Welcome to the Emerald Water Anglers Seattle fly fishing reports page for all your local, western Washington and PNW region fly fishing information. We cover more water as an outfitter and guide service than anyone in Washington and as a retail store we want to be your portal into the sport with honest and current fishing reports so your upcoming time on the water with or without us can be planned as well as possible for maximum enjoyment.
Thank you for visiting and if we can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to ask. To receive special reports and news on upcoming events, new destinations and products please sign up for our newsletter here or call the store with questions, even while on the water — 206-708-7250.
Puget Sound Food Forms
Puget Sound Wind Speed/Direction
Tides: Seattle Hood Canal Whidbey Island
WA River Flows
OR River Flows
December 24, 2019 Early Season
Steelhead
We are on the cusp of what nearly every serious angler in Washington looks forward to throughout the year…Winter Steelhead season. This is the pinnacle of fly fishing in the Pacific Northwest, the highest form of angling here, and we are starting to see a few early fishing nosing into our local rivers.
Hatchery season has been in full gear for the last few weeks and there are decent catching reports coming from the Skykomish, Wynoochee, Humptulips, Bogachiel, Cowlitz, etc. All of these rivers have a heavier hatchery influence than some of the more renown rivers for big, wild fish. We approach hatchery fish the same way with a swung fly. In low water, we have been fishing heavy, longer tips, and small marabou style tubes while in our recent high water, we fish short and light with large intruder-style flies.
Wild fish are starting to show in our local favorites like the Skagit/Sauk but we’re hearing good reports from the rivers on the Olympic Peninsula like the Hoh, Sol Duc, Calawah, etc.
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is fishing well for Sea Run Cutthroat right now with many of the larger fish of the year being caught in December and January. We are looking to fish on the big tides and the quick drops that follow. The South Sound is where you want to be right now. The local favorites (Lincoln Park, Seahurst, Purdy) have all been good with most fish caught on that outgoing tide.
Our favorite flies have been Rio’s Just Keep Swimming, Sound Searchers, and Puget Prawns. We have been finding fish on a slower retrieve recently, especially with shrimp flies. Don’t be afraid to try polychaete worms this time of year too!
Trout
The Yakima has been a bit cold for the season but it is still producing a few fish for those that really dig for them. You’re shooting for a fish a day, maybe two, unless the water warms up a bit. If we get a warmer spell, try some streamers and shoot for the big boys. Sculpzillas, Dolly Llamas, Zonkers, etc. The standard approach is nymphing with a heavier fly, a Pat’s Rubber Legs, and a small dropper underneath such as a Rainbow Warrior or a Brassie. As much as we hate to say it, a fluorescent pink San Juan Worm is a killer on the Yak this time of year.
Rocky Ford AKA “The Ditch” has been fishing consistently well throughout this Winter. The water stays relatively steady in temperature throughout the year so the trout have plenty of time to get big and fat. A 30″ rainbow is not uncommon and we saw a few tickling that range a few weeks ago. Nymphing with a small midge pattern or a scud has been productive while the odd BWO hatch has kept things interesting up top. Streamers are always a good bet this time of year and we like to throw larger flies, tempting the more aggressive fish in the creek. Sparkle Minnows, Circus Peanuts, Zoo Cougars, have all been good bets.
December 16, 2019 Enter the Steelhead
Like it or not, it is steelhead season in the PNW in more locations that we can shake a stick at but for us, we are primarily focused on the Olympic Peninsula and the Skagit/Sauk system while it remains open.
Rain has been minimal here over the past few weeks so all rivers are in really good shape at the moment but that can change at any time. Our reports page also has a link to water levels on most of our rivers with what we feel is good levels to be there and live links to current flows.
Some large hatchery fish have been glad handing a few anglers on the Bogachiel and Sol Duc the past few weeks and a wild fish here and there on the Skykomish River.
This is absolutely the time to learn how to spey cast so you are ready for the meet of the season as well. Nothing like a holiday gift of a private spey class with one of our great instructors.
Puget Sound is also fishing well right now and the wind has mostly been pretty calm as of late and with the recent cloud cover, days have been perfect out there for the winter fly angler.
Happy Holidays everyone, look forward to seeing or talking with you soon.
