Snoqualmie River, WA


Weather and Flows Links

Fly Fishing the Snoqualmie River

Whatever your targeted fish, you can find opportunities on the Snoqualmie within an hour’s drive of downtown Seattle. Although it is technically the same river that flows from the top of Snoqualmie Pass down along I-90 to the Sound, the 2 main sections are separated by Snoqualmie Falls, an impassable barrier for upriver fish. Above the falls, you’ll find enough trout-filled water to explore for a lifetime of perfect summer days. You’ll also discover the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie, a fly-fishing only section of river with spectacular scenery. Below the Falls, the river is similar to our other west-side watersheds, with opportunities for steelhead, salmon and sea-run cutthroat.


When is the Snoqualmie River Open to Fishing?
  • Fishing regulations are subject to emergency closures and they change from year to year, so before you go, know what you are fishing for and always check the regs: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/. Feel free to give us a ring with questions. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
  • The Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie is open year round. It’s managed under catch-and-release, selective gear regulations, which means single, barbless hooks. Either use specialized, barbless hooks to tie your flies or make sure you crimp and file your barbs. You can fish up to 3 flies. All trout must be released.
  • Targeting trout from Snoqualmie Falls upstream, including the north and south forks, the Snoqualmie is generally open from the Saturday before Memorial Day until October 31st. From November 1st until the first Saturday in June, those waters change to catch-and-release only with selective gear rules.
  • Targeting steelhead from the confluence with the Skykomish near Monroe to the boat ramp at Plum access near the town of Snoqualmie, the Snoqualmie river is generally open from June 1st until January 31st, and from the boat ramp at Plum access to the falls from June 1st until February 15th.
  • Targeting steelhead from the confluence with the Skykomish near Monroe to the boat ramp at Plum access near the town of Snoqualmie, the Snoqualmie river is generally open from September 1st until December 31st.

Snoqualmie River Sections

The lower river is heavily diked and flows through low-gradient farmland. Riffled water is few and far between and this section is best fished by boaters who can easily motor through the significant stretches of slow, slough-like water. The second section runs from Carnation upstream to the falls. This stretch is considerably faster and has less slow sections. The walk in access is good and from the falls to Fall City there are a number of good runs and riffles for the fly angler.

Snoqualmie Falls

present an upstream barrier for anadromous fish, so there are no salmon and steelhead above them. Instead, native rainbows and westslope cutthroat make a living in all 3 forks of the river. With year-round access, the middle fork generally offers the most consistent trout fishing.

Above the Falls

The forks of of the Snoqualmie above the falls are open year-round for rainbow and westslope cutthroat trout fishing. Year round is relative, however, as higher flows render the fishing on any of the forks difficult. Snoqualmie fork fish average 8 - 9 in. and a large fish would be 12 in. long. A few larger fish exist, but anything over 12 in. should be considered a trophy!

Below the Falls

The Snoqualmie opens in June to a reduced run of hatchery steelhead. During August, sea-run cutthroat, silver salmon and pink salmon (in odd years) begin their ascent of the Snoqualmie making September a month where an angler could catch 4 different species of fish in the same day. With heavy rains in the winter, the first hatchery winter steelhead appear and fly anglers flock to the river to chase these chrome fish. The hatchery run peaks in December and early January, and the river closes at the end of January to protect the spawning fish.


When are the Best Times to Fly Fish the Snoqualmie?
  • Summertime on the Middle Fork or South Fork Excellent dry fly fishing for rainbow trout and west-slope cutts in a truly spectacular setting
  • September and October for Sea-Run Cutthroat Chasing cutthroat during the fall, especially in the lower stretches of the river, can be extremely exciting
  • Wintertime for Hatchery and Wild Steelhead Hatchery fish with a small mix of wild fish available before the closure

Tips on Fishing the Snoqualmie

A gem of an urban fishery, the best time to fish the Snoqualmie is when you can clear your schedule and go. Once you are on the eastside of Lake Washington, getting to fishable water is quick and easy.

  • For those learning to spey cast, the Snoqulmie below the falls around Fall City offers great foot access and fly-friendly water
  • Flows below 1,000 C.F.S. on the Middle Fork concentrate the fish a bit more and allow for predominately dry fly fishing. These fish are eager as none of the forks is particularly food rich, so a well-presented dry fly generally produces interest from a majority of the fish. Nymphing small beadheads can also be deadly, especially during early summer flows. By and large, the fish of the forks are not overly selective with fly choice.

