Yakima Reservations and Fly Shop (509) 962-5959 All Other Reservations (509) 859-2280
The Best of Washington Steelhead and Trout Since 1988
The Best of Washington Trout & Steelhead
12 Great Rivers, 4 Cool Lodges & 1 Little Fly Shop
Overnight Packages and Day Trips

YAKIMA & UPPER COLUMBIA REPORT 5/15/23

Posted on

5/15/23

The Yakima above the Teanaway is in good  condition and definitely producing fish.  Every day is different.  Bugs are as listed below.

Clarity Chart (* which can change daily at this time of year)

Upper Proper   3 feet
Upper Flatlands 3 feet
Upper Canyon 3-2 feet
Farmlands 2-1 feet
Lower Canyon 1 foot

BUGS
Salmon Flies
March Browns
Blue Wings
Caddis
Salmon Smolt
Flying Ants

Go to flies would include….

#6 Gypsy King in Orange and Black
#4-6 Sparkle Minnows
#4-8 Pats Stones
#12-16 Bead head CDC Pheasant tails, Lightning bugs, YB’s

_______________________

UPPER COLUMBIA

Fishing goooooooood.  7 feet of visibility. Caddis, Flying Ants, Blue Wings.

YAKIMA UPDATE

Posted on

5/13/23

Clarity Chart (* which can change daily at this time of year)

Upper Proper   3 feet

Upper Flatlands 4 feet

Upper Canyon 4-3 feet

Farmlands 3-2 feet

Lower Canyon 2 feet

 

BUGS

Salmon Flies
March Browns
Blue Wings
Caddis

YAKIMA RIVER 4/30/23

Posted on

 

SHORT AND SWEET….

The Yakima is BYE BYE……Willie Wonka below the Teanaway….From Easton to the Teanaway has about 2 feet of clarity

Caddis, March Browns, Salmon Smolt, Skwala

 

 

Upper Columbia is in GREAT shape.
More to follow.

YAKIMA WATER CLARITY 4/24/23

Posted on

If you are fishing the Yakima… the place to be would be in the Upper Flatlands

Clarity Chart
2.5 Feet    Upper Proper
2.5 Feet    Upper Flatlands
2  Feet   Upper Canyon
2-1  Feet    Farmlands
-1 feet       Lower Canyon

YAKIMA 4/23/23

Posted on

We are going to see some big fluctuations over the next month and a half….One of those fluctuations is starting right now with this warmer weather pattern

Here is the graph for the next week plus….in addition a basic explanation of the river system and the management of it.

 

The Yakima is a managed flow river. From the first of September through the early spring the river flows at a mandatory minimum or more depending on releases related to the Bureau of Reclamation forecasts for influx into the reservoir; this is especially true in the late winter and early spring. During late spring and summer the river flows based on the irrigation needs of the water rights and the need to make room for the snow melt into the reservoir. In a low snow pack year the reservoirs will most likely not ever fill to capacity. In a large snow pack year the reservoirs may fill to capacity and H20 may need to be released to simply make room for more anticipated storage needs. It is basically a strategic guessing game based on stats, upcoming weather and capacity levels. The goal of the B of R is to make sure the reservoirs are as full as possible at the end of run-off as well as to meet mandatory minimum flows for fish habitat. Every year around the first of September the B of R performs what is referred to as the flip flop. This is when the Yakima flows are decreased from the demands of the high irrigation flows of summer to basically the mandatory minimums that have been instated. This lowering of the water is a major benefit to the spawning Chinook Salmon. The lower flows allow the Chinook to propagate successfully.

The Yakima is technically a tail water that is fed by three main reservoirs.. Many tail waters are bottom fed where the Yakima is a combination of both bottom and top water reservoir releases.

