Wilson River Fishing Report — Tillamook County, Oregon

October 16, 2026

If you’re headed for the Wilson River right now, bring the salmon gear—but don’t overlook the summer steelhead rod. We’re sitting right in that interesting mid-October transition when fall Chinook are pushing through the Tillamook system while summer steelhead are still hanging around the upper Wilson.

The biggest issue at the moment is water. The Wilson is extremely low and clear. The latest available gauge reading shows only about 57 cfs, compared with a historical October 16 mean around 448 cfs.

That means fishing right now is much more about stealth and finding concentrated fish than covering miles of perfect-looking salmon water.

Fall Chinook — Waiting on Water

October is normally prime time for fall Chinook in the Tillamook Basin. ODFW notes that fall Chinook begin arriving in late August and October is usually one of the best months. (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)

There are Chinook around, but with the Wilson running this low, I wouldn't expect a massive push of fresh salmon far upriver until we get enough rain to raise the river.

I'd concentrate my Chinook effort in the lower Wilson and tidewater. Fish coming out of Tillamook Bay can stack in deeper lower-river holes while waiting for enough water to continue upstream.

This is one of those times when I'd rather fish one good deep hole carefully than walk three miles of skinny river.

For bank anglers, cured salmon eggs beneath a float are hard to beat. Spinners are another excellent choice, particularly early in the morning when light levels are low. With clear water, I'd stay away from excessively large or gaudy presentations unless the water starts coloring up.

And don't stomp straight down to the water's edge. At these flows, Chinook can be surprisingly spooky.

Summer Steelhead Are Still Worth Chasing

Here's the fishery that could quietly save your day.

There are still summer steelhead in the Wilson, and recent ODFW reporting has rated the upper Wilson fishing as fair. October can actually be a good time to chase these fish because cooler fall temperatures can wake up steelhead that have spent much of the summer holding in the river.

I'd head farther upstream along Highway 6 and start looking for deeper slots, shaded pools, boulder pockets and the heads and tails of larger holes.

In this low water, downsize everything.

A small jig under a float, beads, small spinners or spoons can all produce. I'd especially like a subtle jig or bead presentation worked through the deeper sections of a pool.

The upper Wilson is probably my best bet right now if the goal is simply to hook a fish.

What I'm Looking for on the River

Right now I'm not looking for the biggest hole on the Wilson. I'm looking for the hole that has enough depth, current and cover to make a fish feel comfortable.

Pay attention to:

• Deep green slots beside faster water
• Boulder pockets and ledges
• Shaded water
• Tailouts dropping into deeper pools
• Current seams alongside slow water
• Deeper holes immediately downstream from shallow riffles

With the river this low, a surprising number of fish can pile into relatively small areas.

Get there early. Fish the first couple hours of daylight hard, and then start looking for shaded water as the sun gets higher.

The Rain Could Change Everything

This is the part I'm watching.

At roughly 57 cfs, the Wilson needs water. A legitimate fall rain that bumps the river substantially could completely change the salmon fishing. Fresh Chinook holding in the lower system can start moving upriver as the river rises and colors.

That's when I'd really want to be there.

The sweet spot is often after the river has risen enough to encourage fish movement and then begins dropping and clearing. If we get that classic green Wilson River color with a few feet of visibility, I'd switch from finesse fishing to actively hunting fresh Chinook.

A good rain could turn what is currently a low-water grind into a completely different fishery within a couple of days.

Current Regulations

There is an important 2026 regulation change to keep in mind.

On the mainstem Wilson from the Highway 101 bridge upstream to Jordan Creek, the Tillamook Basin wild fall Chinook season is open through November 30. From August 1 through November 30, the current in-season regulation allows one adult wild Chinook per day and no more than five adult wild Chinook for the season, aggregated with the other specified Tillamook Basin waters.

Wild coho rules are different and are particularly important right now. The special 2026 Tillamook Basin wild coho fishery runs through October 28 on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only, and the specified open area is primarily Tillamook Bay/tidewater up to the Highway 101 bridges—not simply the Wilson River upstream.

Always check ODFW's current updates immediately before fishing because emergency regulations can change.

Check ODFW's current fishing regulation updates

My Wilson River Game Plan Right Now

If I were fishing the Wilson tomorrow morning, I'd make a decision before leaving the truck.

For Chinook: I'd stay low, concentrate around deeper lower-river/tidewater holding water and fish eggs or hardware during the low-light hours.

For steelhead: I'd head up Highway 6 and start picking apart deeper upper-river holding water with small jigs, beads or spinners.

But I'm keeping a very close eye on the weather.

The Wilson is currently low, clear and badly in need of rain. The fish are there, but we're waiting for the river to give them a reason to move. When the first substantial fall rain finally bumps this river, I'd expect the Chinook picture to get considerably more interesting.

Current outlook: 🎣 Fair for summer steelhead | Fair-to-slow for river Chinook | Potential to improve quickly after rain

I can also keep an eye on the Wilson and let you know when the river rises enough to improve the Chinook fishing.

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