By David Johnson

If you’ve had a chance to listen to the recording (503-368-5670) at the North Fork Nehalem hatchery anytime in the last week, you are probably chomping at the bit to get out!

“We worked the trap and got 500 Steelhead yesterday, lots of fish are moving in and they are catching fish off the handicap dock.”

There were limits caught at the handicap dock and below the deadline.”

“We have recycled truck loads of fish back down river.”

And so it’s been last week.

It’s the peak of the winter Steelhead run on the NF Nehalem and it should last another week or two so don’t miss out.  And with the rain we had late last week conditions will be excellent.

Anglers have been taking fish on bobber and jigs during lower flows and drift fishing with corky/yarn or bait during high flows.

Recycle- When the Department of Fish and Wildlife hatcheries get more Steelhead returning than they need they will put them in tanker trucks and “recycle” them back downstream so that they have to swim back up river to give anglers another crack at them.

David Johnson is a renowned Pacific Northwest fishing guide. To book a trip with Dave call 503-201-4292 or visit Dave at www.davidjohnsonfishing.com. Photos on Flickr