YAKIMA

Good to see the cooler weather.  The river did it’s normal flip flop and has been dropping in flows as it always has at this time of year. The irrigation demand in the lower valley is being fed by The Tieton system now. The water temps with the river flows lowering were definitely going UP with that hot weather.  The cooler weather is a blessing.

There is a very tight spot from Irene Rinehart to Ringer road since the water has dropped.  The channel just after the pond dike splits and until recently going left was an easy option.  Currently it is not recommended.

Bugs and food include….Craneflies, Hoppers, Summer stones( which are almost over)  October Caddis, Fall Hydro Caddis, Fall Cahills, Baetis, Salmon spawn.

Cranefly dry flies in the  morning have been good; After that the midday nymphing and targeting the oxygenated water with a variety of nymphs has been productive.   The afternoon evening has been reasonable with a bigger bug…. October Caddis.

Remember the fish are not really on many of the banks anymore as the river has dropped significantly.

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UPPER COLUMBIA

Reasonable fishing and should only get better. Swinging bugs and tossing dry flies.   Water temps are at about 63 .  Fish are in great condition.

Hoppers, October Caddis, Ants etc….

#10 Catchall, #8PMX, #

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KLICKITAT

Good fishing and catching when the river is in shape:))

YAKIMA

The river is dropping hard and warming with the hot weather.   Fish are scattering and moving off the banks and to the oxygenated water. Crane flies and summer stones are effective on the surface. Stones, caddis pupa, and small streamers effective subsurface.

KLICKITAT

Recent image when the river came into shape.

That fish was hooked on this fly with 10 feet of T-11

Although one year of better returns isn’t Valhalla, it sure is nice to see some fish in our rivers.  It would also be nice to see management that protects the wild fish in the cold water sanctuary river mouths that enter the Columbia, but what do I know, I am just a guide.

The Klickitat has been pretty darn dirty do to nearly 3 weeks of 95-100 degree temps on the south slopes of Adams.  There have been a few days when the river cleared up with the cooler weather and the fish were happy:)

We will be running our program from about the 20th of Sept to the 20th of Nov this season.  Cooler weather and better clarity will hopefully prevail.

UPPER COLUMBIA

Overall the fishing has been average at best over the last week.  Water is in good condition.   Fish are in great condition, they have just been hard to catch recently. A variety of tactics including the dry fly, a swung fly and nymphing have all produced.