Approximately 13 miles downstream from where the Upper Yakima Proper begins at Lake Easton, another dam-controlled river enters the Yakima. This river ( the Cle Elum) originates from a reservoir with the same name approximately 9 miles from the joining. The Cle Elum River contributes most of the water volume to the Yakima River between its confluence and the city of Yakima during the irrigation season. The flows on the Cle Elum River are very low other than during peak irrigation which is from June to September. The chart below shows the incredible fluctuations the Cle Elum River experiences. The inconsistent and major fluctuation in water flows inhibits the biomass of the river. The average flow during Non- irrigation season is 180 CFS and during run-off and prime irrigation season the river flows anywhere from 1800-4500CFS depending on irrigation demands and influx of snow melt into the reservoir. The trout population of the system is certainly less in numbers than the Yakima, due to the inconsistencies yet there are certainly trout in the river.The Cle Elum River feeds the Yakima system and it is a bottom fed dam. Kachees and Keechelus also feed the Yakima system and they too are middle or bottom fed releases yet they both drain into one holding reservoir, Lake Easton. Lake Easton although lake like is not considered a lake but more a wide spot in the river. Lake Easton does feed the Upper Yakima Proper from a top water release and therefore warms with the air temperatures of the season. In the winter it is colder and in the summer it is warmer. One benefit of a true bottom fed tail water is that the water temps are fairly constant throughout the season, providing adequate temperature, in fact prime temperatures for aquatic insect hatches year round. Examples of bottom fed tailwaters would include, The Bighorn, The Missouri, and the Green. The Yakima being a mixture of both is more like a freestone river, fluctuating in temperatures similar to that of a river without a dam. The three main reservoirs that feed the Yakima as mentioned earlier are the Cle Elum, Kachees and Kechelus. Both the Keechelus and Kachees reservoirs are channeled into the Easton Reservoir from which the Upper Yakima proper begins. This is also the point from which the KRD cannel draws a large amount of water for irrigation purposes in the Kittitas valley. Typically the upper Yakima river proper will flow at approximately 350 CFS on average from the Lake Easton reservoir and the water they draw from the Easton reservoir into the KRD cannel during irrigation season will almost match that number! The Upper Yakima Proper before the Cle Elum River confluence is a stretch of river that flows at the most consistent level on a year average as shown in the following graph. Besides during the typical run-off season this particular stretch of the Yakima river flows day in and day out with the most consistent levels.

Much of the snow that melts on the East slope drainage that feed the Yakima is caught in the reservoirs. There are however tributaries below the reservoirs that contribute to the Yakima that will add flows of significance, especially during the spring. The largest of the tributaries is the Teanaway River, which enters the Yakima approximately 10 miles downstream from the Cle Elum River confluence. Typically by the end of summer the Teanaway will be flowing at approximately 20 CFS and yet during spring run-off the Teanaway can flow up to 2,500 CFS. Other tributaries that contribute to the Yakima river below the Teanaway are the Swuak, Tanuem, manastash and Wilson.

The Wilson/Cherry creek tributary enters the Yakima just above the lower canyon and is most certainly a clarity inhibitor much of the year. The Cherry creek drains much of the Kittitas valley’s irrigation canals and usually flows quite a few shades darker than the Yakima. Cherry/ Wilson creek is also a culmination of many of the creeks coming off the north side of the valley on the south slopes of the Colockum  and Nanuem ridge including Coleman, Colockum and the Naneum.  After the confluence of Cherry Creek and the Yakima, the river is quite a bit less clear yet can produce some of the most prolific hatches. Some of the tributaries that contribute to the Yakima above the Teanaway River include, Big and Little Creek as well as Silver Creek.

YAKIMA UPDATE 4/10/23

Posted on

River is on the rise and getting dirty from top to bottom right now…It appears we should see this patterns chang 48 hours from now with a cooling trend and less precipitation.

YAKIMA & UPPER COLUMBIA REPORT 4/8/23

Posted on

YAKIMA

 

Every day is different and every stretch of the river can deal a different card depending on the day.  Fishing has been great. Catching has been average to great depending on the day and zone

The river below the Teanaway confluence bumped a bit based on the precipitation but over all is still in good condition.  Skwalas, Blue Wings, March Browns for the dry fly.

Caddis are just around the corner….Caddis nymphs have been very productive. In addition, Salmon smolt are going to be seriously on the menu in about a month.

Clarity Chart
5 Feet    Upper Proper
6 Feet    Upper Flatlands
6-4  Feet   Upper Canyon
4-3 Feet    Farmlands
3-2 feet  Lower Canyon

Current Hatches
-> Skwala Stones #8-12
-> Winter Stones #14
-> Blue Wing Olives #16
-> March Browns #12-14

Coming Soon … Mothers Day Caddis, Salmon Flies and Salmon Smolt

FLY CHOICEs
#8-12 San Juans
#8-12 Pats Stones
#8-12 Skwala stone nymph renditions
#14-18 Prince nymphs, Lightning Bugs, YB’s
#14-18 CDC Soft hackle PT’s
#4-10 Streamers—Wolley Buggers, Sculpzillas, Sparkle Minnows

 

_______________________________________

UPPER COLUMBIA

This river is very low; Dangerous with a prop if you are not familiar.  Dry flies, streamers, nymphs have all been worthy.  Hatches include Skwalas, Blue Wings and midges.  Gonna be a great season everywhere including this one:))

YAKIMA, UPPER COLUMBIA & OLYMPIC PENINSULA REPORT 3/24/23

Posted on

YAKIMA

Goofy, Good, Spotty fishing. Beautiful and warm recently but a little colder change as of today.  Seeing Skwalas late in the day which is typical. Water bumped 300 cfs down in the Lower Canyon and a little turbid. Down to 2 1/2-3 ft of viz and green. Water temps are good 48+.

