W. Washington Rivers for Rainbows/Cuts???

[Deandog]

Ok, I'm not really asking for your secret fishing hole...I just need to know generally speaking where to go for trout in Western Washington? I live around Woodinville so somewhat familiar with the salmon around these rivers but what about trout?

I went on a monster drive today, mostly scouting and a little fishing. Checked out these rivers and this is what I thought:
S. Fork Stilly: Too fast, too silty
S. Fork Sauk: couple nice spots but pretty fast overall
Main Sauk: Too fast, too silty
White Chuck River: Too fast, too silty
Suiaittle: Too fast, too silty

I don't know if these rivers have trout in them as I only fished a little on the S. Fork of the Sauk. Nice little meadow but didn't see much of anything. Are these rivers better when the water is lower?

So where does somebody go for some Rainbow or Cuthroat around here? Helppppppp.

[AndyK]

Learn to fish the salt for cutthroat. You can fish year round and you won't have far to drive.

Check with D3smartie; he is the expert!

[Deandog]

How do people fish the salt? From a boat? Beach? Dries? I have a boat and a 5 wt. rod. Learned how to flyfish over in Boise so that'd be completely new to me....am interested though.

[Pinecone]

Yup what AndyK said. Check with D3, he's definatley got saltwater cutt fishing dialed in...

- Joseph

[D3smartie]

Western WA stream fishing is tough. There are some fish in rivers like the Cedar but it is not the greatest. Still some can be had.
The rivers you mention are best for the sea-run cutts late in the summer. Once the rivers drop try fishing stimulators/humpies/caddis or swinging soft hackles(might be suprised by some chrome)
There are resident trout in most of the rivers but they rarely get big unless trapped upstream by blockage. the Elwah has some nice fish but you have to hike to get to them. PM me for some other options in the cascades.
The salt IMO is the best trout fishery in W WA. baitfish patterns like clousers work well and the fish are very eager once you learn where to find them.

[klamathfish]

I grew up out there and about 20 years ago there was nice trout fishing in the Tolt River, Snoqualmie and North Fork Snoqualmie. I don't know what it is like today but it was fun as a kid.

[Dan360]

I live in W. Washington and I haven't found too many great trout streams. Fish tend to be stunted due to lack of nutrition. The Deschutes River in Thurston County has some great fishing for cutthroat. Dry fly fishing and fishing holes with glo-bugs is very productive. I've caught fish up to 14 inches in there, which is as good as I've found anywhere in W. WA. Also, some of the smaller streams in the Mt. St. Helens area have some really spirited but smallish rainbows. Iron Creek is one of my favorites. If you can make the trip, the Yakima River has some nice fish in it. The streams up in the staircase area above Hoodsport also have some fun little fish. I'd fish any of these areas with my little Reddington 8 ft, 3 wt.

Check Chester Allen's outdoor's section and fishing blog in the Olympian newspaper. It is available for free on the internet. His fishing reports have a flyfishing section with reports from a fly guide service that is fairly vague, but dependable.