Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Nehalem River Oregon
The Nehalem River runs 120 miles from its headwaters
in the Coast Mountains to Nehalem Bay in Northwest
Oregon. It provides some of the best steelhead fishing in
the state of Oregon. You cannot keep steelhead caught
from the Nehalem River. It is strictly catch and release.
This means the river is left to the anglers who only want
to fight the steelhead.  The steelhead season runs from
February through April.

The Salmonberry River, which is a tributary of the
Nehalem River, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s best
wild steelhead rivers. These large fish can be caught in
the winter during February and March.

Chinook salmon move into the North and South Forks of
the Nehalem River when the first rains begin each fall.
These fish average from 15 to 50 pounds and are wild.
The fall Chinook salmon season is open from August 1
to December 31 at the current time. Spring Chinook
Salmon season usually runs from about April 1 to July
31.

Coho salmon are also in the river. The main river and its
North Fork have one of the few remaining Coho seasons
in Oregon. They are hatchery Coho with clipped fins.
They can be caught from August 1 to December 31
under the current regulations

Season:
Year-round, See special regulations.
Winter:
January to March is the height of the steelhead season.
Spring:
There is a Spring Chinook salmon run that starts about
the first of April.
Summer:
The sea run cutthroat trout show up in July through
September.
Fall:
Chinook and Coho salmon fishing is best during the fall.

Fly Fishing Guide to the Nehalem River
Fly fishing the Nehalem River strictly depends on the
species you are after. The Chinook salmon average
about twenty pounds. The Coho average about ten
pounds. (Continued)
Type of Stream
Freestone

Species
Steelhead
Chinook Salmon
Coho Salmon
Sea Run Cutthroats

Size
Large, 120 miles long

Location
Northcentral Oregon Coast

Nearest Towns
Rockaway, Nehalem, Wheeler

Season
Year-round
Steelhead: Feb.-April
Chinook Salmon: Aug-Dec.
and April 1-July

Access:
Fair

Special Regulations
Yes, depends on species

Non-Resident License
State of Oregon

Weather
National Weather Service

Fly Fishing Guide

Recommend Flies

Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies

Stream Flow Data:
USGS Vernonia

USGS Foss
Nehalem River Oregon
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Photo Courtesy of
Dennis McCarthy
Photo Courtesy of
Dennis McCarthy
Options For Selecting Flies:
1. Email us with the dates you will be
fishing this stream and we will send
you a list of our fly suggestions. Please
allow up to 24 hours for a response.

2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will
help you decide which flies you need.

3. Call or email us with a budget for
flies and we will select them and get
them to you in time for your trip.

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