All of the hatchery steelhead for the Nehalem basin are released in the North Fork, making the mainstem a mostly wild steelhead river.  As such, it is a later run and will fish better later in the season - January through early April. Recent rains brought the Nehalem up almost 3 feet, so currently it is muddy and “blown out.”  The Nehalem is a big river and can take some time to drop into shape, it’s unlikely it will be fishable this week.

Anglers are reminded that there is NO RETENTION of wild coho in the Nehalem River this year; only adipose fin clipped coho may be retained.

Due to a poor return of Chinook salmon, and conservation concerns about meeting spawning escapement goals, emergency regulation changes took effect for coastal rivers in the NW Zone on Nov. 1, 2018. As a result the Nehalem River, mainstem and bay is closed upstream of the confluence with the North Fork Nehalem. Downstream of the confluence of the North Fork, the bag limit for fall Chinook is reduced to one adult Chinook per day and a limit of 3 from Nov. 1 through the remainder of the season.

Trout fishing in streams will reopen May 22, 2019.