Hellooooo, anyone fishing out there? By the crickets we have been experiencing it sure doesn't seem like it. Well, anyway, missing out if not because the fishing has been very good and will only continue to get better. So for those looking here we go, just for you!
Puget Sound - We continually say the baitfish are getting bigger as the season progresses but we should also emphasize that the resident Coho will do the same. They have been absolutely gorging on Chum and Coho fry out there and will follow those hoards of food north as they move out of the Sound...or try to. So, get out there and with gas prices what they are, fishing closer to home isn't a bad idea.
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Yakima River - Fly fishing the Yakima River right now is on its seasonal upward trend. Skwala's should be mostly done but that doesn't mean that the trout, particularly those curious Westslope Cutthroat who seem to always look up. March Brown's and PMD's should be present as are some caddis but we have yet to see the fish really focus on caddis just yet. For us, swinging or skating caddis or small stimulator's is always a blast and a great way to see the river through different set of eyes. As the water warms up, fish will also become more active so chasing down swing soft hackles will be an excellent way to get that tug we want. Stripping streamers will also be fun, as watching them chase and strike your fly is about as fun as it gets.
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Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie - Fly fishing the Forks of the Snoqualmie will be touch and go over the next couple months. Between spring rain blowing them up and warm days melting some snow, the flows will fluctuate so pay attention. On warmer days, we would fully expect to see a few fish come up for large dry flies. On these freestone streams, matching a hatch isn't as important it is on tailwater rivers like the Yakima. Food gets scoured pretty hard during the winter so when something looks buggy shows up on top they will usually pay attention to it. Just in case, drop a small nymph off the back of your fly of choice and cover the usual runs...softer seams, pocket water and slow tailout runs will all be good targets. 7-9ft leaders to 4x will do just fine...
Steelhead - We have moved our favorite anadromous fish to the bottom as we just about done with the winter season and we sit and wait for summer. That said, if you are into a bit of a drive the North Umpqua has had a pretty good return, just about 11,000 wild steelhead have returned and the river remains open so we would HIGHLY suggest a road trip!
Tuna - Yep, Pacific Albacore are arriving off the OR and WA coast so if you have a 12wt, you should probably dust that thing off and go see if you can break it and maybe bring home a few fish for dinner as well. Unless you see surface activity you will be using a 300-500 grain sinking head and baitfish patterns about 4-6 inches in length. Keep your fingers crossed they are within 30 miles on the day you schedule and if you want to do a fly trip, be sure you book a captain who is "fly friendly" and probably a good idea to just book the whole boat with fly anglers. Just saying...
Warmwater - Carp, bass and muskie are coming out of their slumber. A few more warm sunny days and it should be game on in most of the lakes around here. This is where we can't encourage you enough to explore small local ponds and lakes as they will be great for that all important "frequency" in fly fishing we support. The more often you have a fly rod in your hand, the more familiar you will become with it and with that comes improvement. We all love improvement because it generally coincides with enjoyment.
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ASK US QUESTIONS! We are here to help you succeed so please let us assist you. Have a terrific weekend and we look forward to seeing you soon.
EWA Staff
206-708-7250 | shop@emeraldwateranglers.com | @ewaflyshop_seattle | @ewa_women
