Nestucca float

A reply by Spot on ifish got me thinking (I know this can cause health problems)...floating a coastal river in search of chrome...what to fish with?

1. flatlined kwikfish?
2. drifting jigs beside the yak?
3. tossing buggers with a dropper?

I like the Nestucca and have fished the upper stretches quite a few times. I've also paddled up a couple of miles from Pacific City with the tide. I'd like to do an AM float followed by an afternoon looking for steelies up high. What would be the best timing to do this?

1. float against an incoming tide?
2. float with an outgoing tide?
3. catch a slack tide?

I'm still very new to fishing with a tidal influence.  Thanks for the suggestions.

Jay

Man, didn't I already give you enough info. on ifish?!?   

The springers don't have far to go before they reach the hatchery on the Nestucca and they don't hold in big numbers like the fall fish.  That said, they're in there......
On the 3-Rivers to Cloverdale drift we usually anchor up and use a bobber and jig or bobber and eggs/sandshrimp in the deeper holes.  Later in the day flame red or flame orange wiggle warts will work. If the river's over 5ft there are lots of slots where you can do a slow back bounce or back troll with diver and bait or a wiggle wart. 
There's almost no tidal influence till you turn the final corner and start heading for the cloverdale ramp.

Keep an eye out for snags just below the surface on a couple of the corners.  They could ruin your day!   

Man, didn't I already give you enough info. on ifish?!?   

The springers don't have far to go before they reach the hatchery on the Nestucca and they don't hold in big numbers like the fall fish.  That said, they're in there......
On the 3-Rivers to Cloverdale drift we usually anchor up and use a bobber and jig or bobber and eggs/sandshrimp in the deeper holes.  Later in the day flame red or flame orange wiggle warts will work. If the river's over 5ft there are lots of slots where you can do a slow back bounce or back troll with diver and bait or a wiggle wart. 
There's almost no tidal influence till you turn the final corner and start heading for the cloverdale ramp.

Keep an eye out for snags just below the surface on a couple of the corners.  They could ruin your day!   

That seems like a short float if not anchoring. If I'm looking for steelhead as well as chinook, would starting higher up or floating down to Pacific City be worthwhile?

That seems like a short float if not anchoring. If I'm looking for steelhead as well as chinook, would starting higher up or floating down to Pacific City be worthwhile?

It is a short float but there's lots of good water thruout that short float.  I'd say that if you wanted a good boat ride then by all means put in at Farmer's or 4th Bridge but if you want to fish, just put in at 3-Rivers.  Chances are that you'll hook a Steelhead before you hook a Springer, even down low.  I've spent entire days fishing that little stretch.  Sometimes with nothing to show for it and sometimes with limits all around.

On a good day you can expect something like this....

On a good day you can expect something like this....

Now that's what I call a FEESH!!!

Z

Yep, I'd be happy with that 

<sigh> in my dreams...........