November 10, 2019 Shorter Days
Well, there it went, our daylight is gone for another season here in the PNW. Shorter days mean being focused and planning your fly fishing experiences well. Fortunately these days the choices are a bit more limited.
For us, we are focused on 3 species/regions of the PNW for the coming 5 months, some more than others. Our entire staff is very spey-centric so naturally steelhead season is atop list of species to pursue.
Cowlitz, Skykomish, Skagit, Sauk, Klickitat, Hoh, Queets, Sol Duc and Bogachiel are some of our favs and are spread far and wide from each other here in western WA so knowing your flows and knowing where you are headed are going to maximize time on the water with rod in hand.
For the next few months we are guiding most of these rivers until they close or others become a better option in our opinion. During that time we are also doing full day spey schools and spey casting lessons. Call the store to book one and get your skills finely tuned for the season.
Puget Sound is also up there as this is really our favorite season to fish/guide the Sound. Fish are active, sun is low, kelp is gone and fewer people are on the water. All good/great reasons to be turning your attention here.
Lastly, the Yakima River is always a mid winter option if you are willing to endure the cold and can safely get over the pass. With water levels being mostly low for the coming few months, we encourage anglers to explore this river on foot as there is ample water to cover over there and no need to cover vast swaths of it in order to find a few fish.
On any of these topics, please come in, call or email with questions, we just want you to have fun out there so we will do what we can to help that happen.
We have a few events coming up to be aware of:
December 5th - Customer Appreciation/Gift Registry 5pm - 9pm
December 8th - Women’s Gear Up Night 7pm - 9pm
January 25th - EWA Spey Day 10am - 3pmOctober 27th, 2019
Steelhead
We saw significant blowouts this past week, but rivers are on the drop and shaping up beautifully. Keep your eye on the flow as some rivers are dropping into shape more quickly than others. We are getting into fish both sub surface and on the surface, so if you have ever been curious about skating dry flies, now is the time!
We have been fishing traditional flies like the Purple Peril and Brett’s Obie Skater from Aqua Flies and more modern flies like the Hobo Spey in a variety of colors. For those fishing more modern flies, the Ultra Rig from Aqua flies has been the number one consistency from our guides. We can’t get enough flies tied fast enough with the Ultra Rig! Come on by and ask us why the ultra rig is quickly becoming our go to rigging system for both summer and winter steelhead.
Yakima
After a bump in flows, the river is returning back to normalcy, just above 1000cfs. With sunny weather for the remainder of the week, we are expecting lows in the low to mid 20’s for the beginning of the week, rising to low to mid 30’s by the end of the week. Expect the fish to be lethargic in the morning, so fish area’s where the water has had a chance to warm (the tail outs) and try to slow down your fly and put it in the zone. As temperatures rise in the middle of the day, fish will become more active. Some flies for the morning should be Pats rubber legs size 8’s in Coffee or Orange. Some flies of interest: WD-40 Midges in 18, and October Caddis in the afternoon. Don’t be afraid to skate or twitch October Caddis on the surface after your dead drift.
Puget Sound
We have seen our typically increase in productivity on the Sound over the last few weeks with the onset of more all day cloud cover. Even though this week is much sunnier than the last few, the sun’s trajectory in the sky is not as steep, meaning that fish feel more secure even in broad daylight than during the summer months. Therefore find the moving tides and get your fly in the water! Tomorrow has a fantastic 12.15 to -.51 from first light until mid day. This should be a great time to be on the water.
October 25, 2019 YES!
We just completed our first of many EWA Women’s 2 day/1 night steelhead trips on the Klickitat River and it was a resounding success. Not because a ton of fish were caught but because new friends were made, new river fished, new skills learned and new stories created.
The Klick is fishing well at the moment. As most of you know we are only swinging flies and mostly utilizing two handed rods. We are one of the very few who ONLY swing flies for these majestic fish and do so for many reasons but mostly because it is what we are crazy sick with passion for and believe it can be infectious.
Yakima River had a decent bump from the rain last week but is coming back down quickly as are most of the other rivers in the area. Still some BWO’s coming off during the afternoon mostly and of course other methods are working well too.
Cowlitz River is in great shape at the moment too and while there are a few steelhead around and can surprise you if chasing the sea run cutthroat. With flows as low as they are, there is some wonderful water to pursue these days down there.
