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All Washington reports
Queets River
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating92
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 505 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1931-2025, 71 readings) show a typical middle range of 493 cfs to 1,080 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 recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Olympic National Park's fishing page and rule documents are critical because the Queets has had conservation-driven closures and special handling requirements.
- Try
- Decide whether you are fishing the lower river or simply verifying whether the day is worth continuing.
- Leave when
- Skip when the graph is rising, road or trail conditions are uncertain, park or WDFW rules are unclear, or the plan requires aggressive wading.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 505 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 59°F
- Next 24h high
- 65.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 1%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Cloudy
- Wind
- 1 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Queets River near Clearwater, Washington
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Queets River near Clearwater
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter
What to look forSparse midges, stonefly nymph activity, egg windows around salmon and steelhead water
Spring
What to look forSkwala-style stoneflies, March browns, caddis, streamer windows in dropping flow
Summer
What to look forCaddis, small mayflies, terrestrials on softer edges and side channels
Flies to try
Also try hopper-dropper
FallThis season
What to look forCaddis, October caddis, eggs, and baitfish-style streamer windows around salmon traffic
Flies to try
Also try October caddis dry, flesh fly
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Queets River today.
The Queets is strongest when the graph is stable or dropping, the access road and park area are in shape, and you already know whether you are planning a cautious lower-river wade or a lower-river boat day. If any of those pieces are fuzzy, move on.
Stable green flow
The only time the Queets starts to feel predictable enough for a real fishing plan.
High and pushy
A no-go for most bank anglers and a serious risk even for experienced boaters.
Low clear water
Fish quieter water and expect a more technical, less romantic day.
Storm cycle
The wrong moment to drive in unless you are scouting and ready to leave.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Floating have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading92/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating92/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Full river report
Is Queets River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Washington before you go.
The Queets is one of the wildest rivers in the lower 48, and it fishes like it. Use RiverReports for the quick trend, keep USGS 12040500 open for the official backstop, and verify Olympic National Park rules before you invest the drive. A good Queets day starts with honest flow and access judgment, not with the hope that a famous name will somehow fish itself.
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.
- Technical fishing
- Technical fishing means the fish are hard to fool, so careful casts and natural drifts matter.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Dry-dropper
- A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the 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 505 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1931-2025, 71 readings) show a typical middle range of 493 cfs to 1,080 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Salmon timing and conservation sensitivity both intensify.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 59F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 65F. Mostly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip when the graph is rising, road or trail conditions are uncertain, park or WDFW rules are unclear, or the plan requires aggressive wading.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the Clearwater gauge with road, rule, and weather checks. Green, stable, or dropping water is the only time the Queets starts to feel predictable.
Skip when the graph is rising, road or trail conditions are uncertain, park or WDFW rules are unclear, or the plan requires aggressive wading.
Commit to one lower-river access plan, fish a short controlled session, and leave enough daylight to turn around early.
Move to Quinault for a less remote Olympic valley, Hoh for a more familiar Highway 101 read, or Bogachiel for easier Forks-area access.
Queets 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, current emergency rule changes, and Olympic National Park rules before fishing the Queets. Conservation closures, protected species, and section-by-section rules can change the day completely.
Where to access the river
Queets park area near Clearwater
Primary orientation point for road access, weather, and flow decisions.
Lower river below Tshletshy Creek
Boat-permitted context according to park guidance.
Queets area day-use and trail area
Useful for scouting the valley and reading conditions before committing.
- The Queets is remote enough that a mediocre plan can become a bad day faster than on a more developed river.
- Road and weather conditions matter as much as the hydrograph.
- Remote access is not the same thing as safe access. Choose shorter lower-river plans before bigger ambitions.
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 10 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.
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 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.
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.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
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.
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
What gauge should I check for the Queets River?
Use RiverReports for the quick view and keep USGS 12040500 near Clearwater open as the official backup when you decide whether the lower river is stable enough to fish.
Is the Queets a good beginner steelhead river?
Usually no. It is remote, large, and punishment-oriented when flow or access is even slightly off, so it is a better river for disciplined planning than for a first blind steelhead drive.
Can I boat the Queets?
Olympic National Park says fishing from a boat is permitted below Tshletshy Creek, which gives lower-river boaters a defined rule framework but not an automatic green light on unsafe flows.