If you are looking for pictures of fish, check out my Trout and Salmon  Page

A Cascade Mountain Stream in Washington

Me with a residene coho from the South Sound.

FLY TYING/ FLY PATTERNS

YAKIMA RIVER

The Yakima River is one of the finest trout streams in the state, and has the ability to produce some very nice fish.

Lake Lenore

Fly Fishing Destinations

Washington Fly Fishing Summary:  For the most part, Western Washington does not hold the type quality of a trout fishery as what is offered to the east of the Cascade Mountains.  Although there are a few spots that provide quality resident trout fishing, most of Western Washington's fishing is for anadromous fish, such as salmon, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat.  During late summer and fall when the oceangoing salmon return anglers have a chance at catching a truly large fish with Chinook in the 10 -20lb range and Coho between 4 -8lb range.  Western Washington does have a good number of lowland lake that do provide some good trout and bass fishing, but the best stillwater fishing in Washington tends to be east of the Cascade Mountains in the desert lakes.  The Yakima River is Washington's premier blue ribbon trout stream and produces some bigger rainbows and westslope cutthroat.  The Cascade and Olympic Mountains also provide some quality trout fishing options, but many of these spots are in areas beyond the reach of roads, so you should be prepared for a little bit of hiking. Another good Western Washington fly fishing option that should not be over looked, is fishing the salt water.  Salt water fly fishing can be done year round, and gives anglers the opportunity to fish for several species of salmon, steelhead, sea-run cutthroat, perch, and rockfish along with a number other species of fish.  The best fishing tends to be in either the morning or evening, but success is usually dependant on the tide as well.

FLY FISHING PAGE

The Yakima River is a Blue Ribbon trout stream located in Central Washington.  It is within an easy driving distance of Washington's metropolitan areas, and is great fly fishing destination.  It provides an opportunity to fish for Rainbow trout, Cutthroat (Westslope), and Brook trout in the upper reaches.  The lower sections of the river also offer a good smallmouth bass fishery.

Lake Lenore is located in the Eastern Washington desert, just north of the town of Soap Lake, and contains some very large Lahontan Cutthroat.  Fishing on this lake tends to be best during the spring when the Cutthroat are looking for places to spawn near shore.  Fishing at this lake can be very crowded on weekends so don't expect solitude.

Powder River

The Powder River is located in Eastern Oregon, and flows from the Blue Mountains through the Sumpter valley and into the Snake River.  This river is managed as a put-and-take fishery, and is loaded with small rainbow trout and a few steelhead.

My Other Pages Home Page Fly Tying Trout and Salmon Hiking Page Wildlife Pictures Trips Site Map

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park encompasses a huge trout infested region in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and is a fly fisherman's paradise.

Rocky Ford Creek

Rocky Ford is a spring fed creek located in the Eastern Washington desert, not far from both Moses Lake and Ephrata.  This is a very popular fishing spot, and can be quite crowded at times.  The creek is catch and release fly fishing only and there is no wading allowed.

Local Fishing Options   1.  Fishing for Coastal Cutthroat and Resident Coho in the Puget Sound is always a good option. 2.  Salmon fishing can be great from late August through mid December for pinks, chum and coho. 3.  There are many mountain lakes and streams in both the Olympics and Cascades that provide good trout fishing spring through fall.  Most lakes are open year round, but streams are only open June 1st to November 1st, snow is a factor that must always be considered. 5.   The Yakima is always a good choice but is best for wading in the spring and fall.

Puget Sound The Puget Sound has over a thousand miles of shoreline, and can offer solitude and excellent fishing at times.  Numerous species of fish populate the Sound, including steelhead, five species of pacific salmon, plus the occasional Atlantic salmon escapee, sea-run bull trout and sea-run Coastal Cutthroat.  This page concentrates on fishing for sea-run Cutthroat and Resident Coho Salmon in the South Sound as they are typically the most sought after by fly fisherman.

Olympic and Cascade Mountain Alpine Lakes The Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges are dotted hundreds of lakes, holding a wide variety of trout from native rainbows and cutthroat to introduced brook, brown and golden trout.  Anglers who are willing to do a little exploring will find some great fishing in some of the world's most scenic terrain.