Hebo Deli and Sporting Goods Previous Blog News...

...is a wealth of outdoor and deli Information!

It's loaded with tips, advice, contributions from our visitors, popular store items and more! We're saving posts that will always benefit our Nestucca Valley Website visitors...

Anything related to our Hebo Sporting Goods and Deli Store. Going Dory Fishing in Pacific City? Need a place to spend the night? How about bait for your crab pot? Including activities like...

...camping, fishing and hiking at beautiful places like nearby Cape Kiawanda Beach in Pacific City are just the tip of the iceburg. Speaking of the Cape... we made it to the top at low tide...

Our (and our visitors') personal experiences (and photos) make Hebo Deli and Sporting Goods Blog Special!

If it has to do with tasty Little Nestucca Deli homemade food or the Oregon coastal area outdoors (as well as other beautiful locations)... it belongs here!

Tillamook and Lincoln County Prior Fishing Blog News

Big Nestucca River

Freshwater

Tip

September '25

Jackson's Drift: If the Nestucca River is under 7', Jackson drift above the mouth of Three Rivers near Hebo is a good bet. We bank fished it from the north side of the river.

Bank access or not? Jackson's Drift (aka Preacher's Drift) was open for bank access when I checked early this Fall 2025. Possibly the farmer closes it down when the cattle are grazing in that area? I knocked on his door to ask but nobody answered. I'll keep you updated whenever possible.

Fish the fast water at the head all the way down to the mouth of Three Rivers. Also, fish on down to the logs. Water height will dictate which portion to fish. In doubt? Visit our Hebo Tackle Shop/Deli before you head up there.

Fishing the general area across from the mouth of Three Rivers is usually best for Nestucca Winter Steelhead.

Sept '25

Mouth of Three Rivers: (Hebo boat ramp side):

You can have success here in high water if Three Rivers is green or clear and also during lower flows as well. Check the Nestucca River level here.

If the Big Nestucca is off-color, dropping, and Three Rivers is green or clear without a lot of debris floating down...

Salmon and steelhead fishing at the mouth of Three Rivers is a good bet if the Nestucca River doesn't raise too fast (dropping best) and...

...Three Rivers dumps in green or clear water without debris as mentioned above.

If you plunk or drift fish, we've got spin-n-glos in lots of colors including florescent orange and chartreuse. Use the biggest size we carry with a large hook as well when the water is high and off-color. Jr will set you up. Better yet, add some bait and/or scent.

If you're drift-fishing, use plenty of weight and walk it along the bottom, slowly.

Use less weight, smaller hooks, etc., should you decide to salmon or steelhead fish at the mouth of Three Rivers while the water level drops...

...if you're plunking, drift fishing, using lures or bobber fishing.

More mouth of Three Rivers options at lower flows (boat ramp side of river)...

Are you a Nestucca River Bobber Fisherman? Fish right above, at or directly below the mouth of Three Rivers boat ramp.

Do you fish hardware? Fish the faster water or the big hole.

How about drift fishing the Nestucca for Fall Chinook and Winter Steelhead? The riffle described above works well.

Here's more about salmon and steelhead fishing at the mouth of Three Rivers.

Fish the seam where both rivers meet. You can bobber or drift fish. Or...

Feeling lazy? Try plunking. We used to fish here in these conditions back in the day. I have no idea why more Nestucca fishermen don't fish this seam when...

...the Big Nestucca water conditions are not suitable. Fish will move up-river in this Three-Rivers/Nestucca confluence seam, close to the bank.

Tidewater

Tip

Cloverdale: Still very tide-effected up here but save this for when the Nestucca River drops way down. During very low water times it's fun to fish here. On incoming tide, you can spot salmon, Summer and Winter steelhead moving upstream.

I've always enjoyed salmon and steelhead fishing here when the Big Nestucca River Level is 4' or less (bank fishing). You can have success in this Nestucca/Cloverdale fishery if the water is somewhat higher as well. It's just that bank fishing is more difficult when the water is higher...

Not familiar with this productive, lower Nestucca tide-effected fishery? C ontact JR and he'll fill you in. Hebo Bait Shop carries the special pass needed for Nestucca River Cloverdale bank access!

Is the Big Nestucca River Too Crowded for Bank Fishing?

Starting with tidewater from Pacific City up to Cloverdale...

Try above the Woods bridge. There's plenty of pull-outs above the last house. When the river pulls away from the road all the way up to Cloverdale...

Don't be afraid to ask the Dairy Farmers for permission.

