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
March 4, 2020 Peeling Back the Layers
Do you feel the sun shining again? That old, smelly insulated jacket is starting to look a little worn for wear and you are thinking about T-shirts and sandals. Yes, we feel it too. Spring is on its way.
Steelhead - With the many closures happening around the state, it seems that the only game in town for wild fish is the OP or some others down South. It is a sad year to be a steelhead angler but we keep on, two steps at a time. Conditions have been good for the past month without interference of blown out rivers like we are used to. With small spurts of rain, the rivers have stayed at a comfortable flow, but still a good amount of color to make a swing angler feel confident. All your common flies have worked great as there have been a variety of conditions to fish in. With low and clear water, smaller reverse marabous have worked great. With high water, nothing beats an intruder in a variety of colors. The fishing will continue strong through the end of the month and will taper off into April.
Puget Sound - Chum fry season is here! This is one of our favorite times of year to target Sea Run Cutthroat in Puget Sound as they can be found harassing the schools of micro-salmon leaving their natal streams. This is an event that is hard to miss and you will definitely know when fish are present. For flies, you can’t go wrong with a Chum Baby but a small olive/white Clouser Minnow will get the job done too. The outgoing tides will be your best bet for experiencing this bait busting kind of fishing. Look for big congregations of Sea Runs near the mouth’s of your favorite creeks.
Yakima River - The Yak has been hot for the past few weeks with the mild weather we have experienced. This is the time of year when streamer fishing gets really hot and the big fish come to play. Just think, the fish haven’t seen flies all Winter…they will crush any piece of meat that comes their way. The standard flies will all work and you don’t have to be too creative to get lucky this time of year. We like a Sculpzilla or a Bow River Bugger for the streamer bite. In a few weeks, we should see a few skwala stoneflies emerging which marks the first good dry fly fishing of the year. Following that hatch, the March Browns will start to emerge and that is when things get really good.
High Water and Chrome Fish - February 2020
A month plagued with heavy rain and flooded rivers, January 2020 was a month to behold. The month was riddled with short opportunities to fish and even less opportunity to stand dry on our swollen rivers.
Winter steelhead season has fully kicked off and we are seeing decent pushes of fish during the small windows of opportunity that we have had. With the recent closure of the Skagit/Sauk system, we have turned our attention to the OP, particularly the North Coast. With all this high water, the fish have been pushed way close to the bank and we have adjusted our strategies to this. Fish light and close in tight situations. We like a 10ft FLO-tip in T-7 or T-10 for these tight situations. In faster travel lanes, we will use longer tips, 12-15ft to get down into the zone in the heavy water. Be sure to up your fly sizes in murky water; the fish need to see it. The Sputnik from Aqua Flies have been a shop favorite recently, particularly in orange or black/blue. Other good flies have been the Ultra Squid, Dirty Hoh, or Greg’s Kriller.
Sea Run Cutthroat fishing has been great too! While most of our rivers have been too high to fish, we have been spending some time on the one place that doesn’t really “blow out”. We have been finding cutthroat on a variety of flies but particularly on shrimp patterns. My favorite fly for this have been Rio’s Participation Trophy or Rio’s Banana Stand. Shrimp move a bit slower than your standard baitfish so we have been moving these at a medium to slower pace.
For the swing anglers who are itching for a tightline grab, the Yakima is an excellent place to take your trout spey. We have been building a better trout spey selection, specifically for targeting fish on a swung fly. In warmer conditions, the fish can be found in your typical trout holding water but if the water gets cold, look for the deep, slow moving pools. Our favorite flies for the Yakima this time of year have been Rio’s Make it Rainbow or Rio’s Pocket Rocket. Both flies are perfect for swinging on our waters out east.
January 23, 2020 A Very Busy Week
Ok, here is the quick and dirty of it. There is so much going on this next 9 days it is a little crazy even for us so buckle up!
January 23rd (aka today) - Tie One On at the store with Jeremiah Houle from Bend, Oregon. Former steelhead guide, fantastic fly tyer and now Orvis sale rep will be doing his beautiful winter steelhead flies. Join by clicking here…
January 25th - EWA Spey Day on the Snoqualmie River in Fall City. Find us huddled under the bridge with all the brands we carry to try the latest and greatest spey rods worth casting. T&T, Winston, Hardy, Scott, GLoomis, Orvis, Echo, Sage, Redington, Scientific Anglers, Airflo, and Bridge Fly Lines. Trout and Anadromous spey are all available to try. Free instruction, bring water bottle and coffee cup, hot lunch provided.
