Happy Friday!
We love Washington so much for the vast array of fly fishing opportunities at our finger tips here but this late spring to pre-summer time period can be a bit frustrating. Weather warms, sun comes out and people want to get out and fish. Some things are open but snow melt keeps them too high to fish, some fisheries are open, some aren't, a few close unexpectedly and some open sooner than others. It is an annual conundrum we deal with and in a couple weeks it ends for a few months...everything is open, almost.
Cedar River - NOT OPEN YET! Cedar opens the last Saturday in May...should be in great shape when it does so be ready.
Snoqualmie River Forks and Mainstem - Mainstem remains closed until last Saturday in May as well and then be aware of any specific species closures. Forks are open and with this cool weather have been fishing pretty well actually. These trout have to be opportunistic due to where they live. Water warms enough to create hatches, they are likely to move for those dry flies. Of course using a dropper like a Lightning Bug or Copper John will also be effective under a mid sized foam fly or Stimulator or even a small streamer. We encourage small hook sizes here and on ALL small streams. Small fish can be as aggressive as their larger relatives and nothing puts a downer on a day like brain hooking a wild trout you intended or needed to release. Small hooks, size 10 or smaller are great.
Yakima River - For the spring and summer season, this is when the Yakima shines. Caddis hatch is in full swing and those tailwater trout are looking up at them. Water flows are still pretty good for walk and wading though they did bump just a bit. Emergers and adults will both work well so have those for sure but also streamers and PMD's for those times before caddis are the first choice for them. We guide the Yak and have for 27 years BTW and are happy to get over there with you so let us know.
Summer Steelhead - YES! After half a year of talking about sink tips, fly color, articulated or not, Skagit heads, impending rain storms and so on, it is time to transition into Scandi heads, long leaders, traditional wet flies and skaters. While numbers on our local rivers may not be what they once were, we firmly believe you should get out and engage regardless. Learn to cast a Scandi head with long leader, it will make you a much better spey caster therefore enjoying time out there more. Green, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Hoh, Bogachiel, Cowlitz, Kalama, Skagit, Sauk, Lewis, Nooksack down to the Deschutes...there are ample places to get out and swing in the summer without traveling too far! Come in and let's chat about all of this and get you prepared to step in and down on day 1.
Puget Sound - Was just talking about this last night at a presentation, the Sound is fishing so well right now. We went and explored a handful of new beaches the other day and saw fish on at least half of them and some exceptionally nice ones at that. Baitfish are everywhere and by this time they comprise a number of different sizes so the variety of your box should be comprised of size and color to imitate the variations of food forms out there. 1-3 inch in length, we like a flies with a definitive lateral line so dark back and light belly. We also fish flies naturally weighted meaning we don't often add dumbell eyes or cones to the flies we fish. Mostly because we see baitfish flee predation rather level in the water column, particularly in shallow water. Use lines to get flies down if you feel you need/want to, just our opinion of 27 years.
Warmwater - Carp, bass and Muskie are all in play right now. We have the items to specifically target these fish from long dapping rods to big flies and lines to propel them. For Seattleites our local lakes are such a wonderful opportunity to wet a line without having to drive for hours and deal with traffic. Many are within 15-20 minutes of where most of us live and each of these species mentioned bend fly rods like they mean it. Attack surface and subsurface flies with wreckless abandon and this is their prime season. Want to change your game a bit this summer, we are here to help!
Cascade Creeks - Also not open yet but soon. Here is some insight to consider early season. We had a decent winter season and a very mild spring so snow will be with us for awhile. Any small stream with north facing slopes will hold snow longer so run-off will last a bit longer than south facing ones will. Also, how large of a drainage area does it collect water from? This will also determine how soon it will be fishable. This is an area we are very in tune with so please come by and ask questions so we can help you make good decisions on where to go and when.
There it is, let's help get you out there. Want to get a tune up for this season, take a private casting lesson so we can refine your skill to be more efficient, have more tricks to employ and have more confidence when you hit the water. Spey or single hand we are here for you.
Your conduit to fly fishing...EWA
Call | 206-708-7250
Email | shop@emeraldwateranglers.com
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