Lastly, there's great bank access at Cloverdale below the boat ramp which is behind the shops. You'll need a special pass to fish here...

Hebo Sporting Goods Tackle Shop does have this recreational access pass available (Cloverdale boat ramp pass). Your fee will be paid if you shuttle through us for $10.

When you get up into freshwater... Dairy Farm permission still applies to the lower river as well as up high. Seems you need to go way up high for more bank access which is great if the lower river is too dirty to fish or for other reasons.

Ask permission from non-farmer land owners as well.

Checking out new areas like these at low water levels is a good way to spot tackle-grabbing snags before fishing!

August '25

Pacific City area (salmon):

I'll usually begin fishing here on the Big Nestucca River tide water beginning May throughout November. I've caught fish below and above the Pacific City bridge.

During November...

I mostly use spinners since the current is too strong for bobber fishing (for me) most of the time...

...when the color is good and the water is clean. Ditto Little Nestucca Tidewater above and below the boat ramp.

During late Fall, it doesn't usually matter as much if you're fishing on holding tides or big tidal swings as long as the current is compatible with your fishing technique. It seems to matter more Spring and early Fall.

Barometer: I've never worried about barometer changes up in freshwater (except for a fast rising river and other factors associated with it)...

...as much as how it effects tidewater salmon fishing success. This seems to apply mainly for lower Oregon Coast river tidal areas. Upper tidewater portions of Chinook rivers... not so much.

Are You Concerned about Fish Seeing Your Line in Clear Water...

Especially during sunny weather even though you're using "Invisible to the fish" fishing line? I've studied some underwater photos of those lines in action. The "invisible" florescent fishing lines stick out like a sore thumb.

Maxima gray leads he way... use it if you're concerned.

Do chrome, fresh salmon and steelhead care? Who knows?

My take on this: The longer the salmon or steelhead is in the river, the more "trouty" it becomes. Add sunny weather (especially at a higher angle during summer) and low flows to the mix. Then... I think it does.

Confidence does matter though. Either way... Our Hebo Tackle Shop has you covered... click here.

P.S. It probably doesn't matter too much when using hardware except action (plugs) and ease of casting do play a part.

Little Nestucca

Freshwater

Tip

September '25

General advice:

Our Pacific City and Hebo area Little Nestucca River comes up fast and drops fast as well. If it's coming up in the am and off color (but not too much)... it could be fishable up high later in the day!

When fishing right below Stella Falls... check out the deadline markers. Fish upriver and downriver from here as well.

There should be Sea-Run Cutthroat around all the way up to the headwaters. Seems nobody fishes for them. I've caught many while Winter Steelhead fishing the Little Nestucca... the last one I caught was around 20"... no kidding.

Some years there's a Fall run of Coho Salmon in the Little Nestucca River. They're aggressive hardware and fly (streamer) biters.

**If the water is high and off-color, fish at the mouth of several little tributaries feeding this Hebo area stream dumping in clear/green water. Fish the transition.

Little Nestucca Fly fishermen:

Expect to do a lot of roll casting due to back-cast limitations. I can hit most places using my single-hand 7 wt (8-9 wt single-hand fly rod better for Winter Steelhead). However, a 7 wt loads better with limited back-cast room.

Spey Rod Winter Steelhead fisherman? We'll get to that later. Note: Because of how I like to fish (see directly below)... that Shooting Head to Tip Section (sink tip, etc.), loop to loop connection hangs up in the guides...

...limiting my retrieve several feet. This isn't that big of an issue if you're mainly swinging Winter Steelhead flies.

Fly fishing the Little Nestucca River will especially shine during lower, clearer flows!

If you're a Nestucca River Fly (streamer) fisherman... maybe you fish steelhead spinners as well! If so...

Tidewater

Tip

101 Bridge area and above: This Hebo area river (Little Nestucca) drops fast and salmon will start holding up in tidewater...

...if the upper river becomes fairly low.

Even when the Little Nestucca (including the whole Nestucca River system) Fall Chinook (and some Coho) run is over...

You can catch Winter Steelhead here as well during really low flows.

Fish below the Little Nestucca boat ramp down to the 101 bridge. Or... fish above the ramp up to the first bend.

If you have a boat, you can fish all the way up to the next bridge and beyond until you hit the first riffle if the tide is just right although...

Look out for submerged logs up there where the river narrows.

As the tide slows down, increase the blade size so you're lure catches more water enabling a slow retrieve. Slow is the key for Nestucca Chinook and cold-water Winter Steelhead.

