Best Fishing Trips and Top Fishing Guides in Wilson River Oregon
Fishing on the Wilson River in Oregon.
The Wilson River in Oregon runs for 33 miles directly into the Tillamook Bay. Generated as a result of the unification of South Fork, the Devil’s Lake Fork, and the Trask River, the Wilson River flows through the Tillamook State Forest and is known as a prominent spot for fly fishing. The Wilson River is also regarded as a local hot spot for catching a great assortment of highly sought-after species, such as wild steelhead, hatchery steelhead, Chinook salmon, native cutthroat trout, sea-run cutthroat trout, Coho salmon, and chum salmon.
While you can fish on the Wilson River from the bank, the best means of getting a bite in the area is from a drift boat. The lowest area of the Wilson River is popular for anglers who opt to fish in drift boats.
Species of Fish in the Wilson River in Oregon
The Wilson River in Oregon sees a wild steelhead run and a hatchery steelhead run, both of which occur multiple times annually. While the summer steelhead run usually begins in May or June and continues for a few months, the run dwindles to a close as the water gets warmer.
But in late November, the hatchery steelhead run returns and stays strong until January, whereas the wild steelhead run continues until March.
Chinook and Coho Salmon
You can expect to see two highly popular species, coho and Chinook salmon, in the Wilson River at various points during the year.
Cutthroat Trout
If you’re a fly fishing enthusiast, you’ll definitely want to head over to the Wilson River for its assortment of cutthroat trout. Fly fishing for both wild and hatchery steelhead is also popular on the Wilson River.
Fishing on the Wilson River in Oregon By Season
While fishing on the Wilson River in Oregon is bound to satisfy anglers regardless of the season, the presence of certain fish species is bound to vary depending on the time of year you decide to travel. Here are the species you can anticipate reeling in based on their seasonal presence in the waters of the Wilson River in Oregon.
Winter
During the winter, steelhead fishing is at its height on the Wilson River. If you’re willing to endure the cold, the winter months are a great time to cast and line in in hopes of bringing in a prime steelhead.
Spring
As spring rolls around, Chinook salmon move toward the Wilson River. You can anticipate them arriving promptly in April and lasting until June.
Summer
During the summer months, the Wilson River hosts a collection of sea-run cutthroat trout, which tend to arrive on the river in July and stay until October.
Fall
The fall marks the start of the Chinook salmon season in October, which runs until November on the Wilson River. You can also expect to see coho salmon arrive in November.
Connect With These Top Fishing Guides for Your Next Trip to Wilson River
Still on the lookout for the best fishing guides available for your upcoming fishing venture to the Wilson River? Connect with one of the options on our list of the top fishing charters to optimize your chances on the Wilson River.