Clarity Chart
6 Feet    Upper Proper
7 Feet    Upper Flatlands
7-6  Feet   Upper Canyon
6-4 Feet    Farmlands
2.5 to 3 feet  Lower Canyon

Current Hatches
-> Skwala Stones #8-12
-> Winter Stones #14
-> Blue Wing Olives
-> Midges
-> Amyletus

Coming Soon … March Browns.

FLY CHOICEs
#8-12 San Juans
#8-12 Pats Stones

#8-12 Skwala stone nymph renditions
#14-18 Prince nymphs, Lightning Bugs, Caddis Larva
#18-20 Midge Pupae
#14-18 CDC Soft hackle PT’s

#4-10 Streamers
Wolley Buggers, Sculpzillas, Sparkle Minnows

___________________

UPPER COLUMBIA

Marsha with a beautiful UC trout.

This river is almost the lowest we have ever seen it. As usual, finding fish on the UC can be a challenge and fun in the same breath. Swing and nymph tactics are the approach.

Swinging – Various tips based on depth, flow and mood of the fish. Everything from a light tip to 300 grains and 24 feet.

Hatches – Skwalas and Blue Wings

Once in awhile you get surprised when fishing…

___________________

Olympic Peninsula

Pretty good season on the OP this year… Both for fish and  fun.   We are done ourselves, but there still is a week left out there ….

 

YAKIMA, UPPER COLUMBIA & OLYMPIC PENINSULA 3/11/23

Posted on

Continues to be in great shape!  Skwala stonefly nymphs are definitely active.  Weather has been cold.  Skwala dry fly activity is pretty much non existent at this point.  Need some warmth.

Clarity Chart
6 Feet    Upper Proper
7 Feet    Upper Flatlands
7-6  Feet   Upper Canyon
6-4 Feet    Farmlands
3 feet       Lower Canyon

Watch for days where the water temp warms instead of drops.  If you see a weather pattern that is going to increase the water temp even by 1 degree….That is thumbs up.

This Water temp gage is in the Upper Canyon between Cle Elum and Thorp
Yakima River Water Temps at Horlick

This water temp gage is as it is stated, near Ellensburg.  This particular location is generally the coldest water temp readings on the entire river
Yakima River Water Temps at Ellensburg

FLY CHOICEs
#8-12 San Juans
#8-12 Pats Stones
6mm Whitefish egg
#8-12 Skwala stone nymph renditions
#14-18 Prince nymphs, Lightning Bugs, Caddis Larva
#18-20 Midge Pupae
#14-18 CDC Soft hackle PT’s

#4-10 Streamers
Wolley Buggers, Sculpzillas, Sparkle Minnows,

Short leash nymphing and Nymphal Drift 

____________________________________

UPPER COLUMBIA

This river is in great shape…  A little cold lately. February and March are a great time to swing the Upper Columbia. As with any river during the winter/early spring,  watch for the weather pattern that is at least slightly warming and not dropping for optimal activity.

Line types

Spey – Generally standard Skagits, Scandits, Scandi’s with some long line applications here and there.

Single hand lines- Dry line to 24 feet of 300 grain sink tip. Choice of line and density depends on depth, flow and mood of fish

Fly Choices #2-8 Catch Alls, Buggers, Bow River Buggers, Sparkle Minnows, Sculpzillas

______________________________

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Multiple techniques have proved effective.  The Swing fishing is certainly a favorite but the nymphing has been an effective method as well.

Big flies, small flies, bright flies and dark flies have been worhty on the swing.  Put on what you have faith in and cover likely water.

Steelhead fishing should be a mix of appreciation, anticipation, hard work and results. It generally is.  There are times that the results are not calibrated by how many are fish caught.  Quite frankly, if  how many fish is your measuring stick, I would highly recommend not fishing for steelhead.  However, if you appreciate fishing a piece of water, with whatever technique, surrounded by Hemlock, Alder, Spruce, Cottonwoods, Eagles and an ocean  breeze, then you should be rewarded. Sure, there are times that the numbers of fish can be good, but it is not the norm.  Regardless, fishing has been worthy and working for your fish is part of the equation.  All days are magical, some maybe a little more than others:))