In a year riddled with a serious lack of snow, we are now, in mid March finally getting some.  However, even with this, don't be fooled into thinking our summer woes are being put to bed because they are not.  Late season snow pack doesn't last much past late spring, especially when it is on top of very little foundation snow pack from early winter.  As of now, we are still looking at this year being the 3rd driest in WA history so this summer could be rough.

Anyway, fishing this weekend.  It is a tad volatile as you might expect it to be.  Snow on Snoqualmie Pass can make for a dicey drive over the Yak and lowland rain blew up some of the other rivers a day or two ago so you have to pay CLOSE attention to the weather forecast and where rivers are at this very moment. 

Here we go...you can also see our weekly report on our YouTube channel.

Puget Sound - Hands down this is your best option for the weekend if you live in Seattle.  Close, no passes to cross, fewer anglers and fishing exceptionally well.  South Sound has been absolutely alive with resident Coho.  Olympia, Case Inlet, Colvos Passage all littered with these chrome bright 12-16 inch silver salmon.  They all must have gotten a good night sleep because they have been so happy to come to the surface for the Sound Searcher that it has been sorts crazy to do anything else.  The stoic SRC's have blended themselves among these shoals of salmon so just keep fishing and those cutties will eventually say hello to you.  7ft leader to 2x and when you get a boil on your fly, pause for a second and then very slowly begin to retrieve again....BOOM!  Chum fry are more or less throughout the Sound at this point so it is more about finding the beaches where they are and when you do, should feel like you need to write a book or make a video about this stuff!

Steelhead - Cowlitz River blew up to well over 14,000cfs so at the moment that is out.  This is usually coming from a demand for energy so they release more water than from massive blow out but either way, if you are swinging it will be slim pickings at the moment.  We have 2 weeks left on the Olympic Peninsula so take a sick day or two and get out there.  It was rough for a spell, low water and fish being few and far between but hopefully some of this moisture will spring a few into the systems.  Hoh bumped to just over 8000cfs but was quickly on the drop so with the cold temps now, everything should be in good shape and ready for you.  Fish "your fly" and cover water methodically.  

Yakima River - The Yak was on a vertical rise when we last looked passing 2300cfs so take a gander and see what is ahead.  Big spikes in water will at times temporarily stun or shock fish into not being receptive to feeding.  So, bring streamers, nymphs and be ready to work for your fish.  At 2300cfs a fair bit of the walk and wade water will go away so a boat experience will help tremendously both in fishing and covering the water as well as accessing water to wade you can't from road access.  

That is it, sort of a crazy mid March weekend ahead...welcome to the PNW!

Come see us and prep for your next day out...

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