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YAKIMA, KLICKITAT AND UPPER COLUMBIA REPORT – AUG 24, 2017

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Sorry for the delay…..

YAKIMA
The river is definitely on the drop.  This report is very similar to the last:) We have been fishing Dry / Droppers and the Streamers as an overall rule. As the water drops make sure not to just focus on the banks. Predominant seam lines and prevalent drop-offs will be key, some of which will be mid river.

Up coming bugs include – Craneflies, continued Terrestrials, Salmon spawn, Fall Baetis, October Caddis

Tip of the day – The October Caddis have been and will be migrating in toward shore….They will then seal themselves up in their ‘cocoon’ and hatch in late September.  As they migrate in the can get knocked loose and be available to the trout:))

KLICKITAT
The river is currently in great condition and we have been hooking fish daily….   Water clarity is ranging from 2-3.5 feet depending on time and zone.   Predominant techniques include the bobber and a swung fly:))

NOTE –
1-There is a blockage between Leidl and Stinson
2-One lane boat launch is closed

UPPER COLUMBIA
Fishing kicked off a bit slower than anticipated on the UC for our Fall season.  Regardless, we have seen some nice fish and had some fun.  Nymphs and Dry flies have been the mainstay so far.  Water clarity is at 12 feet…. whoa.

Yakima Fishing
Dave and a UC BOW
Beautiful Bow
Dennis on the Klick with a King
Chase and a Klick buck

 

YAKIMA & KLICKITAT REPORT 8/17/17

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YAKIMA

The river is on a slow drop heading into the flip flop. Dry flies and droppers have been the ticket for us lately with a streamer  mixed in here and there.  Wish I could say there has been one particular nymph hotter than another… but that does not seem to be the case.

KLICKITAT

Working for our fish.   There are definitely some great fish in the system. We have found fish under the bobber and under tension with a swung fly…..Even a skater.  While the numbers are not like 2009,  we are catching steelhead and having fun.

Summer Stonefly
Yakima Bow
Klickitat Steelhead for Craig
Klickitat Steelhead for Craig

KLICKITAT, YAKIMA & UPPER COLUMBIA REPORT 8/7/17

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KLICKITAT
Nice to be back on the Klickitat.  Great watershed. Bonneville numbers are not good….However, the fish trap on the Klickitat is showing slightly less than average numbers which is not a bad stat considering.  The Klickitat, usually gets fish:)

Clarity was 15-20inches this past weekend.  No fish on the swing and a handfull on the nymph.

 

YAKIMA
Clarity….
Upper Proper  5-6 feet
Upper Flatlands 6-7 feet
Upper Canyon 6-7 feet
Farmlands 6-4 feet
Lower Canyon 4 feet

Bugs de jour…
Summer Stones, Caddis, Yellow Mays, Terrestrials

Bugs of the week…
YB soft hackle, Pats Stones, Dave’s Hopper.

Upper Proper is low and a little warm.  From the Cle elum river confluence down the river is at typical big summer flows. Some good Caddis activity here and there.  However, finding nice fish on the Caddis is difficult amid the precocial salmon. Some reasonable fishing otherwise despite the heat.

UPPER COLUMBIA
We will be back on the water for our fall season shortly….

Klickitat – Shorts and Steelhead
Beautiful upstream Yakima Cutthroat
Evening Light

YAKIMA AND KLICKITAT REPORT – 8/3/17

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YAKIMA REPORT

Been awhile since the last report…The Yakima is like any other Western stream in the blazing heat…. A little tough.  Ironically the smoke from the fires add a bit of ‘cover’ and block  the amount of direct light which is an artificial cloud cover.  Hat’s off to all the firefighters out there and hope they get the blazes under control.  Regardless, the mornings and evenings remain the time to be on the water.  Sometimes, the earlier or later, the better.

Bugs of the month – Summer Stones, Caddis,  Cahills, Terrestrials

Rick and Cathy on the Yakima
Rick and Cathy on the Yakima
Rick and Cathy on the Yakima

KLICKITAT REPORT

Current clarity is poor.  However, the overall clarity has been reasonable considering the heat.  Hook ups have been reasonable; landing the fish haS been a challenge:)

Current clarity in Town @ 9AM  – 18 inches
Clarity in Town @ 4PM – 10 inches

Join us at The Two Hander Day Aug 12:)

Tip Tracking   Reasonable video on the importance of tip tracking in the delivery of a two hand cast.