Alsea River

The Alsea runs from the town of Alsea, west of Corvallis, down Highway 34 to Alsea Bay at Waldport. It is a winter-steelhead river first. Hatchery smolts are released from the hatchery on the North Fork and at Five Rivers, so returning fish gather near those sites from December, and wild fish run through March. Fall Chinook come in from August.

The drifts are friendly: Mill Creek to Campbell, Campbell to Salmonberry, and Five Rivers to Blackberry Campground or on to Mike Bauer Wayside. Watch for Hellion Rapids below Slide Campground. Highway 34 gives bank access along much of the river, and Blackberry and Mike Bauer are good bank spots early in the run.

Read the flows at the gauge near Tidewater. As a rough guide, set from the gauge's seasons, it fishes from about 500 to 2,500 CFS, and past about 5,000 it is high and colored. Boating from Alsea down is best when the river is up a little.