Washington Forecast for May

By Scott Richmond

Washington Rivers in General

What to Expect in May:

Trout. It's runoff season, so watch the river levels via Westfly. If you see a sudden large increase, you can figure fishing is going to be poor on that river until the flows stabilize or drop significantly. If the flows are only up a little and the river is slightly colored, trout anglers will do best with nymphs, and those nymphs will usually work best when drifted near the bank. When in doubt, call a local fly shop and check with them.

Tributaries and small streams often clear faster than the big rivers that they feed, and you can sometimes find good fishing in a trib when the mainstem is blown-out.

Trout will be taking drifting salmonfly and golden stonefly nymphs on rivers that host populations of these mega-size insects. The key to effective nymph fishing is to get your fly to the bottom. Spilt shot, beadhead, extra weight under the body dubbing--whatever it takes and is still legal. If you aren't losing a few nymphs, you're not doing it right.

Salmonfly nymphs are most active at dawn and dusk, so that's when they are most likely to get knocked loose and drift in the current--and when trout will be waiting for them. But that doesn't mean you can't catch fish all day, either. It just tells you when you'll probably do best. Fish below riffles, among boulder fields, and through drop-offs. Kaufmanns Stoneflies, Rocky Nymphs, Rubber Legs--they all work.

By mid-month, adult salmonflies will start to hatch. The key to the hatch is water temperature. When it gets to around 53 degrees, the nymphs begin crawling to shore in earnest. Once out of the water, the adult emerges from the nymph, dries its wings, and flies to streamside vegetation where it utters the insect equivalent of "Hey, Baby, Baby." In their relentless pursuit of the opposite sex, adult stoneflies often fall or are blown out of the trees, land in the water, and are devoured by trout.

So if you cast a MacSalmon, Clarks Stonefly, Low Ball Stonefly, or Stimulator near shore and just downstream or downwind from overhanging vegetation--especially in the afternoon when the bugs and the wind are at their most active--you may catch a fish.

Note that just because the adult salmonflies are out, it doesn't mean trout are taking them yet. Trout are creatures of habit and they can be slow to make the switch from nymphs to adults.

One hint: if you buy your salmonfly flies, buy them early because the fly shops only stock-up once and won't re-order until next year. If you wait too long all you'll find are empty bins or flies that are the wrong size, pattern, etc.

By late May a few rivers will see some green drakes, but this is not a big hatch in the Northwest. Hatches of this large insect usually occur in early afternoon. The bug is big enough to catch the interest of trout, both before and during a hatch. Before the hatch, a Poxyback Green Drake can catch trout when drifted through a run with a slow to moderate current. This fly has a shiny back, based on the fact that top of the thorax of most mayflies gets shiny just as it is ready to emerge. Use this fly before the hatch. During the hatch, use the Green Drake Paradrake or Green Drake Cripple. Wait until a trout rises to a natural insect so you know where it is lying, then cast to that fish. Blind casting will only put the trout down.

Pale evening duns can make an appearance on some rivers. A Light Cahill is a good fly to use during the midday hatches.

You can still find an occasional blue-winged olive on some streams. These late bloomers tend to be big (for a blue-winged olive). A few size 16 and 18 Parachute Baetis, olive Sparkle Duns, or Baetis Cripples should be in your fly box.

Caddis continue to be important. Many rivers have populations of green caddis (genus Rhyacophila) and spotted caddis (genus Hydropsyche). Try a Sparkle Larva or Czech Nymph in size 14. The larvae often drift in the current and are taken by trout.

Grannoms (genus Brachycentrus), the "Mother's Day Caddis," are important on some rivers. Use a Sparkle Pupa or Deep Sparkle Pupa with a green body and a tan shroud before and during the hatch. Dead drift it near the bottom, then let it swing up to the surface. If you see trout feeding consistently just subsurface or making splashy rises, cast a Sparkle Pupa upstream-and-across and let it drift drag-free just under the surface.

