Welcome to the Seattle fly fishing reports page for Emerald Water Anglers. We will provide reports on our local, western Washington and PNW region fisheries. We guide more water as an outfitter and guide service than anyone in Washington. EWA is the hub for the local fly fishing community with honest and current reports so your upcoming time on the water can be executed with maximum enjoyment.
To receive insight on upcoming events, new global destinations and products please sign up for our newsletter here and/or follow our various Instagram accounts along the side or call the store with questions. Even while you are on the water, we are here for you — 206-708-7250.
Thank you for checking in with us for Seattle fly fishing reports and if we can ever be of assistance outside of that, please do not hesitate to ask.
Puget Sound Food Forms
Puget Sound Wind Speed/Direction
Tide Predictions: Seattle Hood Canal Whidbey Island
WA River Flows
OR River Flows
Recent Posts
- Sprinting Out of 2020…Slowing to Enjoy 2021Wow, I could go on for…forget it, let’s bid 2020 adieu! So long and so on to what I hope is a beloved 2021 and what to look forward to here in the Seattle area, the greater PNW and beyond. A decidedly paltry understatement would be there is much anticipation for 2021 on nearly every front…obviously! I live, guide, photograph and travel from Seattle, WA. I have broken rods, reels, lines some laws and bones in 40 countries and because of this I have come to greatly appreciate the incredible diversity of our surrounding fisheries. My friends, we have some […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – November 11, 2020 – Getting Cold Out There!Time is doing this weird thing where it feels as though it is standing still and yet passing by so fast…don’t know, just hard to explain. Seems like we were just talking about great fall fishing was and while leaves remain on many trees, snow is happening on our lower passes. Anyway, here we are and while we have said good by to most of our creeks for the season, our main stay fisheries are in great shape and fishing very well. Puget Sound is in prime shape right now. Resident Coho and Blackmouth lurking around amid SRC’s and not […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – October 4, 2020 – Fall OptionsSorry for the delay in getting a report up lately but we have been slammed busy and staff has been traveling so we fell a bit behind. That being said, here we go latest report coming at you right now! Cascade Mountain creeks, blue lines or mountain streams, whatever you want to label them as are still fishing well though water temps have certainly dropped and put a pretty good hold on hatches. We don’t usually nymph these waters but you could. Otherwise we recommend a casual start time, allow the sun to peak out and warm the stream just […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – August 19, 2020 – Ahhh-gustEvery year we enter summer looking forward to the days when weather is predictable, water levels are down and approachable and fish are looking up! Now that we are here we can’t wait for water and air temps to drop like a winter sun and fall freshets to perk up our finned friends. So that said, the Yakima River is HIGH, hovering around 4000cfs and the wind has been howling on some days but the hoppers are out and about for a bit more time until we get our first couple of cold nights. So take advantage of it or […]
- Haida Gwaii – by Greg ThomasFrom good friend and long time Seattle resident Greg Tomas, you can read more of this work on his blog Anglers Tonic. We see summer beginning its annual sunset into fall so naturally out thoughts immediately go to winter steelhead and though this was a great read to cool everyone off a bit here in August. Enjoy… I first felt a need to step on the Queen Charlotte Islands back in the 1980s when a friend and I steered a 42-foot long wood troller, called the Cape Cross, from the West Wall in Seattle through the inside passage to Petersburg, […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – August 6, 2020 – Warm to Hot!Amazing over the past decade or so how different our entry into summer has been in the area. Read more deeply into it or not but when summer hits it has been landing with water temps reaching higher levels, what seems to be sooner than before. Many of our smaller streams have seen flows drop quickly with high water temps so the importance of fishing early, landing fish fast and using appropriate gear to do so has never been more vital to the livelihood of the fish we love to chase so much. Cedar River, Snoqualmie Forks and the rest […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – July 23, 2020 – Ready, Set, Fish!Well anglers, summer has officially arrived…feels like we have been saying that for sometime now but with all fisheries finally at a place where we are comfortable with anglers of all age and skill level exploring the waters around here, it finally feels real. Creeks are low and fish are looking up. Parachute Adams, caddis, Stimulators and other attractors like Humpy’s, Wulff’s and Trude’s are all working well so there really shouldn’t be too much need to drop anything off the back any longer. Yak is high for the next 7-9 weeks so look else where for walk and wade […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – July 6, 2020 – Fireworks Are Done!Alright, the 4th of July weekend is nearing closure and we are finally beginning to see water levels drop on many of our small streams in the area meaning it is time to break out the 5x and the dry fly box…it’s about time! The other fishery we should be paying more