Regulations
The Cedar River was over fished for a while and as a result was closed for fishing for a number of years. The river was reopened in 2004 for limited amounts of time each year. It is now a catch and release only river. You must use barbless hooks, which keep damage to the fish to a minimum. This also makes for more challenging fishing because the fish can more easily escape. A license is required to fish any public river in Washington.
Fish
The main fish in the Cedar River are trout and salmon. The most prevalent trout variety is the steelhead; however, there are cutthroat in the water as well. Winter months provide fewer fishing opportunities because the fish tend to head into Lake Washington. Due to its closing to fishermen for 10 years, there are some large fish in the river if you are willing to take the time to try to catch them. Make sure you have a sturdy rod--they can be as big as 2 feet.
Layout
The Cedar River has some areas that are close to roads and access points, but for the better fishing you must walk away from these popular fishing areas to the more secluded spots. The water tends to be low in the summer, making it easy to wade. Summer is a more active time as the trout and salmon make their way back up the river. The larger fish are typically found in areas that are not easily accessible from the road.
Article Written By Keith Dooley
Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.
