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Cedar River Fishing Report — Renton, Washington
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Yes — worth going.
No single best way to fish. Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Fishing rating94
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 167 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1946-2025, 80 readings) show a typical middle range of 146 cfs to 228 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Seattle's instream-flow management is part of the lower-Cedar story, so level changes are not just rain-driven.
- Try
- Fish from clear public anchors like parks and trail sections instead of improvising private or unsafe bank entries.
- Leave when
- Skip when rain muddies the lower area, warm weather stresses trout, salmon activity makes the water crowded or ethically messy, or public access is unclear.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 167 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 56.8°F · 24h high 59.4°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 61°F
- Next 24h high
- 69.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 12%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 9 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Cedar River at Renton, Washington
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Cedar River at Renton
Water 56.8°F · provisional · 24h high 59.4°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Sculpin PatternsSculpin streamerView fly guide ↗
- Caddis Patterns by Stagecaddis dryView fly guide ↗
- Egg Fly Patternsegg imitation where legal and ethicalView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Late winter to spring
What to look forMidges, stoneflies, and early caddis in cold, clear windows
Summer
What to look forCaddis, pale mayflies, and terrestrials around shaded banks and gravel edges
Early fallThis season
What to look forCaddis and opportunistic baitfish windows around migrating salmon
Late fall to winter
What to look forSparse insect life and short steelhead-friendly windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Cedar River today.
The lower Cedar is a good choice when you want a public-facing Seattle-area river plan and the flow is stable enough to read. It is a poor choice if you want solitude, cool-water certainty, or vague access wandering.
Stable moderate flow
Best for reading seams, fishing clean drifts, and moving safely between public access points.
Rain bump
Can improve fish movement but quickly reduce clarity and tighten wading room along leveed banks.
Warm low flow
Shorten the session, favor early or late light, and release fish quickly.
Heavy seasonal salmon traffic
Treat fish handling and angler spacing as part of the condition report, not as an afterthought.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading, Bank fishing, and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading94/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing94/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Floating94/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Cedar River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Renton, Washington before you go.
This reach is more accessible than Cedar Falls but less forgiving in other ways. Keep RiverReports open for trend context, confirm with USGS 12119000, and plan around public parks and trailheads instead of random bank cuts or salmon-viewing congestion.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Streamer
- A streamer is a fly that looks like a small fish, leech, or other swimming food.
- Terrestrial
- Terrestrials are land insects, such as ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHelps
USGS shows 167 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1946-2025, 80 readings) show a typical middle range of 146 cfs to 228 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Often the most interesting season because salmon context changes the whole river.
Water temperatureHelps
USGS water temperature is about 56.8F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip when rain muddies the lower corridor, warm weather stresses trout, salmon activity makes the water crowded or ethically messy, or public access is unclear.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the Renton gauge with Seattle instream-flow context. Stable or slowly falling water with workable clarity is the best signal.
Skip when rain muddies the lower area, warm weather stresses trout, salmon activity makes the water crowded or ethically messy, or public access is unclear.
Start at Cedar River Park or the Cedar River Trail Park area, read the Renton gauge and current rules, then fish one compact public stretch well.
Move to Middle Fork Snoqualmie for cooler mountain water, Cedar Falls only if the legal public edge is clear, or another Seattle-area river when the lower Cedar is warm or crowded.
Cedar River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check Washington sport fishing rules and emergency changes, then match your trip to the species and seasonal protections in play that day.
Where to access the river
Cedar River Park
A solid public starting point for lower-river orientation and short-session planning.
Cedar River Trail Park
Useful when you want path access and room to scout before stepping in.
Renton trail area
Good for public access, but still pay attention to posted limits and steep banks.
- Renton public parks and trails are the cleanest access anchors on this reach.
- The lower 1.25 miles near downtown Renton is heavily modified and should be treated as an urban safety area first.
- Stay off soft or undercut banks, especially after rain and during high salmon traffic.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 8 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-land sources, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
Where should I start on the Cedar River near Renton?
Start with public parks and trailheads like Cedar River Park or Cedar River Trail Park so you can scout the river without guessing on access.
Is the Renton reach better than the upper Cedar?
It is better for public access, but not automatically better fishing. It fishes more like an urban area and less like a secluded mountain river.
What matters most before a lower Cedar trip?
Check RiverReports, USGS 12119000, public access, rain-driven clarity changes, and whether salmon activity should change your plan.