With caddis fly patterns, "close" is usually good enough, so you only need a couple of fly patterns; just vary the color and size to match the natural insects. For a dry, an Elk Hair Caddis, Deer Hair Caddis, Casanova Caddis, X Caddis, or similar pattern works in these combinations:

1. Green rock worm: size 12-14; dark olive body, gray wing
2. Spotted caddis: size 12-14; brown to tan body, tan wing
3. Saddle-case caddis: size 18-20; tan body, dark wing
4. Grannom: size 12-16; olive body, tan or cream wing
5. Weedy Water: size 16-18; dark olive body, dark wing

Many caddis species lay eggs by swimming or crawling underwater, and they are often taken by trout. Use a wet fly such as a Soft Hackle or a Diving Caddis in the sizes listed above for adults; caddis get darker when ready to lay eggs, so use darker versions of the listed colors.

Trout and steelhead have been spawning in many rivers, so if you're wading over gravelly areas or see small rocky spots that are "cleaner" than their surroundings, you're probably on a redd. Get off it, and don't fish in that area. Spawners need their rest.

Also, this is the time of year that salmon and steelhead smolts migrate to sea. They congregate in backeddies, below riffles, and near shore. They're suckers for a dry fly or anything near the surface. If you're catching a bunch of 5-8 inch "trout" that are shiny and silvery and maybe have the adipose fin clipped off, you're into smolts. Move on and fish another area. They are likely to be damaged by your fly, whether it's barbless or not.

Steelhead. Steelheaders will find few options as Peninsula rivers remain closed for steelhead and trout fishing this month (open for salmon) and most Puget Sound rivers are closed. That leaves a handful of southwest Washington rivers, such as the Kalama, East Fork Lewis, and Washougal.

Washington Lakes in General

What to Expect in May:

Early in the month, most of the action is going to come from midges and streamers, with Callibaetis hatches on some lakes.

Damselfly nymphs are becoming active, and imitations should be increasingly productive in May; it takes wamer water to get these slender bugs moving. Good patterns include Dougs Damsel, Marabou Damsel, and Approximate Damsel. Work the flies on a slow retrieve, slow troll, or strip-pause retrieve (2 inch, 2 second pulls; 2 second pause). Use an intermediate line and a leader of at least 9 feet. Weedbeds and shallow areas are productive spots.

When fishing with Woolly Buggers and other streamers, remember that the colder the water, the slower you should present the fly. Keep your fly near the bottom in water that is less than eight or ten feet deep; retrieve it very slowly. Another spring streamer strategy is wind drifting.

During a midge hatch, the static midge tactic works well, and sometimes a Griffiths Gnat will take trout feeding off the surface. If the hatch is during the bright part of the day, however, you may do better with the deep midge tactic because trout can be reluctant to come to the surface. Check the water for midge shucks; they can give you clues to the size and color of the pupa pattern to tie on.

On the eastside, the large size 10-12 midges will be hatching. Trout can be very selective on this bug when they're available. Match them with a black-bodied pupa pattern with white ribbing. The fly needs to be slender.

Many lakes should see regular hatches of Callibaetis mayflies this month. During a hatch, cast a size 14 Callibaetis Cripple (my favorite), Parachute Adams, or Sparkle Dun. Before the hatch--and even during it, especially if there's a wind--a slowly-retrieved Flashback Pheasant Tail or Flashback Callibaetis is very effective. In my experience, a flashback fly is three times more effective than its Flashabou-less version during a Callibaetis hatch.

If you're fishing a lake where the ice is receding, a good strategy is to cast a midge pupa to the edge of the ice sheet. This works well because midge pupae will rise the surface and hit the ice. Then they'll wriggle out to where there is open water. This concentrates food along the edge of the ice sheet, and that is where feeding trout will be looking for a meal.

Be prepared for sudden weather changes and storms when fishing a lake in the spring.

Amber Lake

What to Expect in May:

Waterboatmen and midges are still available. Evening midge activity should be good (and getting better). Fish a pupa pattern about two feet below the surface. Black midge patterns (size 12-16) are a good fly choice. Olive leeches and Jim Beams are other good choices. Damselfly nymphs should be active when the weather warms up a little more. Cruise around until you find some weed beds; that's were the trout are.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Amber Lake report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Bogachiel River

What to Expect in May:

Closed except for salmon fishing.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Bogachiel River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Calawah River

What to Expect in May:

Closed except for salmon fishing.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Calawah River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Chopaka Lake

What to Expect in May:

Chopaka offers Callibaetis hatches this month. Size 14-16 Callibaetis Cripples, gray Comparaduns, and Sparkle Duns will take trout from the surface, and flashback Pheasant Tails or Flashback Callibaetis nymphs will fool fish when presented just below the surface with a slow retrieve.

