RiverReports preview · current series loading
Recent flow
RiverReports gauge
Showing the available RiverReports chart while the current structured flow series loads. Check the chart on RiverReports Opens in a new tab.
All Washington reports
Quinault 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 466 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1912-2025, 112 readings) show a typical middle range of 449 cfs to 885 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
- Flow note: the live score now reads USGS 12039500 at Quinault Lake as the official backstop instead of the no-current above-lake station.
- Try
- Use the upper-river gauge to frame the day, then read the actual water at your access point before you rig.
- Leave when
- Skip when storm damage affects roads, rules are uncertain, the river is rising, or the plan blurs upper-river wading with lower-river boat context.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 466 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 56°F
- Next 24h high
- 67.0°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
Cloudy
- Wind
- 0 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Cloudy
National Weather Service
Quinault River near Quinault, Washington
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Quinault River at Quinault Lake
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 Quinault River today.
The Quinault is at its best when the upper-river trend is stable or dropping, valley roads are open, and you have a section-by-section plan above or below the lake rather than a vague all-day roam. If storm damage or rule uncertainty enters the picture, simplify fast.
Stable moderate flow
Best for upper-river wading, nymphing, and realistic bar access.
Storm rise
Wait it out. Valley roads may stay open while the river itself stops being reasonable.
Low clear summer flow
Shift toward stealth and trout or cutthroat-style expectations.
Big autumn water
Good only when the legal target and safe access are both clearly defined.
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.
Wading92/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing92/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
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 Quinault River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Washington before you go.
The Quinault gives anglers a bigger valley and more developed orientation points than the Queets, but it still demands the same discipline about flow, access, and current rules. Use RiverReports for the quick chart, keep USGS 12039380 open for the official backstop above the lake, and check both Washington and Olympic National Park rules before you assume salmon or steelhead opportunity is current.
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.
- Tailout
- A tailout is the shallow, slower water at the lower end of a pool.
- 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 466 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1912-2025, 112 readings) show a typical middle range of 449 cfs to 885 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Salmon timing and changing weather make careful reach planning essential.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 56F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 67F. Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip when storm damage affects roads, rules are uncertain, the river is rising, or the plan blurs upper-river wading with lower-river boat context.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the above-lake gauge as a trend signal, then read the actual water at your access. Stable or dropping flow with open roads is best.
Skip when storm damage affects roads, rules are uncertain, the river is rising, or the plan blurs upper-river wading with lower-river boat context.
Base around Lake Quinault, check current rules and the upper-river trend, then choose an upper-valley bank/wade plan or a clearly separate lower-river option.
Compare Queets for a wilder plan, Hoh for a Highway 101 read, or Bogachiel for easier Forks-area public access.
Quinault 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 Quinault. Reach boundaries, steelhead and salmon rules, and park-specific handling requirements all matter.
Where to access the river
Lake Quinault valley area
The main public orientation zone for roads, ranger information, and day-use access.
Upper river above Quinault Lake
Best fit for the official upper-river gauge used on this page.
North Shore Quinault River Bridge lower-river context
Important boundary for boat-permitted planning.
- Storm damage can affect valley roads and trailheads even when the river looks reasonable on a chart.
- Upper-river and lower-river plans should not be blurred together just because they share the same river name.
- The valley is accessible by Olympic standards, but the river still deserves big-river caution.
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 11 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.
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 Quinault River?
Use USGS 12039500 Quinault River at Quinault Lake as the readable official flow backstop for the score. The older above-lake station did not return current readable discharge during the July 6 review.
Can I fish the Quinault from a boat?
Olympic National Park says fishing from a boat is permitted below the North Shore Quinault River Bridge, so boat plans should stay tied to that lower-river context and current rules.
Why is the Quinault a better fallback than the Queets for many anglers?
Because the valley has more developed orientation points, road information, and public visitor infrastructure, which makes it easier to build a disciplined day without the same level of remoteness.