any fish in main stem of nehalem??

[FishingNewbie]

i never hear mention of the nehalem other that the north fork. are there any steelies in the main river? maybe up toward the nehalem falls campground or further up? i'm looking for a different stretch of river and no one ever mentions it -- no fish?? you don't have to tell your super secret spot, but does anyone ever go up there??

[fishnpray]

FN-

Not to be sarcastic, but how else would they get to the NF? You'll mostly see word about the NF 'cause it's small water, and where the fish end up...nice banik access, good drifts and lots of fun times for the WHOLE crew...and some more people...and then some more. depending of course on when and where you go on the river.

[Riverkeeper]

Someone correct me if I'm even slightly wrong...

The NF Nehalem gets a hatchery run of steelhead which is underway right now (or maybe just past the peak). The mainstem nehalem doesn't get any hatchery plants, although there may be some strays. Very few keeper fish=few people. There may be a wild fish or two...

Since the confluence of the two systems is in tidewater, I don't think you stand much chance of catching NF bound hatchery fish in the mainstem unless you have a method for fishing in 30' of salt water in the bay near the town of Nehalem. I think that would be, at best, an unorthodox way of fishing for winter steelhead.

[Mad Mikey]

Riverkeeper,

You got it.

[TAILOUT]

Im sure the Nehalem gets native fish that are headed for the Salmonberry R which is located off the upper Nehalem somewhere south of the town of Elsie. This is catch and release only for large, robust steelhead, these fish should be treated with extreme care. I am pretty sure you can fish the Salmonberry itself too, at least you used to be able to, I would check the regs. I was up there once a long time ago I dont remember much just big hard fighting native steelhead in March and beautiful scenery.Good Luck on finding something new or different!!!

[SteelieSteve]

I haven't fished the Nehalem since the removal of hatchery plants but it had a good native fishery. It used to be my favorite float and produced many great fishing trips. Now with no hatchery plants it should still have good action though the keepers are gone. You might find a stray but what are the odds?

[Uglygreen]

Mainstem is usually blown out most of the winter. Its one of the first to blow out and one of the last to clear.

Wet year = not much fishing.

UG

[ 01-14-2004, 06:50 AM: Message edited by: Uglygreen ]

[hustlerrjim]

march thru april, there is a great fishery, all natives as no planters.yet.
fantastic drifting river.and lots of HUGE fish.river level must be 4.6 [for me] or below.

[OneLastCast]

I agree with Uglygreen and HustlerJim. I always considered it fishable under 4.5 feet. But I was always a bank maggot. Anything higher and it's plunking time.

[FishingNewbie]

thanks for the info guys. it's an ugly drive down that windy road for someone who gets car sick (like me) and you saved me a trip...