Midges, of course, will also be a factor, and hatches could occur at any time. When no hatch is in progress, try the deep midge tactic or drag a leech or Woolly Bugger through the depths. Black midge patterns and Blood Midges should definitely be in your fly box. A vertical retrieve can be effective with those patterns.

This is not a small lake, so a small boat or pontoon boat will let you cover more water than if you brought a float tube.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Chopaka Lake report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Dry Falls Lake

What to Expect in May:

Try black leeches when it is dark, olive leeches when it is bright, dark green midges whenever, size 10 black-with-white-ribbing slender midge pupas, size 18-20 olive midge pupas--they should all work. Scuds are another option.

As the weather warms up, damselfly nymphs will be more effective. Callibaetis will be hatching this month. Bring size 14-16 Callibaetis Cripples, gray Sparkle Duns, or Parachute Adams. You might spot a spinner fall in the morning, but most hatches will start after noon. Nymphs can be productive starting a couple of hours before the hatch, so try a Flashback Callibaetis or Flashback Pheasant Tail. Retrieve that nymph so slowly that it drives you crazy with frustration--until you feel that sticky resistance that means you just fooled another trout.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Dry Falls Lake report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Hoh River

What to Expect in May:

Closed except for salmon fishing.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Hoh River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Kalama River

What to Expect in May:

This month the Kalama will be dominated by gear anglers seeking chinook salmon. Fly anglers might be more comfortable on the East Fork Lewis or the Washougal.

In addition to the chinook, the Kalama will have early summer run steelhead this month. There aren't very many steelhead, but you're in for a thrill if you hook one. Carry dark patterns, such as black or purple Marabous, General Practitioners, or Bunny Leeches. Swing them slowly on a sink-tip line if the water is high and cold (under 52 degrees). Use a floating line if the water is lower and warmer. If you're not getting results, try a flashier color, such as orange or hot pink. The lower five miles, from the Red Barn to the mouth, is the best place at this time. Just remember that you're going to be competing with salmon-crazed gear anglers.

The fly-fishing-only water in the upper Kalama is closed this month.

The Kalama is subject to blow-outs due to storms or snowmelt, and there is no gage on the river. Use the East Fork Lewis as a surrogate; the Kalama clears a couple of days after the East Fork.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Kalama River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Klickitat River

What to Expect in May:

Only the lower river is open: from the mouth to 400 feet above the #5 fishway; only certain days of the week are open. This is not fly fishing water.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Klickitat River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Lake Lenore

What to Expect in May:

The lake's big Lahontan cutthroat will spread out this month. For some that's bad news; the fish aren't all packed into one acre of the north end. But for anglers who abhor crowds and don't mind searching a bit, this is good news. Leeches and midges will take trout if you can find them.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Lake Lenore report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Lenice, Nunnally, Merry Lakes

What to Expect in May:

These lakes will continue to please anglers through May. The parking lots can be busy on weekends, but the Lenice and Nunnally are big enough for anglers to spread out. You can find fish anywhere.

Midges continue to provide much of the action this month. The deep midge tactic with size 10-12 black (with white ribbing) midge pupa patterns can be productive midday. Your fly needs to be as thin as a supermodel. When the trout are on this midge species, they can be very very selective. And they've seen enough anglers that they are getting wary.

If you're having trouble picking up fish, lengthen your leader. If nine feet isn't enough, go to 12. If that doesn't do it, go to 15. And keep going until you can't cast it any more.

Callibaetis are hatching, so carry size 14 Callibaetis Cripples and gray or pale brown Sparkle Duns or Parachute Adams. Before the hatch, trout will often take a size 14 Flashback Pheasant Tail when it is slowly retrieved. I mean really, really slowly retrieved. Work the areas near weeds beds and shoreline tules, or anywhere you see rising trout. Sometimes trout will be more receptive to the nymph during the hatch than to the adults, especially if the wind is blowing a little. I think that's because it's easier for them to spot the nymph and because the wind can make your dry fly drag unnaturally.

Damselfly nymphs are coming into their own; see Three Keys to Effective Damselflies. Warmer water will get the slender ladies moving, and you can do well retrieving a Dougs Damsel, Marabou Damsel, or similar pattern. The standard damselfly retrieve is to pull two inches of line in two seconds, pause two seconds, then repeat. Use an intermediate line; damselfly nymphs move in the top inch or so of water. That said, you can do pretty well just trolling a damsel nymph as you slowly and steadily kick around the lake in your float tube. But fishing writers don't like to talk about stuff that's that simple.