Puget Sound is testing anglers to know their beaches as wind has been coming from all directions lately so knowing which beaches are in the lee of the wind is crucial to a fishable day on the water. Baitfish, shrimp patterns and surface skating flies are all working well for SRC’s at this time.
Lastly, most of our small streams are open for just another week or so so if you want to get out there better do it though at this point we would simply suggest pointing your attention to the Yakima or Cle Elum Rivers as both are fishing well and low enough to approach from all over.
If we can be of any assistance out there, please let us know so we can get you out there and ready?
October 11, 2019 Swingin’ Baby!
Spent the past couple days swinging flies for trout on the Yakima River and it was nothing short of amazing in many ways. First, covering water nearly everyone else ignores as they float by with indicators leaves much of the water to only those wielding the shorter long rod. Secondly, because you cover water as you would while steelheading, you spend more time with you fly in the water fishing and doing so while becoming a better line manager. As a guide, you watch clients have 100% control over the experience of every fish, teach new casts and watch lines tighten as a trout turns on a soft hackle rising in the water column. All in, this is as good as this river gets, call or stop in and join us over the next month or so for one of our seasonal favorite guided experiences.
September 16, 2019 All Things Spey
As we enter fall, nearly our entire staff…actually the whole staff begins to get a little stir crazy because some of our favorite watersheds in the area are in perfect shape for swinging flies for either trout or steelhead.
The Yakima and Cle Elum are down and ready for swinging flies for cutthroat and rainbow trout and if you haven’t handled a trout sized spey rod yet, we really need to help you make that happen. We currently have staff throwing Winston, Echo, Gloomis, Sage, Thomas and Thomas and Redington trout spey and they are all fabulous!
If would like the thrill of chasing a steelhead but would like a tug or two as well, the Cowlitz is a great place to put yourself in the game because there are steelhead in right now and the sea run cutthroat will also take smaller flies so it is sort of the best of both worlds here for the next month or two.
Call us and let’s get you in the water with one of these great little sticks, or a big one…or both!
Happy fall everyone, see you soon,
EWA Staff 206-708-7250
September 13, 2019 Spey Time
These days we are able to employ spey casting in nearly all facets of our fly fishing endeavors but when fall arrives in the PNW, particularly here in the Seattle area, we feel its relevance even more.
With flows at low fall levels, swinging flies on the Yakima and Cowlitz for rainbow and cutthroat trout are terrific options and for those seeking slightly larger interactions, steelhead on many of the rivers around here is beginning to uptick. Skykomish, Klickitat, Cowlitz, Hoh and Queets would all be great options to consider.
Low and clear water will demand longer leaders, possibly smaller flies and while your winter Skagit heads will work just fine with a floating tip, why not pick up and enjoy casting a Rage or Scandi head with a longer front taper. These heads will turn over flies with delicate precision and elegance, showing off those casting skills so well.
Questions on anything spey, call 206-708-7250, we are here for you!
August 22, 2019 - Fall Rising
Here we are coming to the end of August and yet, the mornings and evening already feel as though fall is upon us. We don’t actually have a problem with that what so ever and here is partly why.
First, nearly every fishery in the state is predictable, approachable, beautiful, bountiful and fishable at this time of the year.
As of now, Pink salmon are all over the place paving the way for Coho salmon to begin arriving on our local beaches. If you have never attached yourself to a Coho on a 6wt in the saltwater, well, it is about as good a tug of war as you can have here in WA. These should be going on until mid to late October if we are lucky so come in, ask questions and get out there!
By mid September of the Yakima will be back down to fall and early winter flows meaning walk and wade anglers will have plenty of water to safely step into and water temps will begin to cool, igniting all the fall hatches we love so much. BWO and October Caddis are on the menu!
All of this being said, for us, it really means we get to really focus on spey casting, both for trout and steelhead. NOW would be a great time to begin your sojourn into taking a steelhead on a skated fly and for those wanting to begin their steelhead pursuit, now is a fabulous time to pick up that new two hander and get our free spey class we offer with it. Learn the basic casts and discuss other equipment and approach with one of our professional guide/instructor staff and get these skills honed for winter!
Creeks have some time left as well. Water is crazy low and later starts to the day will be a thoughtful way to ensure you are seeing trout come to the surface for your fly. Caddis, Stimulators, Parachute Adams, Humpy’s and Wulff patterns are all great options as these trout know their time to take in calories is now before winter water temps put the hatches to bed for the season.
