Winter Steelhead Closure? Not Quite

I always think of March 31st as the end of my winter steelhead season and my thoughts inevitably start drifting towards the warmer days of summer, dry flies and big resident trout on light rods.  But just because my season has ended doesn’t mean yours has to just yet. Sure, most of our streams close on the last day of March but some remain open and one other thing . . . there are still fish around.  Good numbers of fish.

I went on March 31 to one of my favorite small streams (now closed) and I was eaten 3 times.  Those bites yielded one solid hook-up and one fish landed.  My point?  There are still fish around for the catching, especially towards the begining of April.  So, if you still have winter steelhead swimming in your blood . . .

Northwest Zone:

Alsea River and North Fork Alsea: Open for finclipped steelhead until April 30.

Kilchis River: Open for finclipped steelhead all year.

Nestucca River: Open for finclipped steelhead all year (below Moon Creek).

Siletz River: Open all year for finclipped steelhead.

Siulsaw: Open from Whitaker Creek to 200 yards below Wildcat Bridge until April 15.

Trask River mainstem: Open all year.

Wilson River mainstem: Open all year.

Southwest Zone:

Mainstem Coos River: Open all year

South Fork Coos above the head of tide: Open for finclipped steelhead until April 30th.

Coquille River (all forks):  Open for finclipped steelhead until April 30th.

Eel Creek: Open

Millicoma River: Open for steelhead all year.

Rogue River: Open for finclipped steelhead all year.

Umpqua River: Open for finclipped steelhead all year.

Smith River from Spencer Creek to Sisters Creek: Open for finclipped steelhead until April 30.

North Umpqua: Open for finclipped steelhead the entire year.

So, as you can see there are still lots of opportunities to catch coastal winter steelhead.  One more thing, be sure to check your regs.–KM