Seattle Fly Fishing Report
We know! It seems as though summer just got going and now we are looking Halloween straight in the face. Crazy! Anyway, here is your weekly Seattle fly fishing report for mid September.
Well with the cooling temps and shorter days come some of our favorite times of the year to fish around here and really around the world. Fall is lovely just about everywhere we have ever wet a line so let's get you out there enjoying this.
Cedar River - CLOSED until next June! Sorry for those new to the area, fly fishing the Cedar is closed for the year.
Yakima River - Fly fishing the Yakima River in the fall is the single greatest time of year to do so. Water is in a very controlled state. Low flows define all the runs, holes, buckets, tailouts and structure so it becomes quite obvious where the fish will be holding. Water temps begin to drop as well which brings on the fall hatches of PMD's, October Caddis and towards the end of the season, small Trico and BWO mayflies. Streamers are also a fabulous way to cover this water, particularly from a boat. For those who swing flies and for those who will, now is the time to investigate trout spey. these defined runs make for a fun swung fly presentation as you pick the water apart. Soft hackles on the swing are the single greatest way to represent an insect in that emerging stage of its lifecycle. Gently rising from the deeper water to shallow and moving towards the shore line...perfect!
Forks of the Snoqualmie/Mountain Creeks - Weather or seasonality are almost always the real determining factor on when most of the small streams close even though many do so at the end of October except the Snoqualmie Forks which remain open all year. This AM, we say plenty of bug life coming off the South Fork and fish were taking advantage on top. Most were pretty small insects and with the flows as low as they are and water this clear, small mayfly representations should be perfect. Drop a little lightning bug off the back if you like, that would certainly work as well. Night time temps are cooling the water fast so first thing in the AM may not be immediate gratification for dry fly fishing but don't give up on it, they will still eat on top. Get that while you can!
Puget Sound - As always, fly fishing Puget Sound is our go to for many reasons. First, you will inherently become a better caster, you have to. Second, it is right here, 5-20 minutes away from so many who live in the area. Third, it is open all year...BOOM! Lastly for right now though is there are migratory Coho to be chasing and if you think any other species of fish in our region will light you up like one of these in the salt, think again. A small migratory Coho/Silver salmon in the saltwater is still feeding and very likely feasting on the same food forms sea run cutthroat are so it is likely your flies already in your box will work. Tippet size, probably 0x or 1x and leader length at 7-8 feet at most. Not shy about consumption out here so make it easier on you! I can't leave this without saying we have Sound Searchers back in after a refresh on design and just in time. Chase SRC's and Coho on top my friends, they will absolutely crush your topwater fly and you will talk about that take for years!
Steelhead - Not a ton of options at the moment but there are a few rivers open in the area and fishing has been really good. The two watersheds we have been spending time on are the Green and the Cowlitz. Water is super low on both and clear as air so longer leaders would be recommended. Skating has been pretty fruitful on the Green while the hatchery brats on the ole Cow really enjoy the age old egg sucking leach. With returns as low as they were, Grande Ronde and Klick will be, well, who knows. Cooler temps above Bonneville and The Dalles could bring some fish over those dams and into those systems so keep the fingers and other digits crossed for that.
There it is, mid morning Friday fishing report, just in time for the intel necessary to plan for the weekend. As always, come visit the store for more details and ask questions, we thrive on seeing you succeed...seriously, we do!
Have a great weekend everyone,
EWA Staff
Call/Text | 206-708-7250
Email | shop@emeraldwateranglers.com
Insta | @ewaflyshop_seattle @ewa_women @emeraldwateranglerswa
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@emeraldwateranglers
