Winter Steelhead fishing was fair last week and should benefit from the recent rains. The river shot up on Sunday and is now dropping into shape and should fish well for the rest of the week and into the weekend.

Although the numbers of fish entering the Alsea hatchery trap remain low anglers are still catching fish throughout the system, primarily on the North Fork around the hatchery. The numbers of fish captured in the Alsea Hatchery trap continue to be low but more fish should be on their way with the current conditions.

The numbers of later returning right maxillary clipped fish should increase with each rain event for the rest of February through March. The earlier returning left maxillary clipped fish are past peak and will continue to decrease for the rest of the season.

The Alsea still gets a good amount of the early returning stock that peaks in December and January, as well as a later stock that peaks in February and March. Expect more fish to show up with each rise in the river level from now through April. Bobber fishing with jigs/bait, drift fishing, and casting lures are all effective ways to catch these hard fighting fish.