Good morning guys, I’m new to the area and am looking forward to getting into the water. I grew up fishing in Michigan on rivers like the Au Sable and Pete Marquette, which are clear and fairly slow moving compared to the streams I’ve seen here so far. Can anyone point me towards similar type small streams out here? Without, of course, giving up any secret spots. I’m more than willing to put time behind the wheel and in the water, but I’ve got no idea where to even start. I do want to stay the hell away from the salmon runs and the combat fishing that seems to come with it. I’ve searched around but haven’t seen any posts that talk about the types of rivers I like to (or kind of know how to) fish.
Stream Fishing
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Not a ton of that here. Rocky Ford creek is slow and sort of clear and has lots of fish. It's not secluded. It's a good time of year to start getting acquainted with the Yakima River. At low flows there are more slow sections. Also, start thinking about lakes for trout, and what kind of floating device you'll use to access them.
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There's a million zillion streams. The upper mid stretches of almost any Cascade river will have stretches of slower moving, clear water. A lot of the larger creeks will be similar, though obviously smaller and holding fewer fish (though usually more exclusive, more wild, and more fun!).
Get on Google Maps, start looking for Cascade rivers that have waterfalls on them, and look above the falls. There's two reasons for this: One, the slower, clearer water is usually up there somewhere; and 2, it gets you away from salmon and steelhead smolts.
One of the major issues you'll be facing as a WA fly angler is getting yourself out of juvenile salmon/steelhead water and into actual trout water. Easiest way to do that is to basically never bother fishing below falls. Well, until you get to the upper Columbia watersheds but that's for another day, I think.
Get on Google Maps, start looking for Cascade rivers that have waterfalls on them, and look above the falls. There's two reasons for this: One, the slower, clearer water is usually up there somewhere; and 2, it gets you away from salmon and steelhead smolts.
One of the major issues you'll be facing as a WA fly angler is getting yourself out of juvenile salmon/steelhead water and into actual trout water. Easiest way to do that is to basically never bother fishing below falls. Well, until you get to the upper Columbia watersheds but that's for another day, I think.
I'm I. Puyallup, but willing to go pretty much anywhere.
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Welcome aboard mate.
Winter time is a good time to fish the warm ditch (Rocky Ford).
I live in Wenatchee, let me know when ya want to fish RF and I'll meet ya
Winter time is a good time to fish the warm ditch (Rocky Ford).
I live in Wenatchee, let me know when ya want to fish RF and I'll meet ya
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1,048 Posts
*not secluded on the weekend.
I've had the whole creek to myself on a weekday. Rocky Ford is a great start for stream fishing. Even if you aren't catching it's entertaining to watch the trout feed and push each other around all day. Going there Monday if you want to check it out.
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I am new to the area too (Seattle based), and have had good experiences exploring the Snoqualmie middle fork, plenty of spots to try. Seems to be generally small water at the moment (I assume that will change winter/spring) - so much so that I have been pondering a 3wt instead of the 5
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There's always a couple u'rubes way upon the 'ford
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