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USGS 14301000 near Foss · discharge in cfs
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Nehalem River Fishing Report — Foss to Nehalem Bay
Photo: Gary Halvorson / Oregon State Archives Opens in a new tab. · CC BY 4.0; converted to WebP with a display crop Opens in a new tab.
Should I go fishing?
Don't fish this reach.
Trout season is closed near Foss.
Do not fish the report's rated target while this annual closure is in effect. The cutthroat-first Foss rating is closed November 1 through May 21 because the Northwest Zone stream-trout season runs May 22 through October 31. Separate salmon and hatchery-steelhead opportunities are reach-specific and are not rated here. Check the official source before leaving.
Fishing rating0
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Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 789 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 51.8°F · 24h high 52.2°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 54°F
- Next 24h high
- 64.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 10%
Latest stored weather check
Cloudy
- Wind
- 2 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Cloudy
National Weather Service
Nehalem River near Foss
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Nehalem River near Foss — USGS 14301000
Water 51.8°F · provisional · 24h high 52.2°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
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Methods, fish species and trip notes
Fishing advice is paused.
Use the official notice and current conditions instead of fishing advice.
Do not fish the report's rated target while this annual closure is in effect. The cutthroat-first Foss rating is closed November 1 through May 21 because the Northwest Zone stream-trout season runs May 22 through October 31. Separate salmon and hatchery-steelhead opportunities are reach-specific and are not rated here. Check the official source before leaving.
Reach, access, tides, and Oregon rules.
Use a named public site and the rule for that exact section. Public water does not authorize crossing private land.
Before you go
ODFW's 2026 Northwest Zone rules set the general trout season at May 22 through October 31 and require artificial flies or lures above tidewater from May 22 through August 31. Release wild steelhead. The main river and bay below Foss Road Bridge have separate salmon and hatchery-steelhead rules. Foss Road Bridge to Highway 26 is closed to salmon angling all year. Above Highway 26 is closed to salmon angling all year and to all angling September 1 through November 30. Current in-season updates allow one adult wild Chinook per day and five for the seasonal aggregate from July 1 through November 30 across the main river and bay from the mouth to Foss Road Bridge plus the North Fork from its mouth to Highway 53. Chinook then closes December 1 through 31. The special wild-coho season runs September 9 through October 28 on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from the jetties to Miami-Foley Road Bridge plus the North Fork from its mouth to North Fork Road Bridge at Aldervale, with one adult per day and three for the period plus one wild jack per day. Recheck current updates and the exact reach before fishing or keeping fish. In-season changes override the permanent summary.
Rules by reach
| River section and season | Fishing rules |
|---|---|
| Nehalem Bay and lower tidewaterseparate plan | Use the current ODFW salmon report, NOAA tide predictions, marine weather, and a verified open public launch. The Foss score does not rate bay current, wind, bar safety, or fish movement. Official rule |
| USGS 14301000 near Fossscored reach | The live rating uses this reach's discharge and water temperature. The seven-day chart shows discharge only. Neither clears a bank, crossing, or float. Official rule |
| Foss Road Bridge through upper Vernoniarules split | Foss Road Bridge to Highway 26 is closed to salmon angling all year. Above Highway 26, salmon angling is closed all year and all angling closes September 1 through November 30. Foss readings do not confirm upper-river conditions. Official rule |
| North Fork Nehalemseparate waterbody | Use the North Fork rule and its own access and condition checks. Do not transfer the main river score or assume the hatchery platform is general public access. Official rule |
Where to access the river
City of Nehalem public docks
The City lists two free public docks downtown. The lower dock supports transient fishing tie-up, and the upper dock includes a kayak launch. Recheck current posted conditions before use.
Site detailsNehalem Bay State Park
The Marine Board listed boating access open with summer boarding docks deployed. Recheck the park and access report before towing or launching.
Site detailsH Street, Tohls Street, and Roy Creek ramps
The Marine Board listed these ramps open and said Roy Creek and Nehalem ramps had been cleared of silt and mud. Use the current report, not the page's former stale mud warning.
Site detailsNehalem County Park ramp
Tillamook County placed rock at the ramp bottom to fill the drop-off. The Marine Board asks boaters to avoid power loading because it damages the ramp.
Site details- The Marine Board's August access report listed Nehalem Bay State Park, Wheeler, H Street, Tohls Street, and Roy Creek open. It also said Roy Creek and Nehalem ramps were cleared of silt and mud. Recheck the live report because access can change.
- At Nehalem County Park, avoid power loading over the rock placed at the ramp bottom. Inspect the ramp and water level before launching.
- Public water does not authorize crossing private land. Use named public access, respect posted boundaries, and do not treat the scenic-waterway designation as roadside-entry permission.
- NOAA station 9437908 supplies tide predictions. It does not measure current at your boat, confirm a safe bar, or replace local knowledge and current marine conditions.
- A Foss rating is not a float clearance. Confirm the exact lower-river launch, takeout, tide, wind, shuttle, suitable craft, PFD, and ramp status before boating.
Sources and report details
Official flow, temperature, fishing, rule, tide, launch, access, safety, and weather sources were checked August 28, 2026. No field visit is claimed.
Rules and closures
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Flow and weather
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Access and land
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More helpful links
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See all 16 checked sources
Rules and closures
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What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
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What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
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Access and land
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What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
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How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: Official sources support the Foss gauge, dated ODFW opportunity report, permanent and in-season rules, named public access, ODFW's fish-stress guidance, tide predictions, marine context, and weather. BlueStreamFly uses 70°F as a conservative trout stop; the ODFW guidance says to stop when water exceeds 70°F. The numeric rating applies only near Foss. No field visit, bay-current observation, bar-safety clearance, current clarity reading, fish-count verification, safe-wading clearance, or verified float route is claimed.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Check the official notice first.
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