Keep a weather eye out; the wind can whip these lakes into a froth.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Lenice, Nunnally, Merry Lakes report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Lewis River, East Fork

What to Expect in May:

The lower river is open and is in good shape at this writing. A few early summer-run steelhead are in the river, but not too many. More will arrive as the month progresses. Early in the month you'll still need your sink-tip line and some big black or purple Woolly Buggers, Marabous, or Steelhead Bunnies. If those flies don't do the trick, switch to hot pink or orange.

The East Fork clears quickly after a rain, so if a storm blows in, hit the river after it leaves. The spring runoff is usually not a problem here. Fishing pressure is light at this time.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Lewis River, East Fork report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Merrill Lake

What to Expect in May:

Expect water into the willows. That creates an opportunity for fishing alderfly patterns. Most fly anglers don't recognize an alderfly. It looks like a big black caddis, but it doesn't have hairy wings. And the bug pays for being so un-hirsute: it slowly sinks when it hits the water. A black Soft Hackle will work for an imitation. Cast it near the willows and hang on while it slowly imitates the Titanic. Astute anglers will realize that they might need a heavier-than-usual tippet if they hook an 18-20 inch brown trout among submerged willow branches.

The lake can be cold from runoff, so look for hatches of midges and carry streamer patterns. The latter will probably do best when fished slowly and deeply.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Merrill Lake report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Queets River

What to Expect in May:

Closed in May.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Queets River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Rocky Ford Creek

What to Expect in May:

Rocky Fork offers good fishing in May, with Callibaetis and blue-winged olives hatching all month, and maybe some damselflies by the end of the month. For the Callibaetis, try size 14-16 Callibaetis Cripples and Sparkle Duns. A size 18 olive Sparkle Dun, Baetis Cripple or Parachute Baetis should work for the blue-winged olives.

A size 8 damselfly nymph, such as Dougs Damsel or a Marabou Damsel, is also a good choice this month. Late in the month there might be some adult damselflies around. If so, try a size 6 Braided Butt Damsel or equivalent; adult damsel patterns don't always entice trout, but when it works it's pretty cool.

Olive scuds, Brassies, flashback Pheasant Tail nymphs, and Hares Ear nymphs are good sub-surface choices. Small scuds, about size 16, work best at this time of year.

You might see some caddis this month. If so, try size 16 Sparkle Pupas in the afternoon and early evening; fish them on a dead drift just below the surface if you see swirls from feeding trout.

Watch for rattlesnakes and take precautions against ticks. After a day of fishing, do a strip search for the latter. You can find them anywhere, but be especially attentive to any folds of flesh or hairy places, and your back. Carry a tick removal kit and know how to use it.

This isn't a big water, and you may encounter crowded conditions on the weekend.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Rocky Ford Creek report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Skagit River

What to Expect in May:

Closed in May.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Skagit River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Skykomish River

What to Expect in May:

Closed in May.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Skykomish River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Snoqualmie Basin

What to Expect in May:

Wait until the water warms up a bit before heading over here.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Snoqualmie Basin report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Sol Duc River

What to Expect in May:

The lower Sol Duc is open. You may also run into some searun cutthroat.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Sol Duc River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Spokane River

What to Expect in May:

The Spokane is a poor prospect in May due to runoff conditions.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Spokane River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Stillaguamish Basin

What to Expect in May:

Closed.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Stillaguamish Basin report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Yakima River

What to Expect in May:

Early in the month you might encounter sporadic hatches of March browns above Ringer. Grannom caddis could be hatching in the canyon; the hatch spreads quickly into the upper river. Take size 12-14 Elk Hair Caddis, X Caddis, Casanova Caddis, or other dry patterns with you. Other caddis may be present, too, so carry some size 16-18 peacock-bodied flies. Net Builders, Green Rock Worms, Deep Sparkle Pupas, CDC Czech Nymphs, and Sparkle Larvas can evoke strikes when fished near the bottom.

If there's a caddis hatch you'll see subsurface swirls, with trout occasionally breaking the surface or even leaping clear of the water; also, there will be no sign of insects on the surface. That's the time to tie on a Sparkle Pupa. Dead-drift it just below the surface, or use a wet-fly swing.

