YAKIMA

Probably one of the most consistent springs in a long time.  This is due partly to the stable water we have experienced.  Most of our snow pack is above 4K and with the cooler temps we have been experiencing we just have not seen normal early pushes.  In addition our snow pack is not at 100%.  Thankfully we received some more higher elevation snow over the past week.

PREDOMINANT INSECT HATCHES INCLUDE;
Skwala, Blue Wings, March Browns, Midges, Salmon Flies, Salmon Smolt, Light Caddis

Coming soon;
Mother’s Day Caddis
Green Drakes – Late May

Nymphs
#10-12 Stonefly nymphs   Pats, Double bead Skwalas etc…
#14-18 CDC PT’s, Perdigons, CDC prince, Zebra Midge

Dry flies
#8-12  Unit Skwala, Parachute Madam X, Wersland Big Dog Stone, Chubby’s
#10-18 Royal Parachute,  Purple Haze, Parachute Blue Wings, Sparkle Duns

Clarity Chart
5 feet   Upper Proper  – Easton to Cle Elum River Confluence
6 feet Upper Flatlands – Cle Elum river Confluence e to  State Boat Launch
5 feet Upper Canyon – State Boat Launch to Diversion
5-4 feet Farmlands – Diversion to Ringer
3 feet Lower Canyon –  Ringer to Roza

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UPPER COLUMBIA

As stated in an earlier post, the lake level is as high as we have ever seen it at this time of year.  Typically Lake Roosevelt gets drawn down to 1145 at Grand Coulee.  This year they did not go below 1180.  You would think that would not have an effect on the river where we are as Grand Coulee is 160 miles away from the Upper Columbia where we fish it.  However it does.  Especially  just above and below the bridge in Northport.  Very minimal flow in that area due to the  ‘backup factor’ .  Regardless, upstream of the bridge a 1/2 mile or so the flows become prevalent.

Fishing has been worthy.  Caddis and Blue wings are the predominant bugs.  We start full swing up there in a week.

We have also incorporated another little fishery in our aresenal up in that neck of the woods….here are a few images

PREDOMINANT INSECT HATCHES INCLUDE;
Skwala, Blue Wings, March Browns, Midges, Salmon Flies

Coming soon;
Caddis – Late April
Salmon Smolt – Late April
Salmon Flies – Mid May
Green Drakes – Late May

Nymphs
#10-12 Stonefly nymphs   Pats, Double bead Skwalas etc…
#14-18 CDC PT’s, Perdigons, CDC prince, Zebra Midge

Dry flies
#8-12  Unit Skwala, Parachute Madam X, Wersland Big Dog Stone, Chubby’s
#10-18 Royal Parachute,  Purple Haze, Parachute Blue Wings

Fishing this past week has been fabulous!  End of story.

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YAKIMA RIVER

PREDOMINANT INSECT HATCHES INCLUDE;
Skwala, Blue Wings, March Browns, Midges
Coming soon;
Caddis – Late April
Salmon Smolt – Late April
Salmon Flies – Mid May
Green Drakes – Late May

Nymphs
#10-12 Stonefly nymphs   Pats, Double bead Skwalas etc…
#14-18 CDC PT’s, Perdigons, CDC prince

Dry flies
#8-12  Unit Skwala, Parachute Madam X, Wersland Big Dog Stone, Chubby’s
#10-18 Royal Parachute,  Purplae Haze, Parachute Blue Wings

We are going to see some ups and downs over the next few months until the river stabilizes from spring run-off.  There is going to be some good to great fishing as well as some tough fishing.  Water clarity will be less and less as you go down river.  In fact, there will be some days where the clarity will be fine above the Teanaway river and the Lower Canyon will be unfishable.  As stated earlier, the river will be variable based on the weather, run-off and zone you are in until post run-off.

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Olympic Peninsula

Our 2024 Winter Steelhead season is over and we want to thank all who joined us…It was a good one.   Special fish and special place.  We are starting to fill 2025 already.  Get your dates down for the ’25 season!

YAKIMA

The river just saw a bump in flows and a decrease in clarity due to snow melt from the warmer weather pattern  w just had.  Thge river is on the mend currently and we are looking good.  Between now and stabilization after run-off we are going to see some ups and downs in clarity and flows.  Just the nater of the beast .  Aside form the buglist listed  in the last report….make sure to add Salmon Smolt patterns to your arsenal.  While they are always a good choice….They will definitely be a GREAT choice in a month or so….

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Pretty great season that is almost over……End of story

YAKIMA

Fishing has been goooood.   Everyday is different but overall the catching has been consistent from Upper Flatlands in Cle Elum to the Lower Canyon.

Nymphs
#10-12 Stonefly nymphs   Pats, Double bead Skwalas etc…
#14-18 CDC PT’s, Perdigons, CDC prince

Dry flies
#8-12  Unit Skwala, Parachute Madam X, Wersland Big Dog Stone
#14-18 Royal Parachute,  Purplae Haze, Parachute Blue Wings

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OLYMPIC PENINSULA WINTER STEELHEAD

We have had some great groups and a lot of fun this season. Honestly, the fishing has been fabulous.  We focus mostly on tossing a fly on the swing and it has been rewarding.  In addition, the  days that we have used the fly bobber and conventional bobbers the numbers have been pretty remarkable on a few of those.

The key is to get the fly into the strike zone  quickly and fish likely water.   If you need a heavier line and /or tip , then use it.  I like to have at least 2 rods per angler.  This way you don’t have to rerig all the time.

