The Wilson gets a run of hatchery summer steelhead and a few have surely started entering the river and are probably spread throughout the lower basin, but low clear water will make catching them a challenge. For those anglers set on getting an early summer, fish early morning and cover lots of water including deep holes, pocket water, and drifts with some chop to them. Light line, subtle terminal presentations like beads, jigs, or small natural baits and hardware like spinners and spoons should all produce fish. There are no spring Chinook releases on the Wilson.

Tout season opens on the Wilson on May 22nd. The Wilson tends to be a little slower for coastal cutthroat trout than some of the neighboring basins, but there are fish throughout the fishery and lots of public access off of Hwy 6. The low clear water can make fishing a little challenging, but cutthroat are aggressive biters so use light line and stealthy tactics, concentrate on deep pools with cover, and you should find success. Many areas have bait restrictions in place so check the regulations for those and open areas before heading out.