attention to is our multitude of bass fisheries we have all over the area. Most of our local Seattle area urban lakes are home to the “Ditch Pickle” and while many consider them a lesser species to chase, it could very well be because they haven’t run across […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – June 29, 2020 – Cool Weather/Low WaterWell we finally coincided summer with some cool weather resulting in some nice low water flows on local rivers and streams which means…time to fish! Mountain Creeks – We always suggest using high water time to do some due diligence on new places to get on the water and now that time spent should begin to pay off. Looking at the flows today, the Forks of the Snoqualmie are in great shape especially the South Fork. Water will still be cold but fish should be looking up more and more so mid sized stimulator (stimi) with a dropper of your […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – June 22, 2020 – The Time is NOW!Welcome to summer! We have seen an incredible insurgence of new fly angling interest over the past few months and why not? If done in the way we enjoy doing it, it is the epitome of social distancing outdoors. Long expanse of beach to yourself, intimate mountain creeks or long classic steelhead runs to swing your new spey rod through. Well, summer is here but water levels are still a bit high. Water is in good shape clarity wise on many rivers but the creeks are still big and cold. As of now, best bet is Yakima River from a […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – June 18, 2020 – FreestonesFreestone – A river with no man made impediments. In other words, no dams on it. As we arch our way towards summer, we are still holding our breath for our favorite freestone streams to come into shape. Well, we can exhale a bit as there are a few in a state of readiness if you will. The Naches among others is definitely approachable for you to step in and safely get around…for the moment. Keep an eye on flows as warm weather will definitely melt some snow and raise flows again but otherwise. As water warms and clears the […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – June 15, 2020 – Summer is Coming, We Promise!Father’s Day is going to coincide almost exactly with the official beginning of summer. With everything that took place this past winter and spring, most of us forgot or didn’t have the opportunity to notice we had a decent snow year and are having a cool entry to summer so run off is taking a little longer than normal. This means creeks and some rivers are a bit higher than we would like to see them for getting on them and not going for a swim or seeing fish come to our surface fly. Now streamers are a different story, […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – June 13, 2020 – Choices GaloreAs we prepare this Seattle fly fishing report this morning from here at the store, the last 7 people in have been headed to 7 completely different places to chase almost as many different species of fish. We live in a mecca for those curious and adventurous about where and what to fish for. Here is the rundown for the weekend… Forks of the Snoqualmie are a bit high yet again. We had a couple of days with warm weather and we still have snow to melt. And so it is doing. That being said, the fish will be looking […]
- Seattle Fly Fishing Report – June 12, 2020 – Woohoo, It’s All Open, Including Us!Wish we could say this has been and easy time, obviously it hasn’t been at all but the world continues to rotate and we continue to evolve while spinning with it. We understand how much being on the water means to everyone’s psyche and as we always say, we are quite simply here to help you learn, have fun, grow and find success out there. We as always, greatly appreciate the support everyone provides us, we love being here for you. We would also like to applaud and thank all the demonstrators who showed up in the Junction yesterday, voicing […]
- Upcoming Seattle Fly Fishing Events – June
Well, obviously the events list is going to be short but, we do have some exciting things to share with everyone and we hope you are all staying healthy in both body and mind. First and hopefully most obvious is we established National Women’s Fly Fishing Day on June 27th! As we see what we are able to do in group settings, please stay tuned for some events, possibly virtual ones to celebrate and help encourage women of all ages to get on the water. In conjunction with this, our good friend Laura Klaren has designed our new women’s logo […] - Upcoming Seattle Fly Fishing Events – MayOkay then, the list of upcoming Seattle fly fishing events for the coming month can pretty much be summed up in a few words…we can fish again! While we are all excited at the prospect of getting on the water again for being shut out for the past month or more, we need to be very thoughtful in how we collectively engage. More people out of work, kids out of school, cabin fever and limited options to get out for the next month mean a possibility of congestion at many of our favorite places. Congestion at a level that could […]
- EWA CoffeeBesides water, few things are more a part of the sport of fly fishing than a good ole cup of Joe in the AM. Which is why we are so excited to launch our own private label medium dark roast coffee beans. Choose whole bean or ground to your liking upon order. We also have whole bean coffee in the store in 12oz bags. Otherwise click the link below to have it delivered straight to your door. Be sure to send us pics of you, our coffee and your favorite location so we can share. Buy EWA Coffee Here!