January 29th & 30th - The Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Admiral in West Seattle on the 29th and SIFF on the 30th. Come see some of our very good friends on film around the world doing what they do best, capturing some incredible moments chasing our favorite species.
January 31st - Last day to fish our beloved Skagit and Sauk for the season. Mother Nature may have some say in this but at the moment it is closing day so put on your waders and grab your new two hander and go enjoy…
February 1st - March 31st - O.P. steelhead season in full swing. Looks like it will be a wet one this year so plan carefully but more importantly be prepared to call in sick when the time is right.
As ALWAYS, call, email, stop in, IG message or even facetime us if you need to. Our sole mission is to help you find the success you are after on the water.
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
Instagram Posts
Hide and seek with bones and octopus in Honduras.
#ewareports #underwaterphotography #flyfishingphotography #octopus #honduras #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet
As we wait to get back out on our favorite rivers, I've been witnessing the beauty of my community. From the woman in a woven sun hat waving at strangers, to the children stringing finger-paintings across their patio for the public. I am reminded every day of humanity's silver lining. It's so easy to view the people around you as an unremarkable backdrop to your day. But as we are forced to slow down, little by little I am reminded of my place. As a member of a community. As a neighbor. As a helping hand. For the first time in a long time I can look around at strangers and KNOW that we have something in common, even if it is simply whethering Covid-19. What silver linings have you found lately? I would love to hear them. #getoutside #seewhatsoutthere #slowdown #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #womenonthewater #womenwhoflyfish #girlsandgills #covid #wecandothistogether
I miss it, all of it!
Water. The telling scent alerting you to it’s salty or fresh from a mountain origins.
Standing in
Floating on
Casting over
Taking pictures under
Inquisitively staring
Obsessively analyzing
IT!
I miss it horribly. Re entry will be so so sweet!
Photo @dalegeorgebooher
#ewareports #seewhatsoutthere #optoutside #seattleflyshop #seattleflyfishing #patagonia_flyfish #pugetsound #seattle
Where do you want to fish when all is well? Lakes? Creeks? Salt? I seriously want to explore the lakes in WA. From a kayak, a raft, a jumbled heap of flotsam, whatever. #washingtonflyfishing #seewhatsoutthere #explorewashington #womenonthewater #womenwhoflyfish #girlsandgills #seattleflyfishing #explore #explorelocal #getoutside #getonthewater
I am so proud of the community who continue quarantine and keep our members safe! With the weather warming up, the temptation to leave the house makes your efforts all the more heroic! You all are incredible. How are you holding up? #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #femaleangler #womenonthewater #womenwhoflyfish #seattle #olympicpeninsula #covid #community #loveourplanet #loveyourneighbor
I am no literary as those of you out there who have edited my infrequent work in the past can attest. But, I do appreciate those with the ability to weave our language in a manner that brings additional insight, more vivid color and soul to the written word.
@dombrowski_chris has masterfully accomplished this with this book. So much so, I feel as though I need find time to spend a day with him sometime in the near future if ever possible.
Thank you for this work Chris, a very cathartic read for me these past couple days, take care out in Big Sky country my friend!
#ewareports #flyfishingwriting #loveourplanet #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #supportseattlesmallbiz #gotthisws #flyfishingbooks
No lies here. Sorta like big trout... #ewareports #flyfishingtravel #russia #kamchatka #rainbowtrout #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #optoutside #loveourplanet #seewhatsoutthere
Moody days.
#ewareports #loveourplanet #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #washingtonflyfishing
Just in, more line caught tuna from our friends @barrettames and Mike @dayboattuna out of Ilwaco. Happy to ship some!
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #supportseattlesmallbiz #gotthisws #tuna #linecaughttuna
Every day, more of these...about $25K. Taking care of our customers just hope @ewaflyshop_seattle is around for them to still be.
#ewareports #supportseattlesmallbiz #gotthisws
A living Sand Dollar. One of the little unique details native to Puget Sound that make guiding it so enjoyable.
Every fishery has these. Try not to pit one against another but rather appreciate each for those details they bring to your engagement.
Every day with them is a win.
