Tillamook Fishing Guide - Big Johnson's Guide Service

Tillamook, Oregon: Fishing in the Land of Many Waters

Tillamook’s name as the Land of Many Waters is not surprising considering that it has over 200 miles of navigable, fishable waters, plus the Pacific Ocean along its coastline.

For anyone who’s fished around Tillamook, they remember it as a more settled, peaceful experience than the often-frustrating experience of peak season fishing at Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia River, which can often see upwards of 700 boats in the river any day in August!

Around Tillamook, there are the Wilson, Trask, Kilchis, Tillamook, and Trask rivers. These coastal waters, including Tillamook Bay, offer year-round opportunities for fishing and crabbing along with kayaking and clamming that are suitable for all skill levels.

Jamison has fished these waters for decades and guided clients in and around Tillamook for over 20 years.

Whether Jamison is leading a family crabbing trip in Tillamook Bay, fishing with a group of friends who are bottom fishing for lingcod or halibut, or guiding a salmon fishing trip in the Pacific Ocean off Tillamook, he knows these waters as well as any local Tillamook fisherman or professional guide.

Jamison is a skilled, highly successful professional fishing guide for Chinook salmon (also known as king salmon), and for bright, silvery coho salmon. Moving inland, Jamison guides clients to often-isolated spots in targeting steelhead, many of those areas requiring greater physical endurance as it involves getting the boat into areas that are difficult to access.

And Jamison is highly successful on bottom fishing trips for lingcod, halibut, true cod, and black sea bass, along with crabbing almost year-round for Dungeness crab.

The results speak for themselves and the number of clients who trust Jamison on multiple repeat fishing trips is not only a strong testament to his success as a fishing guide, but also speaks to the relationships he forms with so many of his fishing clients and their families and friends.

Tillamook; Home for the Johnsons

Jamison and his wife, Marion, live on the Nehalem River on Highway 6. Their backyard is a fishing hole—literally! He’s caught Chinook, coho, and steelhead from the bank behind his house. The biggest steelhead he’s ever landed – a fish estimated close to 30 pounds – came out of that stretch. He had to release it as it was a wild fish but has the photos to prove it.

On days off from guiding, Jamison still fishing. Sometimes with his longtime friend and fellow guide, Ben Parker, and sometimes alone, hiking into a high country stream where there’s no one around.

(His wife Marianne has a firm rule: no fishing poles on vacation. He’s (mostly!) learned to live with it.)

Tillamook out of the water

There is lots to do in and around Tillamook and it’s easy to make a day, a long weekend, or a family vacation when you book a fishing trip out of Tillamook.

Jamison’s wife, Marion, has put together some suggestions for places to visit or stay in Tillamook on this Tillamook area page and mini-guide. If you need help or suggestions for where to stay or what to do to make your fishing trip to Tillamook enjoyable both on and off the water for all your family, get in touch.