Tillamook Winter Steelhead Fishing Guide
There’s nothing quite like the excitement that comes with fighting a Winter Steelhead on light tackle while drifting down the river on a cold winter day. This is a truly unique experience that many avid anglers turn into an addiction. The old saying is that steelhead are “the fish of a thousand casts”. However, when you book a charter trip with Hazen’s Guide Service the number of casts per fish drops way below that. It is not uncommon to hook multiple fish per day.
Winter Steelhead Fishing on the Wilson and Trask Rivers
Winter Steelhead season starts around mid-December and runs through April. We mainly fish the Tillamook area rivers that include the Wilson, Trask and Nehalem Rivers. We also fish the central Oregon Coast targeting the Nestucca and Siletz Rivers. Most fish average 6-10 lbs, but it is not uncommon to land a fish in the mid to upper teens with some fish being close to 20 lbs or more! Unlike salmon, Steelhead can spawn upriver and return to the ocean multiple times giving many opportunities for fisherman to catch them on their journey.
How a Pro Fishing Guide Catches Winter Steelhead
We’ve got a keen understanding of being able to read the water, strategically placing ourselves in locations where fish are, along with the best presentation possible, and we believe that’s what separates us from the rest of the fishing fleet. We’ll cover a lot of water on a float down the river in one day, including tidewater. We utilize light fishing tackle using the following techniques:
- Sidedrifting small roe clusters and sand shrimp
- Bobber fishing with beads and jigs (a.k.a. bobber dogging)
- Drift fishing
- Casting spoons and spinners
- Pulling plugs
Most often, you’ll spend the day with the fishing rod in your hand casting into prime steelhead holding spots in hopes of hooking up with one of these amazing fish.
Book a Trip with an Experienced Fishing Guide for Winter Steelhead
Your booked fishing trip will most likely begin at the Sollie Smith, Mill’s Bridge or Donaldson’s boat launches if we’re fishing the Wilson River. Our launch location, time, and hours on the water will be determined by many factors including the timing of tides, recent rain, current river levels, fishing conditions, and reports. We will arrange where to meet and go over the plan for fishing a day or two before your trip. All you need to arrive with is your Oregon fishing license and species tags, comfortable clothing for all weather types and lunch and snacks for the day. We provide everything else you need to catch monster fish, such as rods, reels, tackle, bait, and safety equipment. We’ll even fillet and package your fish for you to take home and enjoy!
Fishing for Winter Steelhead with a Professional Guide is Great for Everyone
Winter Steelhead guided fishing trips are perfect for families, friends, and corporate outings in small groups of 2 or 3. Winter fishing can get quite cold, sometimes as low as 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit. We welcome kids as young as 6 years old on the drift boat. Small children and those sensitive to cold might prefer to fish in the later part of the season in April when the weather warms up and it’s not uncommon to have a beautiful 60-70 degree day.
Pro Tip: Did you know that booking a guided fishing trip several times a year can actually save you money?
It’s true! Owning a boat and investing in gear can be expensive. By booking a guided fishing trip, you can enjoy all the benefits of fishing without the high costs. Save some cash and book your trip today!
