Born on the glaciers of Mount Rainier, the Puyallup River runs about 45 miles to Tacoma’s Commencement Bay and ranks among the most accessible salmon rivers near Seattle. The lower river is just 35 to 40 minutes away, making it an easy after-work option. Because it’s glacier-fed, though, it can turn high and milky quickly, so checking flows before a trip is essential.
Seattle Fishing Company’s guide shows why fall is the main event. Chinook arrive in August, coho run strong from mid-September through October, and odd years bring huge numbers of pink salmon, drawing some of the region’s biggest crowds. Chum round out the fall, while spring trout, summer steelhead and winter hatchery steelhead offer quieter options the rest of the year.
The guide points to McCutcheon Road between Sumner and McMillin as one of the best bank-fishing stretches, along with Riverside County Park, Highway 162 pullouts and walk-up access near Tacoma via River Road and North Levee Road. You’ll also get go-to tactics for every season, from spinners and spoons to drift-fished corkies and yarn, plus float-fished jigs for steelhead. Arrive early on fall weekends to claim a good spot.
Read the full post here: Fishing the Puyallup River
Complete Guide to Lake Chelan Fishing
