Biting right now — November

Winter steelhead push into the system now and we focus our days around tide swings and clearing water after rain. Trout fishing stays slow but worth a cast between steelhead runs. We dress warm and fish early light when the bite often turns on.

Steelhead stay at the top of their game through February and we read water clarity daily to pick the right runs and swings. Trout remain a slow side option if conditions allow. Cold snaps come and go so we stay flexible on timing and gear.

Steelhead fishing tapers but still produces good grabs as the run winds down. We start watching for the first spring Chinook showing in the lower stretches, though it is early and slow. This is a good month to talk through timing with us since conditions shift fast this time of year.

Spring Chinook start showing good numbers in the tidewater and lower river as fish stage before pushing upstream. Winter Steelhead are tapering off but a few late fish still move through on the right tide. We focus our effort on the deeper slots and seams where Chinook hold on the push.

This is peak Spring Chinook season on Pacific City water. Fish stack up in the tidewater and lower holes, and we work the tide changes hard to put flies in front of them. Expect long days on the water chasing the best bite of the year.

Spring Chinook action stays strong into June, with fish still moving through on good tides. Trout fishing starts to pick up in the smaller feeder creeks as water warms. We split time between chasing Chinook and scouting trout water depending on conditions that week.

Trout fishing is strong on the upper Nestucca this month and spring Chinook are still showing in the lower river before the run tapers off. Fall Chinook are just starting to trickle in, so we spend most days working the trout water and checking the tide for early kings.

Trout fishing peaks in August and we find fish holding in the deeper runs through the heat of the day. Fall Chinook numbers build steadily and the first coho start showing in the lower river. Spring Chinook are winding down, so our focus shifts to the trout program with some scouting for the fall salmon push.

September is when the fall run really gets going. Fall Chinook and coho both peak together, stacking in the tidewater and lower river while trout fishing stays strong up top. We run full days chasing salmon on the incoming tide and can switch over to trout water if conditions call for it, so this is a good time to talk through dates with us.

October is the month we build the whole season around. Fall Chinook and coho push into the Nestucca system and hold in the tidewater seams, and trout stack up in the same cooler flows. We run early tides and work the structure hard.

Fall Chinook are still around in good numbers through November, trout fishing holds steady, and the first winter steelhead start showing in the lower river as flows come up. Coho activity tapers off this month. We adjust our drifts day to day based on rain and river height, so give us a call before you book to talk current conditions.

December belongs to winter steelhead. Chinook and coho have wrapped up their run and trout fishing slows with the colder water, but steelhead are moving well through the system on good flows. We watch the river gauges closely this time of year and pick days around clean water, so talk to us about timing a trip around the right window.