With no rain in the forecast this week..

any idea how the fishing will be on the Wilson and Nestucca this weekend with the absence of rain?

I'm making a trip to the north coast and am wondering as to what kind of fishing days I might expect over the weekend. It's a long drive for me to get to the north coast and I want to make sure the fishing is OK despite low river levels.

[rags]

Dave,
I fished the Kilches last Thursday, the Wilson on Friday and the Nesctucca on Saturday and they are all low but still fishable. Mouth of 3 rivers was producing and the lower Wilson. I caught a nice bright Chinook on the Kilches and I saw some nice fish on the Wilson. The Nestucca is producing Winter Steelhead and the lower Wilson. It is not red hot but there are fish around.

Dave,

With the rivers already low and clear it's going to be challenging fishing after a week of clear weather lowers them to near summer lows, only colder water. But there are already steelhead being caught and we are due for a good season region wide this winter. The hatchery keeper fish start their main push typically around Dec. 10th so your timing is good, even though the water isn't likely to be. There will be enough fish eager enough to go up they will go right up the shallow water, commonly moving at night after the high tide brings them up thru tidewater. For fresh fish I suggest working the lower ends with low clear water techs. Use a float to fish small egg clusters, sandshrimp tails, and jigs. Also try brass size 3 spinners and some small metalic plugs from well above the holding water. - RT

Thanks for the help RT. With the low water conditions would you suggest abandoning the plugs and drift fishing instead?

If you see a blue Alumalite on the lower Nestucca on Friday, be sure to say 'hello'!

Thanks for the help RT. If you see a blue Alumalite on the lower Nestucca on Friday, be sure to say 'hello'!

Dave, even with real low water I wouldn't abandon the plugs; keep them in your boat's drain hole at all times on the river! Still try the plugs Dave, but generally after you have first tried floatfishing bait &/or jigs. Sometimes anchoring well above the holding water when it's low you will need to cast and float size 30 or 50 Hot Shots to the lower ends of holes, due to not enough current, and then very slowly reel them up thru the holding water with good action. The fish will hit a slow 'ascender' plug really well at times. - RT

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 12-06-2000).]