Posted by: Anonymous
Tillamook Nates - 02/27/02 02:38 AM
Answer to e-mail Q about March and April fishing on the Wilson and Trask rivers:
Hi LG. I'd be glad to give you some info for spring steelhead fishing on the Tillamook area rivers. In addition to the Wilson and Trask, the Kilchis just north of town, and Nestucca several miles south of town, also get good returns of late native steelhead in March and April. Right now they are a little slow; due to being between the brat and nate runs. But that should change pretty soon. All steelhead methods catch these fish well. The most productive for them are drift fishing or float fishing small egg clusters or sandshrimp tails with a small pearl pink or cerise pink corkie - and/or doing the same with the infamous pink worm; or jigs. T-town area nates also hit plugs readily. I suggest size 30 Hot Shots or the regular Tadpolys in one of the good chrome based or metallic colors for clearish water; and if the water is colored a bit then the size 35 Hot Shot or regular Wiggle Wart in flame red or 'cop car' colors are good. Debarb the hooks on them for easier C&R for the nates. It's best to avoid the diver and bait rigs this time of year, because the nates often swallow the hooks with that method and increase mortality rates. ... The lower ends of these rivers are easy to row for an experienced drift boater. And the holes are fairly easy to read for fishing also. For launch and fishing details, and shuttles, call the Guide Shop at 503-842-3474. For more info, you can call Kimmel's Sporting Goods in Tillamook also, at 503-842-4281. Hope you guys hit it right and have great fishing. The spring chinooks are best caught in May and early June there. Let me know how it went for you, if you wind up going. - Steve
Hi LG. I'd be glad to give you some info for spring steelhead fishing on the Tillamook area rivers. In addition to the Wilson and Trask, the Kilchis just north of town, and Nestucca several miles south of town, also get good returns of late native steelhead in March and April. Right now they are a little slow; due to being between the brat and nate runs. But that should change pretty soon. All steelhead methods catch these fish well. The most productive for them are drift fishing or float fishing small egg clusters or sandshrimp tails with a small pearl pink or cerise pink corkie - and/or doing the same with the infamous pink worm; or jigs. T-town area nates also hit plugs readily. I suggest size 30 Hot Shots or the regular Tadpolys in one of the good chrome based or metallic colors for clearish water; and if the water is colored a bit then the size 35 Hot Shot or regular Wiggle Wart in flame red or 'cop car' colors are good. Debarb the hooks on them for easier C&R for the nates. It's best to avoid the diver and bait rigs this time of year, because the nates often swallow the hooks with that method and increase mortality rates. ... The lower ends of these rivers are easy to row for an experienced drift boater. And the holes are fairly easy to read for fishing also. For launch and fishing details, and shuttles, call the Guide Shop at 503-842-3474. For more info, you can call Kimmel's Sporting Goods in Tillamook also, at 503-842-4281. Hope you guys hit it right and have great fishing. The spring chinooks are best caught in May and early June there. Let me know how it went for you, if you wind up going. - Steve
