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Fall Salmon
Season: November-early January
Steelhead
Season: December-March.

For more information, call (206) 388-8988
or e-mail wildriversfishing@yahoo.com

Elk and Sixes Salmon & Steelhead

Oregon salmon anglers have long been intrigued by the fall and winter king fishery on the Elk and Sixes rivers near Port Orford. Thousands of kings enter the two small coastal rivers from November through January, providing the best late-fall salmon fishing on the West Coast. The rivers also have healthy runs of winter steelhead, producing some of the biggest steelies in Oregon. Both rivers also are among the most scenic and enjoyable for drift boaters.

The Elk and Sixes rivers are best known for their healthy fall Chinook fisheries. Fueled by the release of 325,000 salmon smolts from Elk River hatchery each year, the Elk has perhaps the biggest run of kings of any small river in Oregon. The river also boasts a healthy run of wild kings. The Sixes also has a strong run of wild salmon.

While October and early November are prime time on many Oregon coastal rivers, late November through January is the peak of the salmon run on the Elk and Sixes.

No motors are allowed on either river, so it's a prime drift boat fishery. On the Elk, pro guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing launches at the hatchery and fishes customers on a lengthy stretch of river covering 10 miles. The Sixes has numerous launches and takeouts. Running plugs such as FlatFish and Kwikfish and back-bouncing roe is the go-to method for the fall kings on the Elk and Sixes rivers.

Aside from big runs of salmon, both rivers are known to clear up quickly and stay fishable during periods of heavy rain, when other rivers such as the Coquille, Umpqua and Chetco are blown out. The Elk also is known to produce big numbers of kings. During the peak of the run, double-digit numbers of fish are possible.

The mouth of the Elk also has an ocean bubble fishery out of Port Orford in November. Andy is one of the few guides with a Coast Guard license allowing him to take customers out of Port Orford in pursuit of the kings.

Steelhead enter the rivers from December through March. The Elk is especially popular when heavy rains have blown out other nearby rivers. The Elk and Sixes also have a reputation for producing trophy steelhead, including fish over 20 pounds. Some of the best steelhead fishing on the Elk and Sixes occurs in March, when fishing is winding down on other rivers.

Andy has been fishing the Elk and Sixes for more than 20 years. He fishes from a custom 18-foot heated drift boat.

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar | Hurricane Center

A strong fall Chinook run is expected back to the Chetco River in 2010, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists. A return of 180 percent of average is expected. This year's crop of salmon entered the ocean during a period of good offshore feeding conditions, which has led to the predicted higher-than-average survival rate. The healthy ocean conditions also are expected to result in an improved steelhead run.

2011 Update: Elk River sees huge salmon return to hatchery

The Elk and Sixes rivers both saw big returns of fall king salmon in 2010 and another strong run is expected this year. ODFW's annual forecast for the Elk predicts a run of 140 percent of normal, including an amazing return of 9,600 hatchery kings back to the Elk. The Sixes is expected to see a return of 120 percent of normal. Strong runs of steelhead also are predicted.