Nehalem Summer Chinook

[Fishbulb]

I am really interested in fishing for summer chinook in the mainstem Nehalem river. I don't have a boat so am limited to fishing from the bank. Can anyone please give me some pointers on when the fish are usually high enough in the system to have a chance at them and from the bank and what types of techniques tend to work well there? There is so much ODF land along the river up to HWY 26 I am not really sure where to start.

Thanks to anyone who can help

[Deleted User]

Hi Fishbulb. Like that moniker. Someone that fishes the Nehalem more can give you details. I can tell you that it gets an earlier run of fall chinook than the Tillamook run. Fishers start catching them about now inside the jetties. There should be catchable numbers in upper tidewater by late Aug. to early Sept. Fishing on up the river depends on when fall rains arrive to bring the river up enough for triggering migration. Once that happens, anytime after mid-Sept., they should be spread up thru the lower river into some good bank access areas. Slowly driftfishing (or w/floats) large egg clusters &/or sandshrimp, with plastics (or yarn) to fit water color, is productive off the bank and so is slow deep retrieving of size 4 spinners. Lyster's Tackle in Garibaldi can help you with more suggestions, including where to bankfish.- RT

[Jennie@ifish]

We are going to hit the Nehalem tomorrow. Will let you know what I find out also.
J

[Deleted User]

Fishbulb,

Years ago I fished for and caught these early Birkenfeld fish from the end of the jetty driftfishing about 16 oz. True story. Fish the incomming tide. Here is my rig. Swivel, 5 feet of 30 lb then round cork, swivel and 2feet of leader, rig hearing head down. the cork holds bait about 2 feet of bottom. My big problem was keeping the silvers of the hook. Caught 5-6 silvers for every Chinook. Fishing was hot at times, watch the waves and don't go all the way to the end of the jetty if its rough. 16 oz is not enough to hold in big tide but drift takes about 10 min so lot of time with bait in the zone. PLEASE make sure you check regulations as I did this back when you used to be able to fish most of the time.
Also, you can get some access for bobber fishing chinook arround Roy creek park and mouth of Folly Creek, I have taken lots of fish in this area. boat helps but not necessary. The Birkenfeld run is early, Mid August start.......Steve

[Hotshot]

i like a good early morning tide about 2;30 at its highest point and fish down low and when you get into em follow them up day by day according to water level or how far they will run.

------------------
www.olympicpeninsulafishing.com (http://www.olympicpeninsulafishing.com) Fish Willy Boats