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Hit up the Nestucca with a couple of friends from Portland expecting a pretty good day considering the recent river blowout and falling water levels. We fished what I believe was called the "Three Rivers Area" for Steelhead, starting out about half an hour before sunrise. There were probably a dozen fishermen lining the bank where we were, trying just about everything that was pink/orange. Floated jigs and various bottom drifted presentations were thoroughly being worked in that stretch of water. The river itself had about 2' of visibility and was a muddy green, not quite the perfect green yet. I was able to land a 4.5# hatchery buck by working a peach/red/orange yarn ball along the bottom on the opposite side of the river at a seam where a smooth pool met a choppy little riffle. Prior to my fish, I saw another guy get what appeared to be a chrome 7# or 8# hen out of the same slot. It looked like a decent slot to me before I ever saw a fish come out of it, but seeing that first fish inspired me to try it, with successful results! The fish itself was pretty dark, but I would be surprised if there are still summer run fish in the river. Maybe it was a winter run that made it into the river really early in the season and just hung around. Anyway, I rated the day as a two given the fact that I caught a fish, but I was expecting there to be a bit more action than that, given the conditions. No other hook ups at all throughout the day.

iliketofish2

1/17/2014 6:45:00 AM

Chromer!!! Nice work!

sealegs

1/17/2014 9:44:00 AM

well done!

AJFishdude

1/18/2014 12:59:00 AM

Haha, yea, I don't think that fish meets the definition of a chromer no matter how far you stretch it. I was pretty happy to have gotten the fish at all though, knowing how many other guys were trying the same spot. I also out fished both of the friends that I routinely go fishing with, so that was fun too. I think the best part though is that I saw the spot that looked good to me, tailored my casting and presentation specifically to it, and ended up with a fish to show for it. It is always very gratifying when you feel like you knew what needed to be done, did it, and ended up with a fish. This is only my first season of serious Steelhead fishing, but having caught two already, it makes me feel good about doing my research and reading up on the subject. The Color Guide to Drift Fishing for Steelhead by Bill Herzog is a great book, and I think that his tips in there on how to find fish based upon water flow/clarity and how to match the presentation to the conditions were a big part of why I was successful with both of the fish I landed.

bob johansen

1/18/2014 10:59:00 AM

Nice to get a report on the Nestucca River. My dad had a dairy farm just downstream from three rivers. I caught many steelhead from the bank of Dad's farm back in the 1940s. I also went to High School at Nestucca Union High School.

AJFishdude

1/18/2014 11:10:00 AM

I'm from the Seattle area currently, but I grew up in Portland and still have quite a few friends down there. It was back in October I think that we hit up this same spot, but about 100 yards downriver for the late summer Chinook run. One of my friends went one for three (I think) by floating eggs under a bobber. I was able to tie into a nice looking fish too (saw it jump) but it pretty quickly wrapped itself around a log and I lost it.

TyeeMatt

1/18/2014 3:14:00 PM

Nice to hear a report from the Nestucca. My girlfriend's family has an old mink farm on Three Rivers and I caught a beast native Coho out of there on the first cast into their swimming hole on xmas day. I was expecting a trout at best as I was above the hatchery and the Coho managed to break my tip-top off when I muscled it from under a log jam. That's a nice area. I gotta recommend the Paciifc City Inn too. Its management caters to the "steelheaders", its ten minutes from where you were fishing, and a two block walk to the infamous Sportsman Tavern

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