As always, we are here to ensure your success so please come in, call or email with any questions you might have. Thanks for reading, now go fish!
206-708-7250
shop@emeraldwateranglers.com
August 19, 2019 - It All Comes Together…or Pretty Close!
Unsure if our mild summer has made it feel like summer is already over of if the cool evenings are just being welcomed because they are here. Either way, fall is the most predictable time of the year to fish around here so there is literally no reason to NOT be on the water, some water, somewhere fly fishing right now. Let’s be brief…
Puget Sound - Pinks and Coho - YES
Creeks - Dry Flies All Day - YES
Summer Steelhead - YES, there are a few around!
Yakima - Hoppers and Caddis - YES
Carp/Bass/Pike - YUP
Come by, call or whatever, just let us help you got out there, be successful and have fun!
Instagram Posts
EWA Spey Day is this Saturday from 9am to 3pm on the Snoqualmie River in Fall City, under the bridge.
Over 10 brands of rods and lines will be on hand to try, listen to some seminars and get some tips to kick off winter season.
#ewareports #speycasting #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #steelheadflyfishing #wildsteelhead #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild
The collection... The collection of flies tried and denied during a week of chasing permit and every refusal ensures my certain return.
#ewareports #permitflies #permitfishing #permitguide #permitonthefly #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild #flyfishingphotography
The next couple years we have some incredible travel planned.
Seychelles -March 2020
Costa Rica - Sept 2020
Alaska - Sept 2020
Alaska Women Only - Sept 2020
B.C. - Oct 2020
New Zealand - Jan 2021
Bolivia - June 2021
Kamchatka - Aug 2021
Anaa - Nov 2021
Australia, Africa, Honduras, Argentina, Cuba, Colombia, Mongolia, many of the above and others in 2022 and beyond.
We strive to choose and participate in extraordinary fly fishing travel and our talented staff work hard on our trips to create an incredibly memorable experience.
Join us - travel@emerald wateranglers.com 206-708-7250
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #flyfishingphotography #underwaterphotography #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild #flyfishingtravel
I will take one trout spey with cold, gin clear water running past my feet with a side of snow and blue sky on top... Thank you!
#ewareports #troutspey #speycasting #winterflyfishing #pnw #seattleflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #yakimariver #yakimariverflyfishing #builtforthewild
Winter trout fishing, something to be said for low water, fewer Anglers and willing fish.
#ewareports #yakimaflyfishing #seattleflyfishing #flyfishing #flyfishingguide #speycasting #troutspey #washingtonflyfishing #builtforthewild #loveourplanet #seewhatsoutthere #king5winter
May I recommend picking up a trout spey and finding yourself in a winter wonderland swinging for resident fish... #ewareports #seattle #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #speycasting #swingingflies #troutspey #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild #fishon #flyfishingphotography #flyfishingguide
Done!
#loveourplanet #earlyadopter #ewareports
Getting in the water with one of the big guns of the saltwater world.
#keepemwetfishing #keepfishwet #ewareports #tarponflyfishing #underwaterphotography #flyfishingphotography #flyfishingtravel #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet
Even Frank knows what color to swing for these winter steelhead...bummer about the Skagit but it is the right decision.
Forks, here we come... #ewareports #steelheadflyfishing #speycasting #seattleflyfishing #pnw #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #swingingflies #builtforthewild
@mdelormephoto hoists a rare, BC @codyrichardsonscreations wild steelhead. Drop into @ewaflyshop_seattle and pick one up for your trophy wall and tying room!
#ewareports #steelheadflyfishing #speycasting #swingingflies #seattleflyfishing #bcflyfishing #builtforthewild #seewhatsoutthere #flyfishingart
With days being short, don’t shy away from tying on a Sound Searcher and waking that across the glistening surface of Puget Sound at night... They can see it!
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #searuncutthroat #pnw #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #optoutside #flyfishingphotography #flyfishingguide
Going to be a little crisp out there this week... #ewareports #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #steelheadflyfishing #speycasting #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild #flyfishingguide
@mikemccoy47 awaits his pick up on Scorpion Atoll in Mexico.
#ewareports #mexicoflyfishing #scorpionatoll #flyfishingtravel #flyfishingphotography #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild
It is difficult to not be fascinated by water, in all forms really. But for me in particular, what is in it and how to capture it.
