Wilson or Nehalem?

[HappyFishers]

I am going to take my Dad out fishing one of these next few evenings. It'll be his first time fly-fishing and I would like him to hook into a nice fat trout. Since I have just recently moved to the Portland area, I have only fished the Wilson once near milepost 20.

Any ideas where the lunkers are hiding?

Thanks alot :cheers:

[Hooker]

Happyfishers,

You would have a better time if you skipped the Wilson and Nehalem and headed east to the Upper Clackamas. Even the Upper Santiam (above Detroit Lake).

All of the coastal rivers are no longer stocked with trout to enhance the native salmon and steelhead runs. You'll probably catch more smolts than trout.

The Upper Clackamas and Santiam systems are stocked with a very large number of catchable trout, which will give you and your dad a lot more opportunity of catching fish.

I would plan on getting there early or late, as the hot summer days will slow the fishing in the afternoon. :cool:

[Mad Mikey]

>>>All of the coastal rivers are no longer stocked with trout to enhance the native salmon and steelhead runs.<<<

But the coastal rivers have some critters called "Searun Cutts" and they get BIG. They love swinging flies and well placed dries so choose your poison.
I bet you will have virtually NO competition on any of the coastal streams so keep that in mind...........