evenly spread out over the course of the day and everyone enjoyed watching their friends from the other boat hooking up. We landed some really nice fish, all chrome-bright, one even had sea lice, and the all fought exceptionally hard. Supposedly we have some heavy rains on the way, but if not fishing should remain excellent.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 23, 2009

2009-12-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

My brother is visiting from Eastern Oregon for the holidays so of course he had to get his winter steelhead fix and it couldn't have happened on a better day. The Nestucca was in great shape for fly fishing and we managed to hook some fish. It seemed every boat we spoke with had success today. The highlight of the day was the hooking of the seasons largest steelhead, a fish that kept the rod bent to the cork for a long time and turned out to be a beautiful native hen around fifteen pounds. The fishing just keeps getting better. Give me a call to take advantage of some great fishing.

Oregon Fishing Report: December 20, 2009

2009-12-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

Steelhead fishing on the Nestucca River was great today. The forecasted rains did not arrive until this afternoon giving us an amazing winter day on the Oregon Coast. Water conditions were exceptional for any method you prefer to fish, ours today was again flies. We hooked fish throughout the entire float and of the fish that were landed most were natives.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 18, 2009

2009-12-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

Floated the Nestucca River today and found very few people out taking advantage of the great conditions. The river was high, but visibility was great and we hooked into some fish. Troy, visiting from Central Washington, hooked and landed his first Winter Steelhead on a fly and finished the day going one for two. As January approaches look for fishing to improve with steadily increasing numbers of the awesome fish moving into the rivers to spawn.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 7, 2009

2009-12-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

It's definitely winter steelhead time, when your guides don't stop icing up until noon and your finger tips are still burning long after you are off the water. The Coast needs some rain right now, but don't be discouraged, there is a trickle of steelhead still entering the rivers. Factor in the low, clear water, the cold conditions and the luke-warm fishing reports circling the internet and that can give the brave angler access to some chrome-bright, unpressured fish. The numbers might not be spectacular, but a day on the river, hooking into a few fish while having no other anglers in sight can make for a great day. Give us a call to book a pre-Christmas fishing trip to take advantage of some quality steelheading. There's no better way to get away from the madness that is the holiday season.

Oregon Coast Fishing Report: December 5, 2009

2009-12-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

With the cold and dry weather on the Oregon Coast water conditions are ideal for fly fishing for early winter steelhead. Today we fished the Nestucca River and hooked into three winter steelhead on the fly. One was a gorgeous native hen and the other two were Alsea strain hatchery fish and nice additions to the fish box. Look for numbers of steelhead to improve as the month continues towards Christmas. Give us a call to book a trip, light tackle or fly, either are exciting methods to enjoy these special fish.

Oregon Fishing Report, October 17, 2009

2009-10-18T16:01:00.001-07:00

The Nestucca River was our destination today in search of sea-run cutthroat trout and salmon on the fly. While the salmon fishing left something to be desired the trout fishing was exceptional when we found concentrations of fish. Many nice fish were landed, some around 16in, all on streamers and egg patterns. The salmon fishing on the Nestucca River is going to get better when we get a substantial amount of rain. Give me a call to book your fall salmon trip.

Oregon Fishing Report, October 15, 2009

2009-10-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

With the first substantial rain on the North Oregon Coast hundreds of coho made the push up the Trask River. Along with some bright king salmon they could be seen all day busting through shallow tailouts making their way up stream. We fly fished for these movers, managing to hook a few as well as one large king salmon that unfortunately shook free before we could net him. We also threw streamers for sea-run cutthroat trout on 4wt fly rods catching some very nice fish. The season for sea-runs closes at the end of the month, but look for salom fishing to only get better as we get closer to November. Space is available so call now to get in on the action.

Fishing Report: Febraury 15, 2009

2009-02-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

Although the rivers continue to be low and clear there are fish to be caught. Over the last three days of fishing the Nestucca we managed into at least a few fish a day. It was a mix of hatchery and native fish. The natives were all large, healthy fish that put up a good fight and the hatchery fish were of good size as well. Low water can create difficult conditions, but with a little experience you can figure out where to find them when things get tough. Book a trip with North Coast Angling and let me help you catch some of these great coastal steelhead.

Fishing Report: January 31,2009

2009-02-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from Coast Guard licensing in Astoria, we hit the water on low, clear conditions hoping to find a few fish. With the water temps hovering a little below 40 degrees we did not expect the fish to be very aggressive, but hoped that there would at least be a few biters. Although pressure was fairly heavy, I do not think that it determined the outcome of the days efforts. At this point the ratio of fish to fisherman is relatively low, making for some long days with intermittent reward. Keep your fingers crossed that we will receive some rain, bringing a fresh influx of fish into our coastal waters.