#ewareports #thelittlethings #seattleflyfishing #washingtonflyfishing #pugetsoundflyfishing #sanddollar #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #optoutside
Never been more haunted by fish, these in particular, than now. Anyone else feeling this way, anyone? May 4th just took on a whole new meaning here in WA now... #ewareports #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #flyfishingtravel #flyfishingphotography #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #washingtonflyfishing #permitflyfishing #gianttrevallyfishing #jackfamily
Coming soon to a river near you.
#ewareports #flyfishingphotography #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #fishon #socialdistancing #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop
Rigged up some rods yesterday, put my boat on the truck, got into my waders, rowed some grooves in the gravel and pretended I was on the river.
Not really but it’s coming!
#mentallystrong #ewareports #shotgunbeer #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #flyfishingindustrystrong #flyfishingphotograhy
We can easily be so self absorbed in our own lives we forget to empathize with others. Spend a little time today being in someone else’s shoes and the impact of our current situation on them.
The single greatest virtue of traveling as much as I do are the wonderful, thoughtful and loving people whom I may now call friends all around the world.
I KNOW how hard this is for everyone in our industry. My heart bleeds love for all of you and the unsolicited kindness shown is more appreciated than words do justice.
Thank you!
#flyfishingindustrystrong #ewareports #seattleflyfishing #optoutside #loveourplanet #flyfishingtravel #underwaterphotography
One of the many beautiful details from the peak of steelhead season dearly missed right now... #ewareports #skunkcabbage #optoutside #loveourplanet #seattleflyfishing #steelheadflyfishing #seattleflyshop #seewhatsoutthere #supportseattlesmallbiz #gotthisws
Was dreaming of this last night or some iteration of it.
#ewareports #gotthisws #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #supportseattlesmallbiz #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet
Sure love these wild beauties. Going to miss them for awhile it appears but as my good friend Josh @aussieflyfisher just said to me, “People are counting on us to bring the joy, bring the passion, the inspiration.” You couldn’t be more right Josh. These times are rough, in fact they flat out suck but from here forward, only positivity and hope from me to everyone.
Let me know if you need something, stay healthy!
#ewareports #supportseattlesmallbiz #gotthisws #keepfishwet #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #seewhatsoutthere #costa2020 #loveourplanet #optoutside #underwaterphotography #flyfishingphotography
Yee haw, it’s an old fashioned spring trout rodeo on the Yakima with BWO and some Skwala waving flags in front of the livestock!
Photo @bpanico3
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #keepfishwet #optoutside #washingtonflyfishing #trout #loveourplanet #costa2020 #seewhatsoutthere
Under the surface everything continues unknowingly
Rain or shine, still casting at Lincoln Park at 10am tomorrow. Free casting pointers from afar. Everyone on Friday kicked so much butt, can’t wait for another session!
#ewareports #seattleflyfishing #flycasting #flycastinglessons #elvis #seattleflyshop #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet
To those in our industry struggling right now, I am so sorry and I am with you!
I am incredibly fortunate and honored to be able to represent several amazing brands as a member of their Ambassador team.
As such I feel a degree of responsibility to do all I can to assist those struggling in our sport.
I obviously can’t be everywhere at once. However if I can write testimonials for products from companies I am associated with, provide any supportive imagery for promotions or specials to help keep people coming to you and your business, tell me!
All of my images during these pressing times are yours if you think they can help in any way. DM, text, email or whatever and let me know, I will happily share what I can.
#flyfishingindustrystrong
Ghost town...hold on Seattle, we will be fine, just keep panic at arms length!
#ewareports #seattle #seattleflyfishing #optoutside #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet #king5seattle
Don’t always get what you went for but that is why you keep going back. #alwaysajourney #ewareports #keepfishwet #seattleflyfishing #flyfishingphotography #underwaterphotography #optoutside #costa2020 #seewhatsoutthere #loveourplanet
With everyone acting as though we look like this DO NOT forget to be human. Make eye contact, say hello, wish people a nice day and wave! It is as healthy as quarantining, maybe more so!
See everyone tomorrow at 10 for some fly casting at Lincoln Park!
#ewareports #loveourplanet #seewhatsoutthere #socialdistancing #flycasting #flycastinglessons #flycastinginstruction #seattleflyfishing #seattleflyshop #washingtonflyfishing #optoutside