These aren’t Summer runs.  They will rise for the fly but generally not a long way.   In addition to choosing the right line and tip,   having a variety of flies, weighted and non-weighted is appropriate as well.

Line – Gamechanger F/H1/S3        Tip – 10 feet of T-11
Fly – Weighted Mr T                     River -The Hoh

Line – Skagit Max  Floater              Tip – 10 feet of T-11
Fly- Slightly weighted Nak Special         River – The Bogachiel

YAKIMA

This river is ONFIRE  right now.  There is a reason why this time of year is on the guide favorites.    With this mild weather, the catching is game on.  The average fish at this time of year is legit as well.

recent fly choices

#8-12 Pats Stone
#8-12 Skwala nymphs
#8-12 San Juan Worm
#14-18 Beadheads
#4-8 Streamers – Sparkle Minnows, Sculpzillas etc…

And soon, Very soon…..#10 Adult Skwalas

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Olympic Peninsula

Fishing is good.  The catching has been worthy as well. Every day is different.  Multiple tactics being used…  but of course our favorite it to tossthe two hander for the incredible sea going rainbows.

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PATAGONIA
Absolutely wonderul to return to Patagonia after 23 years.  I spent 95-2002 winters in Patagonia and I figured during that time I fished 52 different rivers/lakes.  Most of the fishing I did back in the 90’s was in Chile.  This winter I co-hosted a trip to Argentina/Patagonia.  It did not disappoint.

Fabulous scenery, accomodations, food, guides and fun!  We will be hosting two groups in 2025 …more to follow.

Happy New year to all.  Hope your time with family and the upcoming new year was and is fulfilling!

Winter had been quite light until recently.  Happy to see this big snowfall we just received.  We need more. I was gone for 5 days from the Steelhead Ranch and when I returned I had to use the Bobcat to dig a trench up the round about to just get to the Ranch house!  When I arrived the snow was at Deck level on the main Ranch house!  (Picture below)

YAKIMA
The river was fishing goooood prior to this COLD snap.  AS things warm up a little she will fish gooood again.  The lower river below Umptanum has been in undated with ice. Some of that will be sure to disapear as things warm a little.

The beautiful thing about winter is the food sources are pared down, the fish are congregated amd the window of feeding is during the warmth of the day.

Winter Bugs
#8-12 Skwala Stonefly Nymphs
#8-12 Pats Stones
#8-12 San Juan worms
#14-18 Beadheads  ….Prince, Perdigon, YB, Hares Ear
#4-8 Streamers …. Sculpzilla, Sparkle Minnow,Sheila Sculpin… Etc…

Remember, just arround the corner we will have Skwala Adults (Somewhere around the end Feb)  Prior to that the Skwalas nymph is key and so is the worm.  In fact that is waht we are using 90 percent of the time when we are nymphing.

Well fed trout!

WINTER STEELHEAD / OLYMPIC PENINSULA
Kinda cold lately but there are fish being caught out on the OP .  We will be  on those  waters from the 15th of Feb until the 1st of April.

Remaining dates…
February
23-27      4 Spots
27 – March 2    2 Spots

March
7-11      2
13-18   4
22-26  6

The Yakima is in GREAT shape and fishing good.  Tough to get people to fish the river at this time.  If you asked most western guides what there favorite time to fish is….many would say from now until run-off.

We refer to  Dec – Feb as  The Other Season

Fly Patterns
#8-12 Skwala Stone Nymphs
#14-20 Bead heads – Princes, Lightning Bugs, Caddis larvae,Midge Pupae
#8-12 San Juan Worms
#4-8  Streamers  Sculpzilla, Sparkle Minnow etc….

Skwala Season is just around the corner – Give us a call at 509.859.2280 or schedule your trip here  

I/We would definitely would like to thank all that came out in 2023 to fish with us!  It was our 35th year of taking anglers fishing.

Again thanks and holiday wishes to you all!

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KLICKITAT

The river definitely requires you to work for your fish. Whether you are swinging or nymphing, putting your time in is needed. This weekend was pretty tough with low air temps at 20 degrees. Encounter rates were definitely  tougher this weekend.

We have some warmer weather coming:))

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YAKIMA

The river is low and clear.  The Blue Wings were prettydang good prior to this cold snap.  Technique requires long leaders, ligh tippet and small flies. Fish were picky but worthy.  The cold snap probably slowed that hatch down a bit.  We do have some warmer weather coming;  more to follow.

Also, the winter rate special starts the 1st of December.

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UPPER COLUMBIA

We shut the lodge down for the season on the 18th of October.  The fall was worthy but a little picky.  The Fall Caddis were light and variable this year. The water was VERY low .  The Upper Columbia is different every day, month and year based on flows, entomology etc.  Truly an anomoly, but we love it.

YAKIMA
Yakima river report from Senior guide Keith – Fishing is VERY good. Dries and nymphing. Crane flies, Baetis, October Caddis. Lots of fish to the fly. On the move and shallow wading. Fish are packing it on with the cooler temps.

Jason Cook with a cutthroat

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KLICKITAT
Steady as she goes.  Working for the fish we get. Lots of Chinook in the river as well. Both nymph and swing tactics have produced.  Fish the way you want, enjoy your day and the scenery.  Amazing watershed.

Russ and Mike!

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UPPER COLUMBIA
Been a little picky lately!  October Caddis seem to be the main fair. The swing game has slowed a bit and the dry fly game is a

Guy Jardine and his grandson Kimball

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KVICHAK
Pretty good season so far…. Swingtastic. Cover water and look for the eaters!

Brer with a noooiiiicccceee Kvichak bow