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Seattle Fly Fishing Report | May 24, 2025 | Cedar is Open!

Seattle Fly Fishing Report | May 24, 2025 | Cedar is Open!

We are excited to welcome once again our bestest of buddies, Hilary Hutcheson to the store this coming Thursday to screen her film, The Tengu Club.  Please come hang out with us at the store beginning around 5pm on the 29th, RSVP would be great!

And there they are, the words so many in the Seattle fly fishing community have been waiting for, the Cedar River in Renton is open almost a week early by circumstance of timing.  It generally opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, just so happens this weekend is earlier in the month. 

That being said, oooof, it is already very low.  Typically it would be at least double the CFS it is at opening which means it is already great for fishing right NOW but we will pay the piper in July and certainly August when it is potentially too low and too warm to fish with good conscience. 

Anyway, go get after it!

Yakima River - Caddis in full swing, PMD's also still around for sure and with water temps rising, fish are feeling active again so toss those streamers or swing/skate some caddis on the trout spey.  Sort of perfect time to be on the ole Yak right now, at least for the spring season.
EWA Trout Spey Fly Selection

Snoqualmie River Forks and Cascade Creeks - The Forks are open, MF is a bit aggressive with CFS at moment, we like to see it below 900 to be approachable but even then you better know your locations and always be safe.  SF is also a bit high but certainly easier to fish right now.  Caddis, smaller foam flies, Stimulators or any of the old school attractor patterns like Humpy, Wulff or Adams will also be good to have on hand.  You can probably fish a dropper like a Copper John or Lightning bug beneath any of these and find a few more fish but mostly just stay on top.  Same story on the small streams in the Cascades.  Some will come into play sooner than others so do a little recon and drive up to your favorite and check them out, see where they are now.  That is your best step forward.
EWA Creek Fly Selection

Puget Sound - Simply on fire right now AND in about a month or so Pink Salmon will be arriving in mass...like nearly 8 million of them.  Exciting to fish for as they are aggressive, fight hard, able to be caught on your 6wt but will have one simple ask.  They humbly request you present your favorite pink fly.  Pretty easy actually so come pick up your pink flies, maybe an intermediate line and stripping basket or intermediate poly leader for your existing floating line.   SRC's are on it right now.  Baitfish have grown in size a bit, some new bait are beginning to show up as well, please refer to our Puget Sound Hatch Chart linked above for guidance.  Kelp is already heavy around the Sound so while we encourage minimalist approach to fly fishing, a stripping basket will be immensely helpful for the next 5-6 months.
Scientific Anglers Stripping Basket - EWA Preffered
EWA Puget Sound Fly Selection

Summer Steelhead - Yep, a bunch of the regional rivers open today as well but please review the particulars at the WDFW website.  Portions of the mainstem Snoqualmie open from Fall City to the Falls which is great news as this has some of our favorite water to swing flies on.  As the inner tube hatch has exploded the past 10-15 years, get there early and be done by 10-11am to grab that little bit of solitude we hope for when swinging for chrome.  Skykomish, Green and of course the Cowlitz will all be good options this summer so let's figure out how to get you out there and fishing.  For the two handers who have only had a Skagit head, we need to get you a Scandi head for this time of year. 


Warm Water - How do so many fish in this region but pay no attention to what takes place right before our eyes?  Nearly every lake in the greater Seattle/Tacoma/Everett area has bass and/or carp and a couple have Muskie as well.  Yes, obvious ones like Lake Washington and Sammamish are good but there are a plethora of small ones within city limits that can provide a fun experience, particularly with kids and if you only have a little bit of time to get out.  We are HUGE proponents of frequency.  Get out often as you will be better for it.  More casting, more time on water means more time to learning...
EWA Warmwater Fly Selection

What else to cover?  Well honestly, so much we really can't write it and you would likely not read it so come in, come by, text or call our store, message us on Instagram or whatever it takes to get your questions answered.  Have a terrific Memorial Day Weekend and we look forward to seeing you soon.

EWA Staff | 206-708-7250
shop@emeraldwateranglers.com
@ewaflyshop_seattle | @ewa_women | @emeraldwateranglerswa

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