Robert and Nikolai with a great UC Trout

We are in the middle of the Upper Columbia Drake Hatch.  Everyday is different.  We have seen some great fish lately with some ‘nice ones’ eating the large Mayflies.  Nymphing during the day continues to be a bit unpredictable….However, definitely has produced.  A variety of of typical Caddis and Mayfly nymphs have been productive but

The Kettle river is dropping fast in volume and has fished avg to good based on the day…..Predominant bugs used lately fall into the terrestrial category with a #8 ‘Foam Bug’ winning the contest.  Streamers have been ‘not so good’ lately with the bright sun and heat.

Bailey with a classic Kettle Redside

We definitely have our summer flows now on the Yakima.  The fishing has been ‘pretty darn’ good considering the heat.  The big flow doesn’t pose a problem as long as it is reasonably stable.

Bugs of the Week

Hopper Stone - Tan   # 6    Super Chernobyl - Pink # 8
Chernobyl-CFO Ant - Flesh #8

Copper John - Black #12  FB Pheasant Tail # 12-14 
Lightning Bug - Pearl # 12-14 
CDC Pheasant Tail # 12-14

We recommend using nymphs one size bigger than usual because of
the high flows. One of our best dropper nymphs this week has been

a #12 black Copper John simulating a Green Drake or small 
Stonefly nymph.

Hatching this week :
Summer Stones
Yellow Sally's
Caddis
PMD's
Hoppers , Ants

The Yakima has been good to great fishing recently.  With the first full moon phase timed with the kick off of the Summer Stones the fishing has been CONSISTENT throughout.  The morning and the evening game has been good with the dry fly while the day time best with the nymph.

Best nymphs lately include the Pat’s Stone and a variety of Caddis Pupa.

Upper Columbia fishing during the day has been unpredictable and definitely not much dry fly fishing.  The evenings,  while not always predictable, have been pretty darn good recently with the drake hatch….sometimes shorter then we would like, but nonetheless pretty cool.  In addition to the drakes we have Caddis, Yellow Mays and Baetis.

TOUGH CONDITIONS  currently on the Klickitat with minimal visibility if any at all.  Prior to the heat wave we manged to have some great fishing.   There are definitely fish throughout the system, both Steelhead and Chinook.  We will keep you posted here in our new blog report format as conditions change.

Some of our favorite fly choices recently are shown below here…

Here are some recent fish catching videos prior to the river going off color….