Subsurface takes our eyes somewhere we are not accustomed to, instilling a sense of wonder.
It does for me anyway.
#underwaterphotography #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #ewareports #seattleflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #searuncutthroat #flyfishingphotography #washingtonflyfishing #pnw #upperleft #pugetsound #trout #seattle #tacomaflyfishing #builtforthewild #flyfishingseattle
The moment I realized I needed a larger net for sea run cutthroat, @fisknat_landing_nets helped take care of that. #ewareports #searuncutthroat #seattleflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #builtforthewild #keepfishwet #flyfishingphotography
In case you missed it, 2020 has arrived with some fantastic plans for this year on the horizon.
Looking forward to bending rods with some of you in person and sharing stories with everyone.
Safe travels everyone and have a terrific 2020 wherever your fly rod may take you.
#ewareports #flyfishingtravel #hostedtravel #seewhatsoutthere #builtforthewild #loveourplanet #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #globalflyfishing #carbonoffset #flyfishingphotography
Maybe the worst affliction to contract in our sport besides fly fishing itself...photography AND Permit!
#ewareports #permitonfly #permitfishing #flyfishingtravel #underwaterphotography #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #tropicalflyfishing #builtforthewild #fishcosta2020
Brief calm before Mother Nature lays her law down on us here in the PNW.
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #seattle #pnw #optoutside #loveourplanet #seewhatsoutthere #searuncutthroat #flyfishingguide #flyfishingphotography #builtforthewild
Just a slight breeze out there today!
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild #seattle #flyfishingguide
A salty gift for putting in necessary dues on Puget Sound. #ewareports #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #keepemwet #keepfishwet #searuncutthroat #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #pugetsound #pnw #builtforthewild #underwaterphotography #flyfishingphotography
It’s a two handed world out there so join us January 25th, 2020 for the annual EWA Spey Day in Fall City under the bridge on the Snoqualmie River.
Rods from @thomasandthomasflyrods @echoflyfishing @winstonrods @gloomisfly @scottflyrods @redingtongear @sageflyfish @orvis with @airflousa @rioproducts @scientificanglers lines and heads.
Sales reps, pro staff and ambassadors as well as the rest of our EWA staff on hand to help you try out the rods you are keen to try!
9am - 3pm FREE
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #speycasting #steelheadflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #builtforthewild #loveourplanet #ewa_swingon
Winter sunsets are always more appreciated from the river.
#ewareports #steelheadflyfishing #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #sunsets #king5winter #builtforthewild #speycasting #flyfishingphotography #optoutside
Oh my...the sun rose on 2019 and I knew it was going to a memorable one!
It began in Lesotho with my incredible wife, daughter and friends.
I could go on and on about so many things but, what really left impressions on me were.
Watching my dad fish the Umpqua...again!
Watching Natalie fish Lesotho with Keith @african_waters and catch the only Yellowfish of the trip!
My parents all made another stroll around the sun... Nessa took up the crossbow, chopping wood and rowed her grandfather down the river.
Did some stupid shit in Brazil.
Watched and listened to some amazing people pick up the fly rod for the first time, revisiting that experience through them.
Realized 25 years with Natalie had passed like water through open hands.
Made amazing new friends in 6 different countries.
Enjoyed short, potent conversations with inspirational people.
Witnessed with overwhelming joy several of my friends enter parenthood.
Celebrated some of those friends first published photographs.
My daughter turned 14 and in split second I realized how precious time and life is. It is akin to water so immerse yourself as it passes because you don’t get it back.
There are so many things...petty things, people, experiences and moments there isn’t space to mention and yet I hope, if you have read this far you find yourself between the lines.
Love life and those who surround you in it.
You know where my heart is...with all of you. Happy New Year everyone, live large and with passion!
#ewareports #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #flyfishingphotography #flyfishingguide #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #flyfishingtravel
What winter steelhead will look like a mile from the ocean in clear water... #ewareports #seattleflyfishing #steelheadflyfishing #speycasting #wintersteelhead #washingtonflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild
Multnomah Falls is always worth a stop when coming back from east side steelhead country.
#ewareports #multnomahfalls #pnw #waterfalls #steelheadflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #builtforthewild
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