PNW places to fish in Spring(March/April/May)?

J

JeffRaines

Smolt
I’m not necessarily looking for exact areas, but some general ideas. I’m already getting cabin fever and while I’m getting out when and where I can, I know by March I’m gonna be champing at the bit to get out and do something more than just hit local waters.

My initial thought is the upper Deschutes once it opens - I’ve never been there before and it would probably make a cool family trip… but then again I’ve never made a fishing trip this time of year at all so I’m open to suggestions.

Yes, I’ve never fished the salmon fly hatch, nor skwala or any spring hatches. I keep hearing about how awesome the fishing can be - if I can find a place to jet over with the kids for 4 days or so and make a camping/fishing trip out of it - GREAT! Cold doesn’t matter as I have a wood stove. My daughter is getting her first fly rod for Christmas too so Im sure she’s gonna want to get out sooner rather than later haha.

If anyone has any suggestions - broad suggestions are fine - that would be great. Thanks guys!
 
March: *cough* steelhead, both hatchery and any wild rivers left open. Puget Sound SRC can be about and if so hungry as heck.

April/May: practically all lakes and creeks open on the west side! The ease of trout availability after lake stocking can make for some great memories for new fishers. Blue lines that run to the salt are good places to start too and tributaries for small water fun.

Yakima can have some fun dry fly action, along with other cascade central rivers that house resident populations of trout if you are willing to travel a little way.

*btw upper Deschutes near the Warehouser gates house some nice thick cutties.
 
May/June is prime tiger musky time....unless you don't like the idea of 4' toothy predators that chomp on 10" flies right in front of you....😉

Also, hitting the stonefly hatch before the actual hatch can produce some of the best nymphing without the insane crowds once the bugs pop out.
 
Divad said:
March: *cough* steelhead, both hatchery and any wild rivers left open. Puget Sound SRC can be about and if so hungry as heck.

April/May: practically all lakes and creeks open on the west side! The ease of trout availability after lake stocking can make for some great memories for new fishers. Blue lines that run to the salt are good places to start too and tributaries for small water fun.

Yakima can have some fun dry fly action, along with other cascade central rivers that house resident populations of trout if you are willing to travel a little way.

*btw upper Deschutes near the Warehouser gates house some nice thick cutties.
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The mothers day hatch on the Yak can be a lot of fun. Hit it right and the bugs get thick.
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Josh said:
LOTS of hungry bass that time of year.

I know it's not what a lot of folks think of for a "fly fishing vacation". But bass are badass...
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Oh yeah, forgot about that!!!!!

Lots of fat prespawn smallies.
 
That's usually high water season for rivers, but fortunately the lakes are opening and stocked. Just check the regs, different lakes have different opening dates starting 3/1, or April dates.
 
Not sure about your kiddos but the attention span and patience of younger ones can be short lived especially when fishing is not spectacular. Something you may want to take into account. Side activities and something to eat helps along the way too...
 
RCF said:
Not sure about your kiddos but the attention span and patience of younger ones can be short lived especially when fishing is not spectacular. Something you may want to take into account. Side activities and something to eat helps along the way too...
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Oh absolutely. It would be my wife, me, my daughter(who’s 6) and my son which will be 2 then so yeah, definitely understand that.

As far as locations - I’m not against traveling out of state. I have three out of state trips planned for the summer(Montana, Idaho and Wyoming) so I’ve got zero problem adding a 4th… in fact, in my original post the Deschutes I was referring to was the big D down in Oregon. I’m always game for a Montana trip!

Thanks for the suggestions so far!
 
I like to hit the Yakima in February and March... need a plan B, but if you're schedule is flexible it can be great.. hit a bluebird day, it will be cold or not.. I've had some great days in February and March on the Yakima. Could hit Rocky Ford too as a Plan B.

For April, if you're prepared MT is fun! No school kids and families.. I did the Bitterroot for 5 days, floating with 4 other guys and we camped in tents! It was a blast and the fishing was awesome!. Mid to late April.. by then Eastern WA lakes may open up..

Like you I want to do the Deschutes in OR.. for me though, if its too cold or whatever, I would head down to Bend and into wine country.. I live a very rough life! Ha!

Cheers!
Bill
 
Last year’s pre-runoff fishing in N. Idaho was spectacular. We had one big spike in early March (lasted about 4-5 days) and then it was smooth sailing all the way up to early June. We have a TON of snow already but who knows how the rest of winter will go.
 
Good time to fish the ponds created by the rip rap of the highway and the railroad tracks along the Columbia, they tend to warm faster than the main river. Sometimes March is good. But April and May are always good, wind can be an issue though.
 
MELinOre said:
What do you consider the "upper Deschutes" in Oregon?
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According to sources online, it seems the section up near Little Lava down to around wickiup. I’m a smaller water junky. This doesn’t mean I wouldn’t check out areas further downstream while I was up there.
 
You have done your homework well!

From the 2023 ODFW Fishing Regulations;
Benham Falls to Little Lava Lake
• Open May 22 - Sep 30.
• 2 trout per day, 8 inch minimum length
• Wild rainbow trout must be released.
 
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