Let's Hear What You Have to Say!

Feel like contributing your advice/tips? Do you have a certain type of retrieve you like to use for Winter Steelhead? Or... what Winter Steelhead lure component is most important to you?

Anything else you'd like to add? Please let us know... we'll include it as a Page on our Hebo Tackle and Bait Shop Website!

Salmon and Steehead Baits

Here's some ingredients for your Salmon and Steelhead Fishing success (we'll be adding more):

Bait (salmon): Salmon or steelhead eggs with or without:

Sandshrimp

Sardines

Tuna belly

Anchovie

Other types of "Shrimp."

You can use these salmon baits without eggs as well. You can freeze and/or cure most of these Fall and Spring Chinook baits. Furthermore... there's more baits that can be added to this list! What's your favorite?

Bait (steelhead):

Salmon eggs

Steelhead eggs

Sandshrimp

Worms (yes!)

Crawdad tails

Other baits including coon shrimp

Use these steelhead baits by themselves or in combination with others. Some freeze and/or cure well.

Fly Fishing for Salmon and Steelhead

My latest addition is an 11' Switch rod. Might be a little long at times but I'll be able to roll cast better (and fight Oregon Coastal Winter Steelhead quicker!). It might not load as well false-casting (I just use one water-load)... maybe I'll pack my 7 wt single-hand fly rod as well...

Was never crazy about packing two rods when fly fishing smaller Oregon Winter and Summer Steelhead creeks.

Don't just swing your fly... strip it in as well. Do both. This way you can cover more water efficiently. Slow it down (mostly) when your steelhead river water temperatures are chilly. Warmer steelhead water allows you to speed things up occasionally.

Swinging flies for Winter and Summer Steelhead is fun but it's not efficient in all types of water. Besides... have you ever caught a steelhead while stripping your fly? Wow!...

I enjoy this type of steelhead fly fishing technique more than any other...

Using this most of the time while casting streamers for Oregon steelhead... just my preference.

Unless you know the steelhead holding areas really well, don't invest too much time into tying your fly pattern. Keep it simple and you'll fish it correctly without worrying about snagging up...

I quit using my articulated steelhead, salmon and trout streamers in unknown and/or snaggy Oregon streams.

If streamer fishing is your thing... you can cover a bunch of water like fishing hardware for Winter and Summer Steelhead.

Hunting for Japanese & Other Asian Vintage Glass Fishing Floats!

Fishing tackle, Oregon trawler net floats and other treasures... like this vintage Japanese fishing float, wash up after a storm during high tide...

We found this Japanese glass fishing float at Oregon Camp Winema Beach

Asian glass ball fishing floats are stll circulating around the Pacific Ocean

These glass floats, after breaking away from the foreign Asian fishing net... circulate throughout the North and South Pacific Oceans in the strong currents.

Eventually, when the conditions are just right... after decades and maybe even a hundred years or more...

Plop! The beautiful glass float finds a new beach home, maybe only until the next high tide (unless found by a beach comber)...

and is carried back out to continue the cycle!

Also... Drift bobbers and other floating Nestucca fishing tackle are drifting down to tidewater and right out into the ocean. Cape Kiawanda is a great spot to beach comb these fluorescent treasures! I've found them as well on Camp Winema Beach (about 15 minutes south of Hebo Sporting Goods off Highway 101)...

Must have drifted up from Lincoln City's Salmon or Siletz River.

I (actually my dog) found an original glass (not plastic) Japanese fishing float here early in the morning during a stormy high tide! I've hunted these over the years. If you have questions about these beautiful, vintage lost foreign treasures... ask us.

I'm not hunting the plastic imitation Japanese floats made in Lincoln City and scattered out in the Pacific Ocean for the tourists.

Local Glass Fishing Float Hunting

Hop in you boat and head out to the mouth of the Big Nestucca River. I like to run out there. Beach your boat on the North side of the bay, across from the seals :-) This is a great place to hunt foreign glass fishing floats.

Sift through the debris. Don't forget to bring your Hebo Deli picnic lunch!

BEST AFTER A BIG STORM AND HIGH TIDE.

Also, park at Camp Winema south of Hebo Sporting Goods and Deli about 20 minutes. Walk north about a mile. You'll reach the south side of the mouth of the Big Nestucca River Bay entrance!

There's literally tons of debris to sift through. I know there's Japanese, Russian, Korean and other foreign glass fishing floats buried in the debris over the years. Also, over the decades, they got buried in the sand along and up into the grass.