Seasons

Unlike many other states, Oregon provides exceptional fishing year around! Below review the month(s) you would like to fish and learn about what we are fishing for that time of year, where we are fishing, and the techniques we are utilizing. Listed under the rivers we are fishing are distances from the major airports in the state and recommendations for where to stay and where to dine during your visit.

December - April

December through April is Oregon's world renowned Winter Steelhead Season! We fish the following rivers from a heated 18' Koffler Boats drift boat equipped with comfortable seats employing the techniques of side drifting and float fishing. We use high quality light weight equipment while fishing for these sea run behemoths ranging in size from six pounds to over twenty pounds.

Rivers, Lodging and Dining

Siletz River & Alsea River
Newport, OR

Where To Stay:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Newport
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Newport
Rodeway Inn, Newport

Dining Recommendations:
Saphron Salmon
Local Ocean
Newport Cafe
(open 24 hrs-breakfast anytime)
Super Oscar's Mexican (open 24 hrs)
Chowder Bowl at Nye Beach
Rogue House of Spirits

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Newport, OR: 149
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Newport, OR: 84

Siuslaw River
Florence, OR

Where to Stay:
Old Town Inn, Florecne
Three Rivers Casino, Florence

Dining recommendations:
The Dunes Café
Three Rivers Casino
Homegrown Public House
Waterfront Depot
Best Thai Cuisine

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Eugene, OR: 124
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Eugene, OR: 0

Umpqua River
Sutherlin, OR

Where to Stay:
Best Western Hartford Lodge, Sutherlin, OR
Guesthouse Inn & Suites Sutherlin, OR

Dining recommendations:
Dakota Street Pizza Co
Apple Peddler (Open 24 hrs)

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Sutherlin, OR: 182
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Sutherlin, OR: 62

Coquille River
Myrtle Point, OR

Where to Stay:
Myrtle Trees Motel, Myrtle Point, OR, Myrtle Lane Motel, Coquille, OR

Dining recommendations:
Denny's Pizza, Coquille, OR (11 miles from Myrtle Point and worth the drive)
Kozy Kitchen Myrtle Point
(open 6am)
Coquille Broiler, Coquille, OR

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Myrtle Point, OR: 249
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Myrtle Point, OR: 132

April & May

April and May are the peak months to fish for Spring Chinook Salmon on the Columbia River and the Willamette River, considered by many as the best eating salmon in the world surpassing Copper River Salmon in fat content and taste. The first "Springer" of the season will normally be caught in late January or early February on the Willamette River historically in the Sellwood Bridge area. This catch will be documented and celebrated in the local newspapers and on various fishing websites. We will fish from the middle of March and into June for these prized fish in and around the Portland area. We fish the following rivers and areas out of a 24' Koffler Boats sled boat powered by Mercury and we troll cut plug herring with Rogue Rods and Shimano Takota line counter reels.

Rivers, Lodging and Dining

Columbia River, Willamette River,
Multnomah Channel
Portland, OR

Where to stay:
Holiday Inn Express, Portland Airport (503) 251-9991, Hilton Garden Inn, Portland Airport (503) 255-8600,
The Benson (503) 228-2000

Dining recommendations:
Stanich's, Salty's on the Columbia, Ring Side Steakhouse, Voodoo Doughnut

June

June is Keeper Sturgeon Season on the Columbia River near Astoria, OR. This is my favorite fishery in Oregon for several reasons. Sturgeon is a great eating fish. With a keeper slot limit of 41"-54" we sometimes catch a lot of fish both larger and smaller than the slot limit before we land all of our keepers. Once you land your keeper you can continue to "party fish" until all parties on the boat have tagged their keepers. Three foot Sturgeon and eight foot Sturgeon bite the same so you never know by the bite if you have just hooked a "shaker," under the slot limit, a "keeper," within the slot limit or an "oversized," over the slot limit. Book soon as this season normally fills up quickly!

Rivers, Lodging and Dining

Columbia River
Astoria, OR

Where to stay:
Crest Motel, Astoria, OR, Hotel Elliott, Astoria, OR, Cannery Pier Hotel, Astoria, OR, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

Dining Recommendations:
Fultanos Pizza, Pig'n Pancake, Rogue Ales Public House, Silver Salmon Grille

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Astoria, OR: 97
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Astoria, OR: 186

June & July

June & July is the peak of Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing & Summer Steelhead fishing on the world famous Mckenzie River, the birth place of the Mckenzie Drift Boat. We fish the Mckenzie out of an 18' Koffler Boats drift boat. We back bounce, back troll, side drift and float fish for these amazing eating and hard fighting fish.

This is also peak season for Rainbow Trout fishing on the Mckenzie. We pursue both hatchery keeper trout and the native Mckenzie River Redside Trout. We run both fly fishing and spin fishing trout trips on the Mckenzie. Upon request we provide a shore lunch for our clients where the main dish is fresh fried trout that you caught that morning for no additional cost.

Rivers, Lodging and Dining

Mckenzie River
Eugene, OR

Where to stay:
Hilton, Eugene, OR, Valley River Inn, Eugene, OR

Dining recommendations:
Joey's Pizza, Springfield, OR (worth the short drive for great pizza with a rugged atmosphere), Steelhead Brewing Company, Hop Valley Brewing Company (Springfield, OR), Electric Station, Shari's (open 24 hours)

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Eugene OR: 124
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Eugene, OR: 0

August - November

August through November are peak months for Fall Chinook fishing on Oregon’s coastal bays, estuaries and rivers. We toll herring, back bounce, back troll, and float fish on numerous coastal river systems for these hard fighting ocean fresh giants that can exceed forty pounds.

Rivers, Lodging and Dining

Siletz River & Alsea River
Newport, OR

Where to stay:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Newport, OR, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Newport, OR, Rodeway Inn, Newport, OR

Dining recommendations:
Savory Cafe & Pizzeria, Newport Cafe (open 24 hrs-breakfast anytime), Super Oscar's Mexican Food (open 24 hrs), Chowder Bowl at Nye Beach, Rogue House of Spirits

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Newport, OR: 149
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Newport, OR: 84

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Eugene, OR: 124
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Eugene, OR: 0

Umpqua River
Reedsport, OR

Where to Stay:
Best Western Hartford Lodge, Sutherlin, OR / Microtel Inn & Suites Sutherlin, OR

Dining recommendations:
Dakota Street Pizza Co., Apple Peddler (Open 24 hrs)

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Reedsport, OR: 207
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Reedsport, OR: 81

Coos River
Coos Bay, OR

Where to Stay:
Red Lion Hotel, Coos Bay, OR,
Motel 6, Coos Bay, OR
Mill Casino, North Bend, Or
Bandon Dune, Bandon, OR

Dining recommendations:
Rodeo Steakhouse & Grill, Coos Bay, OR, Kozy Kitchen

Miles from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Coos Bay, OR: 236
Miles from Eugene Airport (EUG) to Coos Bay, OR: 107