Fly Fishing in Seattle: A Hidden Gem
Seattle is a beautiful city, renowned for its great coffee, progressive music scene, and as the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies. It’s also famous for its rain and being surrounded by water, which naturally attracts fly fishers.
While the steelhead runs on well-known rivers like the Skykomish are well-documented, there are many lesser-known opportunities close to Pike Place Market that are often overlooked. If you’re willing to explore beyond trout and steelhead, you can enjoy year-round fishing in this major metropolitan area—just don’t forget your raincoat!
Sammamish River
Flowing through downtown Redmond, the Sammamish River has been transformed from a straight, unattractive channel into a more natural, meandering waterway connecting Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington. This river is teeming with smallmouth bass and has a seasonally decent population of cutthroat trout.
Seattle Beaches
The beaches around Seattle are known for excellent sea-run cutthroat fishing. Some of the most productive beaches in Puget Sound are within Seattle city limits, offering great opportunities for urban anglers.
Green Lake
Green Lake is another urban favorite, home to smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and brown trout. The relatively new sport of fly fishing for carp is also gaining popularity here—look for tailing carp.
The Arboretum
Grab a paddle craft and explore the arboretum. You can rent a canoe from the University of Washington and fling poppers wherever it looks bassy; you won’t have to paddle far to find good spots.
Cedar River
The Cedar River has been a management challenge for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), but when it is open, it offers excellent trout fishing. The river is managed to protect sockeye and steelhead and fishes differently from its opening in June to its closing around September 1. Big streamers are always a good bet. Move upriver as the season progresses and fish deeper as the season moves on. After the sockeye arrive, fish below them with egg patterns. The trout can be quite large, sometimes exceeding 20 inches.
Public Beaches
Finally, Alki Beach, Golden Gardens and Discovery Park all offer easy access to sea-run cutthroat trout, which can be found close to shore. Look for likely spots such as structure, run-offs after rain, bird activity, or mottled sea floors where baitfish school. Sea-run cutthroat are not overly particular; most baitfish imitations work well. Other species, including salmon, can also be targeted when in season.
Call to Action: Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Seattle offers a wealth of fly fishing opportunities. Grab your gear, explore these urban fishing spots, and experience the thrill of catching fish in the heart of the city. Happy fishing! 🎣