Guiding and Expert Instruction
A guide can take years off the learning curve. The best way to experience the Snoqualmie is during a full-day float of the lower river, or during a full-day walk-and-wade trip to one of the forks. We also offer steelhead schools and spey-casting instruction.

Recommended Equipment


Trout in the Upper Forks

  • 3-weight medium- to fast-action for small dry flies
    •   Shop Favorite: CF Burkheimer 389-4 Presentation
  • 4 –weight medium- to fast-action for small dry flies
    and small nymphs
    •   Shop Favorite: R.L. Winston Tom Morgan Favorite 480-2
  • 5- weight fast-action for nymphs and big dry flies
    •   Shop Favorite: Scott 905-4 G-Series
  • 6-weight-fast action for streamers
    •   Shop Favorite: Sage Trout LL 690-4

  • Floating line for dry flies and nymphs
    •   Shop Favorite: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout
Sea-Run Cutthroat in Lower River

  • 5- weight fast-action for nymphs and big dry flies
    •   Shop Favorite: Scott 905-4 G-Series
  • 6-weight-fast action for streamers
    •   Shop Favorite: Sage Trout LL 690-4

  • Floating line for dry flies and nymphs
    •   Shop Favorite: Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout
  • Sink tip line for streamers
    •   Shop Favorite: Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Sink Tip
Steelhead rods for the Lower River

  • Rods under 12 ft. 6 in. – “Switch” Rods
    •   Shop Favorite: CF Burkheimer 7117-4 Presentation
  • Rods over 12 ft. 6 in. for lower sections
    • Summer   Shop Favorite: CF Burkheimer 7127-4 Presentation
    • Winter   Shop Favorite: CF Burkheimer 8139-4 Presentation
Steelhead lines for the Lower River

  • Skagit-style shooting heads (Winter)
    •   -Airflo Skagit Driver Shooting Head
    •   -Rio Skagit Max Shooting Head
    •   -Rio Switch Chucker Shooting Head (Switch Rods)
  • Scandi-Style shooting heads and mid-length spey lines (Summer)
    •   -Airflo Scandi Long Shooting Head
    •   -Airflo Rage Shooting Head
    •   -Nexcast Fall Favorite 45’
  • Running Line
    •   -Rio Connect Core Metered Shooting Line .032"
    •   -Airflo Miracle Braid
    •   -OPST Lazar Line
  • Sink tips in varying lengths and densities (Winter and Early Summer)
    •   -10ft Rio MOW tips in t-8, t-11 and t-14.
    •   -12ft OPST tips 132 gn riffle, run, and bucket.
    •   -15ft Rio replacement tips Type III, Type VI and Type VIII.

Recommended Flies


Resident Trout

Dries
    • Royal Wulff 12 – 16
    • Humpy 12 – 16
    • Stimulator 8 - 16
    • Elk Hair Caddis 12 – 18
    • Parachute Adams 12 – 16
    • Flying Ants 14 - 18
    • Beetles 14 - 18
    • Grasshoppers 10 - 16
Nymphs
    • BH Hare’s Ear 10 - 16
    • Prince Nymph 10 - 16
    • Lightening Bug 14 – 18
    • San Juan Worm 12 - 16
Streamers
  • Sculpzilla in Olive or Black
  • Sheila Sculpin
  • Wolly Bugger
    Olive/Brown/Black
Sea-Run Cutthroat

Flashy baitfish streamers
    • Skiddish Smolt
    • Bull baby
    • Pinhead
Attractor streamers
    • Rolled muddler
    • Borden Special
    • Spiders and reverse spiders
      Orange, Yellow and Black
Dry Flies
  • October Caddis
  • Saltwater Deer Hair Popper
Steelhead & Salmon

Winter Steelhead
    • Howell’s Signature Intruder
    • Jumbo Critter
    • Bantam
    • Morrish Trailer Trash
    • Bjorn Stinger Prawn
    • Hickman’s Fish Taco
    • Hobo Spey
    • General practicioner (prawn flies)
    • Marabou flies
Summer Steelhead
    • Coal Car
    • Max Canyon
    • Bennett’s Last Light
    • Bennett’s Halo
    • Spades
    • Freight Train
    • Whaka Blonde
    • Green-butt Skunk
    • Skykomish Sunrise
    • Purple Peril
    • Harwick’s Silent Assasin
Steelhead dries
  • LeMire’s Caddis
  • SkaOpper
  • BC Bomber
Salmon (Coho, Pink, Chum) flies
  • Comets in
    pink, purple, chartreuse
  • Bunny-strip flies
    black, purple and chartreuse
  • Egg-sucking leeches
    purple and black
  • Starlight leech
    purple and black