Washington winters are usually cold, damp, and lakes and ponds on the east side often frozen solid. It isn’t the type of weather most people associate with fly fishing.
That doesn’t stop many hardy and brave fly fishers from hitting the water though. Despite the nasty weather Washington still offers a lot of fly fishing opportunities if you are willing to endure the cold temps and often unpleasant weather. The upside is you will probably have the rivers and lakes to yourself if you do decide to venture out.
Is it harder to catch trout on a fly rod during hot summer days or during icy winter days? Honestly, I don’t know for sure, but my guess is winter simply because a lot of the good trout lakes in Washington State are closed from the end of October until Opening Day, usually in late March or early April. Iced-up guides and hypothermia-inducing temps are never fun to fish in either.
Though catching trout on a fly rod in the wintertime in Washington State can be tough, it isn’t impossible. There are many lakes that are open all year and they often hold good populations of trout. Rivers, especially on the west side of Washington aren’t a good choice for trout usually, but Spring Creeks in Eastern Washington can be great alternatives. Though trout aren’t as common there are still salmon at least until November and Steelhead well into February depending on the river.