Fishing Report: January 13, 2009

2009-01-14T10:34:00.000-08:00

Back on the Siletz today with just as many boats as the day before. The river continues to improve with every dry day. We had to work a little harder for our fish today, but we managed to get into a few. The weather was again spectacular and the further from the boat launch you were, the more you had the river to yourself. The good fishing should hold up so give me a call to take advantage this fine winter weather.

Fishing Report: January 12, 2009

2009-01-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since the coast river have been in good enough condition to fish. Every time they got close a new system would move in to push the rivers beyond their banks. Today was the first day the Siletz came into shape after a long reprieve from angling pressure and to make up for that lack of pressure a massive amount of boats, brimming with people, assaulted the river in search of their first steelhead of the new year. We managed to get into five fish and had a great time enjoying some beautiful winter weather on the coast. We are in for a dry spell so look for all the coastal river to be in good shape this week and hopefully for some time to come.

Fishing Report: December 26, 2008

2008-12-27T07:44:00.000-08:00

We managed to get out before the heavy rains brought the river levels up and again found the water in perfect condition for flyfishing. This month has been spectacular, not only in the numbers of steelhead in the rivers, but also in the water level and clarity. Fishing under indicators has been our primary method, though with recent conditions, swinging would have been a viable option as well. We hooked more native fish than hatchery, which is nice since they seem to contain more explosiveness and a willingness to leave their watery confines, taking to the air in acrobatic expletives. The day was filled with consistent action, sometimes taking two fish from a spot before floating on. Citing numbers is pointless, but it might help to add that at the end of the day all involved said that the fishing was phenomenal. This outstanding December is hopefully an excellent introduction to a prolific winter steelhead season. As the rivers drop back into shape look for fishing quality fishing to continue and consider North Coast Angling when planning a trip to sample this amazing fish.

Fishing Report: December 24, 2008

2008-12-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

After the freezing temperatures and snow of last week, the rain we had today was very welcome. The emerald colored water begged to be fished with a fly and we were all willing to oblige. Being the only boat on the water we enjoyed exclusivity of choice water, though today the fish we hooked, and there were plenty of those, were in spots indicative of moving fish, which makes me hopeful that there are more on the way. We had an almost fifty-fifty mix of native and hatchery fish, the natives providing some explosiveness and acrobatics, while the hatchery fish filled the freezer. If December is any indication of what remains of our steelhead season, then we are up against some great fishing.

Fishing Report: December 23, 2008

2008-12-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

After some heavy rains on the coast the Siletz jumped up a few feet, but didn't take long to start dropping and clearing. Today the river was in perfect shape and there were plenty of steelhead laying in wait. Using flies and pulling plugs in a few choice spots we managed to hook into a fair number of fish and put three in the box. There were a couple other boats in our section of water and each was sharing in the success. The Siletz will continue to produce good numbers of fish in the months ahead so give me a call to reserve your prime dates.

Fishing Report: December 20, 2008

2008-12-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

Getting to the river was a little interesting this morning with a good covering of snow making driving and launching the boat somewhat difficult, but it was worth the effort as water conditions remain ideal for flyfishing. Being the only boat on the water made for a quiet day of floating down the river and hooking a few steelhead. Our best tactics continue to be fishing under an indicator, locating fish in a variety of water. These high winter tides and a steady water level have created a constant flow of fish, so fish deep into the tailouts and poke around in the pocket-water. By the time the dipping temperatures wore down our common sense and convinced us it was time to hit the take-out we had put four fish to the boat including a very nice hatchery hen. With colder temperatures in the mountains most of the precipitation will fall as snow keeping the rivers in good shape. If you are interested in experiencing some of Oregon's finest winter steelheading give me a call at 541-961-7749.

Fishing Report: December 14, 2008

2008-12-15T09:51:00.000-08:00

Water level is on the low side, but the recent rains have put a little color in the rivers helping the fish feel safe. Despite the snow and ice, we made it to the river and found only two other boats launching. Right off the bat we were into the steelhead, landing a nice hatchery buck on a jig. We had a mixed day, fishing jigs and flies, and found flies to be the most successful. By the time we put the last hatchery fish in the box we had landed eight steelhead, four chrome natives and four hatchery fish. Don't discount December as a prime steelhead month. The pressure is light and the fish are plentiful, pouring into the rivers on those massive winter tides. Space is available for the remainder of December so give me a call at 541-961-7749 to book your trip.