- Three Essential Shooting Heads For Winter SteelheadA tool for every job makes a good steelheader into a better one. Just think about this: you wouldn’t use a hand saw to cut through a fallen tree. It would take way too long and require much too much effort. So what do you do? Grab a chain saw and have at it. The right tool for the right job makes it easy and efficient. The more efficient you are, the quicker you can get to your goal. An anglers best tool while on the water is their shooting head and we have narrowed it down to three essentials […]
- Upcoming Fly Fishing Events – March 2020Wow, spring is coming at us so fast, not even funny. Soon these snouts will be more prevalent on the Yakima as BWO’s/Baetis/Blue Winged Olives and other spring hatches begin to emerge. Steelhead season is in full swing on the OP until the end of the month and Chum Fry are beginning to show their tiny little silhouettes along the beaches of Puget Sound. All in all, it is a fine time to be picking up a fly rod in our beautiful corner of the world. Upcoming Intro to Fly Fishing Schools – Coed – 3 students per teacher. We […]
- 5 Tips for High Water Steelhead1. Fish light and inside In high water, the steelhead are going to be on the move and they are trying to find the path of least resistance, which is often right by your feet. I like to fish light and short tips, casting to the near water first and fishing it well. Using 10 feet of T-7 or T-10 will get that fly to swing into the bank. Hang down grabs are very common in high water so make sure you get that fly swinging all the way below you. 2. Go big or go home When the water […]
- Upcoming Fly Fishing Events – February 2020Bienvenidos, willkomen, benvenuta, ようこそ and welcome…to winter steelhead season! We are writing this as nearly every river on the coastal side of the mountains is at or near flood stage, a momentary refuge for our andadromous friends making their way into the local rivers! We just finished up our 4th annual EWA Spey Day and the buzz coming out of that was incredible. Maybe one of the biggest highlights was the time spent throwing the new long belly lines from Bridge Fly Fishing and having Tim Arsenault on hand to help take away some of the anxiety. Seems like another […]
- Gear Review: Patagonia R1 GlovesThe last pair of winter gloves you’ll ever wear…well, maybe. They’re pretty darn good with a few alterations. Every winter steelhead angler knows the struggle of cold hands on those cold mornings, whether it be on the Skagit or the OP or the Oregon coast, or the Skeena, or wherever. We all have been searching for a garment that will keep your hands warm but also allow for some sensation of feeling to be able to manage your running line properly. We have found the answer! Or at least the best possible option at this point in time. In the […]
- Upcoming Events – Nov. & Dec.Well, we apologize for not getting this up sooner, things have just been a bit crazy around these parts lately. Good news is, they are finally here, our fly fishing events for the next 6 weeks and beyond. Fly tying, customer appreciation, spey and single hand casting classes mixed with the Holidays…yep it is going to be a busy season so grab a beverage, sit down and peruse the schedule, it may take awhile! Currently, we are booking Puget Sound trips (has been fishing very well lately) and steelhead in all forms for the remainder of the year and the […]
- 2 Day Fly Fishing Immersion Schools
- EWA Guide Training School
- Women’s Steelhead Group Trips
- Bug’s and Brews
- 5 Hour Destination Mini School
- EWA Guide Training School
- Pontoon/Drift Boat Rowing Class
Instagram Feed
Bugs are for girls. Our Match the Hatch school gives you a look at the insects that have shaped trout behavior for 40,000 years. Learn how to identify these buggy bois, select the best pattern from you fly box, and get a scientific understanding of how fish tick.
Get in the DM's if you are interested in learning more!
Rustic Retreats are the bee's knees and this first-time car camper found out just how fun and comfortable it can be. Tents are obviously welcome, and our next Rustic Retreat is May 22nd-23rd! Call the shop at 206-708-7250 to sign up!
Skwala stones with lots of foam is finally relevant. What have you been tying lately?
I love little moments of evidence that women are thriving and existing in the outdoors. 💜
It doesn’t feel like it today but summer is coming!
#ewawomen #5050onthewater #ffiwomenconnect #ewareports #seattleflyshop #itsallhomewater #optoutside
Finding rocks shaped like our mission statement is pretty rad ❤
So many women catching their first Washington fish this week and it's giving me LIFE. @pugsandcupcakes nice work you absolute powerhouse glitter bomb.
When you're after steelhead but you're also a geologist. 🤷♀️ what's a girl to do? 😂😂
Spring is looking good on the Yakima. We are getting close (so, SO close) to true Skwala season.
These little guys ang gals are sitting under rocks a mere six inches from the water's edge and getting active. Water temperatures are still really cold at night, but with all this warm weather we can start looking forward to seeing these babies take flight soon.
In the meantime, little black winter stones are enjoying the sunshine and stretching their adult wings. Again, with water temps so low, nymphs are still the name of the game before fish start moving for dry flies in warmer water temperatures.
And as always, consider the Sound if the drive intimidates you. Chum fry season IS HERE and the Sound is lighting up. Get yourself out there and see the results for yourselves ❤
Today is International Women's day. It is a day to celebrate how far we have come and embrace with courage and determination how far we have yet to go.
Today, and every day moving forward, choose to challenge yourself and others. Learn to speak firmly and without apology. Call out inequality. Biases. Racism. In yourself, and in others, because we aren't equal until ALL OF US are equal.
