Summer steelhead start to show in numbers in area rivers around the 4th of July holiday and hold in the river through December or until caught out by anglers. By the time the summer steelhead peak has moved through the bay the first fall salmon runs begin to show. Made up of coho and pilot chinook runs they will often move in and out of the bay for a few weeks then begin to stack in tide water of the area rivers waiting for the first rain. Trolling herring around the jetties and ghost hole are popular methods for taking kings in the bay. Trolling large rainbow and clamshell spinners is also a common method but mostly in upper bay and tidewater areas. Bobber and egg fishing in tidewater with shrimp and salmon roe combinations account for a large number of bay chinook catches each season. Coho salmon are fished with casting spinners both in the bay and in the rivers when schools are seen moving through. By November coastal rains have raised the flow of the local rivers and salmon begin their push towards their spawning beds. Fishing can be red hot during these periods but can feel crowded at times. Like most popular salmon fishing locations on the Oregon coast, crowds can be a factor. Try fishing during the week for a more relaxed environment. About the time fall salmon runs begin to fall off the winter run steelhead begin to show. Mid to late December is a good time to start actively fishing for Tillamook area river winter steelhead. Some of the rivers in Tillamook such as the Wilson and Trask have good bank access and offer miles of great looking water to fish. Popular methods to try for winter steelhead are jig and bobber fishing or drift fishing brightly colored eggs with a tag of yarn in the loop. Boats often have success by pulling small plugs after each winter rain and the boat is always useful in accessing unfished waters that often flow through private land. Please respect property rights when looking for a place to try your luck. A late run of native winter steelhead will continue to run through March. In Spring the focus becomes the bay and the spring rock bass and surf perch fisheries. Sea run cutthroat trout may also be found while fishing in Tillamook. Cutthroat runs are very limited now and you are required to release them unharmed at this time.

FISHABLE TRIBUTARIES & LAKES
(CH/Chinook SS/Silver ST/Steelhead RT/Rainbow CT/Cutthroat Trout)

• Kilchis River - CH, ST - winter
• Tillamook River - Tidewater - CH, SS
• Trask River - CH, SS, ST - winter
• Wilson River - CH, SS, ST - winter & summer
• Netarts Bay - Crabbing

FLY FISHING: The majority of fly fishing in Tillamook is for steelhead and cutthroat. Summer steelhead enter the wilson river in july and are easy for fly fishers to target in the lower summer flows. Choosing a pattern is not as important as stealth and clothing that can blend in. Dark patterns such as leech and larger stone fly patterns can be effective on summer steelhead in these conditions. Color patterns such as yarn fly's, glo-bugs or streamers can also be used if the size of the fly is kept small. Winter steelhead can often be found in smaller tributary's that almost always drop and clear first, making fly fishing possible. Larger patterns can be used to attract and plenty of color may be a requirement in off color water. Other rivers in Tillamook also have fly fishing opportunities worth exploring, especially if large numbers of winter fish become trapped in low water. Fly fishing for salmon in Tillamook is often best during those higher water rainy times when fish can enter and move upstream freely. The Trask and Kilchis rivers offer very pleasant fly water to explore. The months of October, November and December after each rain is an ideal time to fish for salmon here. A mildly attractive chum salmon run exists and is often targeted by catch and release fly fishers. It is recommended that you watch your step while wading and not walk or fish on the chum salmon spawning beds.

General run timing

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Au

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Fall Chinook

Spring Chinook

Coho Salmon Bay & Area Rivers

Summer Steelhead Area Rivers

Winter Steelhead Area Rivers

Trout-Sea run cutthroat

Indicates Peak Time

CONSERVATION CONTRIBUTIONS : Tillamook Anglers are a huge part of the success of Tillamook bay fisheries and are always looking for volunteer help. Kids fishing day events or working with returning fish and even fish collection. The Tillamook Anglers are always looking for volunteer help for kids day events and working with returning fish that come fast in great numbers and must be processed.(503) 842-6519 - Tillamook Anglers Web Site.

A state fish hatchery on the Trask river run by ODFW will need continued support and angler voices to continue operations. It is helpful to join local groups such as Northwest Steelheaders whom recently created a new chapter in Tillamook called the North Coast chapter. This group will be focusing on many of the issues regarding Tillamook bay fish runs present and future. ANWS web site