Based in or around Seattle? Love to go fly fishing, or want to try your hand at it? We’ve got some great tips for you!
With the peak of the fly fishing season ending in the middle of November, there is still time left to take advantage of the fall season! Washington state is home to some of the best fly fishing spots in the country, and we’ll share some of them with you.
First of all though, what should someone new to fly fishing take with them?
Essential gear for fly fishing
If you’re a rookie to fly fishing, you can be forgiven if you’re unfamiliar with some of the equipment you might need.
Here’s a quick rundown of the things you will need to take with you in preparation for a fly fishing trip near Seattle:
First of all, you’ll need a quality fly fishing rod. Consider your budget and pick one that fits. Just remember that the budget rods at around $200 don’t usually come with a lifetime warranty, whereas those priced at $500+ probably will. Pay particular attention to reputable companies like Scott or Thomas and Thomas.
Since you’ll be standing in the water when fly fishing, you’ll need a reliable pair of chest waders and a fly fishing vest to keep you warm and dry.
A storage box to keep your bait or ‘flies’ organized.
Some handy Aquaseal UV field adhesive to coat fly line knots, keeping them taut and reliable during your fishing expedition.
Aquaseal FD field repair adhesive to patch up waders
Where to go fly fishing around Seattle
Whether you’d love to catch a trout, Chinook salmon or Steelhead, here are a few spots that tend to be great for fly fishing year-round:
Puget Sound. This is a great area of wide open bays and inlets, running from Bellingham to Olympia. In fact, the Olympia Peninsula provides a barrier from salty ocean waters running too freely into the bays. However, the presence of some saltwater makes for an array of salmon and trout without the violent coastal waves. One of the best fish to catch at Puget Sound is the Coho salmon, which can come in at up to 18 inches and 15 pounds.
Yakima River. Famed for trout fishing and open year-round, this is one of the best open waterways in Washington. Lower sections of the river can even provide a great chance to catch smallmouth bass and channel catfish. You can even find Chinook salmon in these parts of the river if they are abundant in that particular year.
Skagit River. Another river that is well-known locally for its abundance of trout, the Skagit River is great for fly fishing until October 31st. Find rainbow trout and bull trout here.
Snoqualmie River. Just an hour’s drive from Seattle, the Snoqualmie River is a great opportunity for steelhead, salmon and sea-run cutthroat. Above the Snoqualmie Falls is where you will find an abundance of trout throughout the summer, where you can fish without restrictions until October 31st.