Things are warming up!
Yakima River:
While we have seen flows fluctuate on the Yakima River due to snowmelt on the Teanaway and periodic reservoir releases, when the water is stable we have seen great fishing on the Yakima! Warmer water temperatures lead to more active fish and bugs! We have begun to see March Browns emerge in afternoon hours as well as some remaining Blue Wing Olives remaining mainly on cloudy days. Skwala Stoneflies have slowly begun to wane, though we are still seeing surface action in the afternoon on adult flies. Fish will continually habituate in faster water lies as water temperatures warm, but generally fishing around seamlines, drop offs, and structure are always good places to start. Finally for insects, we should start to see Salmonfly nymphs migrate into May, so don't be afraid to try larger stonefly nymphs! Otherwise, smolt and sculpin flies can always entice larger fish as well! We will progressively see increased numbers of salmon smolt out-migrate to the saltwater during April/May, which are a great food source for the larger trout. During Spring it is wise to keep an eye on the river flows, as even release from one reservoir and/or snowmelt from the Teanaway drainage can blow the river out this time of year.
For nymphing, Stoneflies #4-10, San-Juan Worms, BWO nymphs #16-18 and Pheasant Tail's #12-14 should be your considerations. For when adults bugs are about, Bullethead Skwalas, CFO Hummer Skwala, Rainbow Brite, and Rio's Skwala will all suffice for surface Skwala's. If BWO's are flying, Purple Haze and Parachute Adam's #16-18, Sparkle Flag BWO #16-18, and Parachute Quill body BWO #16-18 should entice some surface feeders. For when March Browns are hatching, flies to consider are March Brown Adams #12-14, March Brown Cripple's #12-14, and Parachute Adam's #12-14 (and variations). If streamers are your technique of choice, Sculpin patterns are always a good food source for trout, but baitfish/smolt flies will be key as the migration of salmon smolt begins!
Steelhead:
Another Winter Steelhead season has come and gone, as we have seen closures of the Skagit/Sauk fishery and Coastal rivers as well. We hope you were able to get out and swing for steelhead in the beautiful Northwest streams. While we did see rivers close earlier than anticipated, there were still decent numbers of fish being encountered. Now we shift our focus to either the Cowlitz or Kalama for hatchery fish, and soon enough the Desert Rivers will see steelhead returning!
Puget Sound:
The Sound has been having good reports lately, with good numbers of fish being encountered especially in the south sound. So long as we maintain the benign weather the opportunity to find cutthroat roaming the beaches will persist. Wind and rain can lead to challenging fishing conditions, so keep an eye on the weather and go after our cutthroat companions! In the Puget Sound, fly selection isn't the most pertinent variable to consider as the fish have a number of food sources, though for the next month Chum Salmon fry will continue to out-migrate to the saltwater, providing a great food source for the Cutthroat. The key to finding the fish will entail ensuring you are fishing on a moving tide in general, fishing rips and currents, and identifying structure the trout will inhabit! Some fly patterns to consider will be Clouser minnows, Seth's Sand Eel's, shrimp flies, and flat-wing style baitfish. A shop favorite this time of year is the Chumbody's baby!
Eastside Lakes:
The Eastern Washington lakes have been fishing well during the month of April, with lakes ice free and ready to target some trout and bass! As the weather continues to warm we should see a majority of these lakes fish well into May, until we see them get too hot for trout during summer. There is a plethora of still water to fish in Eastern Washington, Quincy Lakes, Dry Falls, Lenice and Nunnally to name a few, and right now is the best time to target trout. Stop by the shop to get some reports and reference on where to go!
Fishing from a float tube or pontoon is the best way to tackle these lakes, as bank access can vary and be inconsistent on many lakes. Tactics should entail trolling streamers like Wooley Buggers and Leeches, as well as baitfish patterns to entice any Browns and Tigers present. Otherwise, chironomid's and balanced leeches under an indicator or slowly retrieved with a midge-tip line can be quite effective for fish keying in on the chironomids. Keep an eye out for Callibaetis and Chironomid hatches as well, which can quickly lure fish to the adult bugs floating on the surface, or just under!
Lake Sammamish:
A great way to spend an afternoon during spring is targeting Cutthroat trout in Lake Sammamish, as they feed on the salmon fry/smolt released from Issaquah Creek. Recently nearly half a million Coho were released and Chinook fry will be released in the beginning of May additionally. Utilizing a floating device to access the lake is the best tool, though fish are generally caught around the mouth of the creek. Come find out more about this unique fishery!