#choosetochallenge #internationalwomensday @ewaflyshop_seattle #womenwhofishtogether #womenwhofish🎣 #womenoutdoors #womenempire #womensupportingwomen #seattlehiking #seattleoutdoors #seattleadventures #seattlewomen #bestfriends #beyourbestself #flyfishwashington #flyfishing #getoutside #explorewashington #exploreyourworld #explorelocal #exploreseattle #ewareports #keepfishwet #itsallhomewater #seattleflyshop #optoutside #seattleflycastingclub
Adult summer school is officially IN SESSION!! Sign up for March 15th or 29th and learn how to match the hatch (pictured here!) and how to cast. The casting classes begin at 9am (3 hours long at 125$) and matching the hatch begins at 1pm (3 hours long at $75)! Learn from a female instructor but both sexes are welcome to sign up. Call the shop with the date you're interested in and get signed up. I cannot wait to see you there!
Barack Obama: "Enthusiasm makes up for a whole host of deficiencies."
As long as you enjoy fly fishing, GO DO IT. There is no reason good enough to keep you from what makes you happy. That guy's looking at you? Who gives a frig. He's jealous of your courage. That lady has a bigger fish than you? Good for her. Her enthusiasm led her down a road of trial and error.
You don't look good in waders? Neither does the dude who just caught a steelhead with snot hanging out of his nose. (And on that note, the "hot girls of fly fishing instagram" are your sisters and they are no more or less beautiful than you for what they wear or don't wear. Your comparisons to them won't serve you.)
Go out on those rivers and put it all away. Be enthusiastic. Learn with a mind wide open. Make mistakes, and be yourself and you'll be Barack Obama one day. Or something like that. 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
There's the SAT's, and then theres walking a 13 foot rod through low brush. 🤷♀️
If you're anything like me, you want to be good at something RIGHT AWAY when you start a new thing.
The scenario always follows the same track: I have ambitions to try, I "fail" (following my own strategically laid guidelines of self imposed rules, criticism and lack of perfection) and then I get angry at myself. It's the reason I ultimately left cross country, videogames, crochet, drawing, singing and softball behind. But I learned something new with fly fishing: it's going to suck sometimes and you just have to accept it.
I tell people who come through the program all the time to "embrace the suck" and "cherish the process" all the time, and people look at me like I'm a hypocrite when I boil over on myself for missing the ferry angle in fast water, or missing a chance at a big fish.
In reality, "cherish the process" does not mean "handle everything like an emotionless angel." It means embrace and acknowledge that sometimes, you're going to get mad. You're going to get so frustrated by that slack line that just KEEPS SNAGGING ON THAT ROCK or getting wrapped around your feet on the beach. Or you're going to feel hopeless and contemplate quitting because "maybe this just isn't for me." These feelings are so normal. Every accomplished angler has had those feelings. But you have to ride it out and try again.
Anyways, this is the long way of saying I'm learning to row, and I am gonna get good at it. If you see me on the river swearing, I've got this. 😂
I love the personalities that join me on the water. Getting to know women from so many walks of life is always humbling and inspiring. 🧡
When women gather, magic happens.
"Ladies, if there is one thing you do for yourself this year, join a retreat with Kristen. This last weekend filled my heart with joy, my brain with invaluable knowledge, my spirit with energy, and my belly with yummy food. Oh and the laughter! A weekend on the water with Kristen will be a yearly gift to myself." -Sara
Next retreat, March 11th-12th ❤️🌱🏞️🌅🌌🌒🏔️❤️
Camping breakfast is the best breakfast. Steel cut oats, apple, pecans, nutmeg, ginger, and apple butter granola.
Oyster literally ingested this fly. Clamped right down on the hook and wouldn't give it back. That's why stopping to chat with a sinking line is so risky 🤣🤣🤣
We are so excited share this moment...we have watched Anne take this plunge several years ago and her passion, perseverance and persistence just paid off...first wild steelhead on the swing!
Giant congrats Anne, so happy for you!
#ewareports #ewawomen #itsallhomewater #patagonia_flyfish #speycasting #swingingflies #wildsteelhead #5050onthewater #ewa_swingon #keepfishwet
Where did fly fishing take you this month?
I love mornings like this: waking up to your waders in the sunshine.
Who says three is a crowd? The more the merrier ❤️🌊☀️
Laughter and sunshine make the world go round and who runs the world? Girls.
@beyonce @ewaflyshop_seattle #womenwhofishtogether #womenwhofish🎣 #womenoutdoors #womenempire #womensupportingwomen #seattlehiking #seattleoutdoors #seattleadventures #seattlewomen #seattleflyfishing #searuncutthroat #pugetsoundfishing #pugetsound #isup #paddleboarding #paddleboardingadventures #seattlepaddleboarding #seattleoutdoors #seattleyoga #girlswhofish #girlsandgills #bestfriends #beyourbestself #soulsearching #findyourself #getoutside #explorewashington #exploreyourworld #explorelocal #exploreseattle
Puget Sound school in the sunshine. Thank you for trusting me with your instruction 😭