Salmonfly nymphs are also a good fly choice most of the month. The adults don't usually they don' show up until last half of the month, and even then it can take a week for trout to start looking up. But the nymphs should work all month. A Kaufmanns Stonefly, Rubber Legs, or Rocky Nymph imitates the nymphal form of the stones; if you're not dredging the bottom, you're not fishing right. If adults are present, cast a size 4 orange Stimulator, MacSalmon, Low Ball Stonefly, or Clarks Stonefly in the afternoons. See Fishing the Salmonfly Hatchfor tips.

The salmonflies will be followed by golden stoneflies, but you may not see many of those in May.

Pale morning duns are another hatch you can expect this month.

Early in the month you may encounter some blue-winged olives, but trout will probably have switched to the caddis. Still, be prepared for a BWO hatch; watch carefully to see if trout are actually taking the blue-wings.

Salmon smolts are migrating, and that means streamer patterns can be effective, especially in slower sections such as above Roza.

As we get into the irrigation season, flows in the Yakima will increase. It's a feature of the river that the heavier flows are on the road side of the river in the canyon. Also, the bank is steep through most of the canyon. That's a combination that makes it tricky and sometimes dangerous to wade when the flows are over 2,000 cfs on the Umtanum gage. Boaters shouldn't have a problem, but waders need to take care.

Watch out for spawning trout and don't walk through or anchor on redds.

For current conditions and hatches, see the report page.

For more on May tactics and flies, see the Lakes in General report. See the Yakima River report for current conditions, hatches, guides, and other information.

Northeast Region

What to Expect in May:

Williams and West Medical lakes are good early season choices. Be prepared for midge hatches. You're fishing for brown trout, not rainbows, and the browns favor low light. Evening is your best time; fish right up to dark, or even in the dark. Try a Timberline Emerger during the low light times.

McGuiness Lake's brook trout will take red midge patterns, such as a Bloody Mary or Blood Midge. The lake is on the reservation, so you need a special permit.

Coffee Pot Lake is worth a look. Soft Hackles with a peacock herl body can be productive. Size 14-16 black midges fished with the deep midge tactic can also work well; sometimes a vertical retrieve works when nothing else will.

Sprauge Lake is a good spot to cast poppers for bluegill.

Crab Creek is another good bet. Size 16-18 Parachute Adams and blue-winged olives are a good choice.

Northwest Region

What to Expect in May:

Pass Lake has fair fishing at this time of year. Midges are especially effective, but streamers and occasionally Callibaetis patterns are also useful.

Lone Lake is another prospect. Look for migrating damselfly nymphs, Callibaetis hatches, and midge hatches.

Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend is heavily stocked. Recently planted trout are surface-oriented, so a dry fly can be productive even when there's no hatch. Since the concrete tanks they were raised in are shallow, most stocked trout will be in the top five feet of water until they realize there's a lot more water under their fins.

Peninsula Region

What to Expect in May:

Some lakes to try at the Opener are Gibbs, Ludlow, Horseshoe, and Tarboo.

Puget Sound

What to Expect in May:

Resident coho and sea-run cutts are available this month. Look for cutts in Puget Sound estuaries and in Hood Canal near Hoodsport. Most fish will be near river mouths because they are spawners that are dropping back to the saltwater. Expect these early fish to be skinny because they haven't had much to feed on yet. As the month wears on, the sea-runs will fatten-up because they are gobbling fry as they travel downriver. Mylar Candlefish or small chartreuse/white, blue/white, or pink/white Clouser Minnows work well. Dolly Varden are also in the estuary areas and can be picked up on the same flies as sea-runs.

Anglers fishing near the Tacoma Narrows and Purdy area should have good beach fishing for sea-runs.

Chum fry are an abundant prey at this time of year. Chum fry can be imitated with green-bodied streamer patterns about two-and-a-half inches long. Unlike other salmon species, chum fry go to the saltwater estuaries for rearing, rather than staying in freshwater. So sea runs and dollies chow-down on them at this time of year. A good strategy is to focus on the mouths of rivers that have strong chum salmon runs.

Another May prey is surf perch babies. Surf perch give birth to live young that are around an inch long and very silvery. The body is deep-bellied but thin.