Cutthroat Season is Winding Down, but Excitement is Just Beginning!

As we find ourselves in late September, here at Spawn Fly Fish, we're reflecting on the cutthroat season that's nearly behind us in the local rivers we love to fish. But just because the rivers are slowing down (for cutthroat) doesn’t mean the excitement is over—Puget Sound is gearing up for another incredible winter of cutthroat fishing!

Down here in Southwest Washington, as the rain begins to fall, we know what that means: salmon are on their way. Soon, they’ll be pouring into our rivers in large numbers, offering incredible opportunities to land big fish on the fly. If you’ve been watching the bays, you’ve probably seen them rolling, jumping, and smashing bait, but as the rivers rise, they’ll make their way into all of our local systems. It’s the start of something special, but it also marks the end of the prime season for targeting cutthroat in our local rivers.

Sure, the cutthroat are still around, and occasionally you’ll run into one, but it’s time to retire the 4wt for now. When the salmon push in with such force, they tend to crowd out the cutthroat, making it harder for them to chase down flies. Whether they can’t see your fly because of all the salmon, a coho snatches it up first, or they’re just tucked away in hiding, it’s clear that the cutthroat fishing takes a backseat.

But while the local rivers slow down for cutthroat, Puget Sound is just heating up. October and November are some of the best months for cutthroat in the Sound, and we can’t wait to head north to where Spawn Fly Fish began to chase after this amazing species. The crisp fall air, the beautiful Puget Sound waters, and the thrill of targeting cutthroat make it our favorite time of year to fish this incredible region.

So, while we say goodbye to another cutthroat season in our local rivers, we're excited for what's ahead. If you’re like us and itching for more, grab your gear and get ready for some of the best cutthroat fishing the Sound has to offer!