I have my first Steelhead trip planned for this Saturday on the Alsea River.
I purchased the tags for it last year but never went so I purchased them once again and I am actually going.
A little bit of prep will be involved for this outing. Waders, Boots, Coat, Lanyard, Wool Socks, Long Underwear, Cap, Gloves, change of clothes, lunch, water and my camera. Steelhead flies, egg patterns and some minnows were purchased at the Caddis Fly Shop yesterday along with stronger leader line. A friend is loaning me a heavier rod for the trip.
CAN YOU TELL I AM EXCITED?? Will be my second fly fishing trip this year and we are still in January. With the recent rains I am hoping they will be moving up-stream and I will be able to catch one on my line.
west of Corvallis Oregon. It runs about fifty-five
miles before flowing into Alsea Bay on the Pacific
Ocean. The river flows through the Siuslaw
National Forest
This is one of the better streams in Oregon for
steelhead, sea-run cutthroat and Chinook salmon.
The Alsea River salmon average about twenty-five
pounds and the Alsea River steelhead about eight
pounds. The sea run cutthroat average about
twelve to sixteen inches and larger.
Fall chinook fishing can be good from the lower bay
up through tidewater area. Sea-run cutthroat trout
fishing is usually good. There are also some
resident cutthroat trout. These fish can be found
throughout most of the main stem of the river.
Fly fishing the Alsea River for winter steelhead can
be great. It starts in December and continues into
the month of February. You will need a drift boat to
fish for the steelhead because most of the bank
access in on private property. Most of the
steelhead are hatchery fish but there are some wild
steelhead..
Highway 101 crosses the Alsea River at Waldport.
State highway #34 parallels most of the river. It
flows through the coastal range Northwest of
Eugene Oregon and enters the sea at Waldport.
Although much of the Alsea River is bordered by
private property, access is generally good. There
are several easy to navigate float sections with
access. The best steelhead fishing is in the upper
two-thirds of the river. Boats are not allowed above
the launch at Mill Creek Park.
The upper river consists of the North and South
Forks of the Alsea. The North fork has a good
winter steelhead run and fishing is popular from the
hatchery downstream to Clemens park on State
Route #34. Honey Grove Bridge is another popular
area.
The South Fork of the Alsea River is a pretty good
cutthroat stream. It’s accessible from the South
Fork River Road and is bordered by both private
and BLM land. There are usually some steelhead
caught in the South Fork as well as cutthroat trout.
Season:
The season varies according to the species
Winter:
Winter is the best time for steelhead fishing.
Spring:
Spring is the slack season on the Alsea River
Summer:
Summer is the time the sea-run cutthroat to appear
Fall:
Chinook Salmon enter the river in the fall
Filed under: Fly Fishing Tagged: Alsea, excited, Fly fishing, Fun, preparing, steelhead 
