YAKIMA – UPDATE !!!!

YAKIMA

WINTER STEELHEAD

Some thoughts on winter steelhead….

Winter steelhead fishing requires

1- Arduous patience
2-Systematic approach of likely water based on water conditions
Heads and tails in high water
Guts of the run in low and clear

3-Proper lines choice for the run based on depth and flow

I like 4 rods rigged-
7.5 feet of T-14 on a Standard Skagit
10 feet of T-8 on a Rage
10 feet of T-11 to 14 on a Gamechanger or FIST
15 feet 0f T-11 on a Standard Skagit

4-Reasonable fly rendition based on clarity / weighted vs unweighted

5-Sharp hooks

6-Positive thoughts:)))

YAKIMA

Currently fishing good depending on the day  Look for the days that are 28 at night and 38 during the day…or there about:)

Lower Lower Canyon is blocked out with ice.

Streamers, Stoneflies, Caddis larvae and Midge Pupae

Guides choices include Mini Sex Dungeon,  Pats Stone #10 in olive brown, Formerly Known as Prince # 14, Green Caddis Larve # 14, Hot head Larve #18-20, San Juan Worms #12

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Overall the fishing has been worthy.  Again, a variety of lines are the ticket based on depth and flow.

We have used everything from 7.5 ft of T-11 on standard Skagits  to Game Changers and Fists with T-14.

Silver Bow Crew

Pete and TMoen

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Winter Steelhead
Well Snowmagedden has not stopped the fishing/catching….It has stopped the people, understandably. The glacial rivers have been the place to be lately with everything been low and clear otherwise.

A variety of lines have been applicable lately…

Standard Skagit
Intermediate Skagit
The Gamechanger
The FIST
Nexcast 55

YAKIMA

Winter  Trout
A little rough lately… overall . Lower river is pretty much froze over.  Farmlands and upstream would be the place to be – Less ice.  Often times the numbers of fish are limited in these conditions…..But some big ones can be had; especially on streamers.

Prior to this cold snap the fishing was goooood….Should be great once she warms up a bit.

Take advantage of our 10th annual SKWALA SPECIAL

Lower river image  2/13/19

UPPER COLUMBIA

Winter Trout
A little rough overall ….. stay home for now. Prior to the cold snap, the fishing was gooooood.

To take advantage of our Fish and Stay
Now until May 25

Special Call/Text Jack @ 509.859.2280

There are many methods to fishing nymphs. More often than not I opt for a shallow nymph approach.

The old rule of thumb …….. “fish 1 1/2 times the water depth below your indicator”  has not proven to be a great technique in my repertoire.

Assuming you as an angler are able to fish slack line drifts, shallow nymphing can be very effective. Throughout the year, all rivers experience nymphal drift. Nymphal drift can be caused by a few factors. For example, water level changes or optimal temperatures for nymph maturity and emergence. What this all boils down to is that nymphs are consistently drifting in the water column.

Often times the water may be 4-5 feet deep yet I will fish at only 2-3 feet deep below an indicator. Certainly, one advantage of this is less bottom hang-ups. The other advantage is of course the replication of nymphal drift.

I have noticed that During peak bug activity/migration or emergence, the shallower, the better. Remember Stoneflies  migrate to shore to emerge.  They are terrible swimmers that frequently get knocked loose from there position and  ‘tumble’ through the water column trying to gain position again.

Shallow Water Nymphing – Try it some time, you won’t be disappointed.

YAKIMA REPORT

Water is low and predictable.  Clarity is at its best.  Hot bugs lately include…

1-A variety of San Juan Worms ….The possibilities are endless with San Juans.  Color combos to inlcue but not limited to 

Red, Red and Pink, Pink, Brown and Red, Wine, Wine and Brown, Orange, Ornge and Brown, Brown

….With beads or without.  #6 -14

2-Green Caddis larvae #14-16

3-Stoneflies; Here again, the possibilities are endless. However, you can’t go wrong with the Pat’s Stone.  Currently I would suggest #8-12 in Brown, Brown and Black or Olive. 

4- #16-20 Brassies

5- #14-16 Pheasant Tails and Lightning Bugs.

6-#4 to 10 Streamers – possibilities are endless here as well – Favorites for retrieving and swinging include; Sculpzilla, JJ Buggers, Dali LLama, Thin Mint, Sheila, Pat’s stone

Every day is different but fishing has been good lately.  The best of the day is generally during the warmth….  11-3

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

We have been kicking into gear with some day trips lately.  Busier, for sure, just around the corner.

Fishing has been reasonable. Both hatchery and wild fish.  Levels have been all over the board, which is actually good:)

Favorite Swing stuff would include
2-7 inches in Black and Blue, Red and Black, Purple and Pink, Pink, etc, depending on the river and conditions,

Favorite nymph patterns would include but not limited to
Yarn, Worms, Jigs and Beads

We have a couple Fish and Stay packages left, otherwise quite full at The Quinault Cabin.  if you are looking for an overnighter with us, call soon.  As far as day trips go, we can often fit you in.

UPPER COLUMBIA

Two main tactics right now would include retrieving and swinging bugs,  Oh darn:)  A variety of streamers and water types can be productive.  In addition, a variety of sink head rates can be helpful based on depth, flow and mood of the fish.

I have been a bit lazy when it comes to reports.  Will try to be a little more current as this new year progresses.  Honestly, we haven’t been on the water much….Kind of nice. Mid December until mid January is usually slow, understandably.  Just around the corner,  we are going to be REAL BUSY:)

HIGHLIGHTS…

Pre spawn rainbows are at their peak prior to the ritual and as with any western stream, The Yakima and Upper Columbia are no exception.

Healthy hungry fish with limited food sources due to the colder temperatures can make for some great fishing.

The Yakima

Like a broken record for 25 plus years – Some GREAT  fishing from now until April.  Quite frankly, assuming February is not arctic weather, Feb can be amazing.

If you feel like swinging the fly on the Yakima with little two handers, give us a jingle as we have been tuned into that game since 1994:) In addition, the nymphing can be automatic:))

The Upper Columbia 

One word,  Swingtastic:))

 The Olympic Peninsula

The 2019 season is just kicking into gear  for us…   If you are learning about the two hander it is very important to have a balanced rod.   Recently I read a synopsis by Rober Meiser on balancing  your equipment… The following probably is the best written analysis I have seen;

YAKIMA

Fishing at this time of year can be good.  We have been promoting this time of year, ‘Kinda like a broken record’ since ’92,  when they opened the river up year round.   Overall the promotions really haven’t worked because the river is for the most part empty:)  Maybe that is a good thing.

Water temps   36-40 depending on time and one
Water clarity   6-8 feet

To learn more 

WINTER STEELHEAD

Some hatchery fish and a few wild fish showing up here and there.  We have not been on the water chasing steelhead much at all recently, but we will be soon!

For our Fish and Stay availability starting Feb 7 – link here

Our day trips are available now until April 15

UPPER COLUMBIA

Some reasonable streamer fishing recently ….  Big Streamers and a variety of sink rates based on depth and flow.

Water temps are 38-40 degress
Clarity is 8-10 feet

Take advantage of our early season SPECIAL.  Also we have a few prime time Drake dates and Fall dates left:)))

The last day of the season on the Klickitat was ‘kinda magical’ especially for a year that dealt a tough hand.  Maybe the fish knew it was their last day to bit an artificial?  I don’t know why but they were happy:))

Best fly – The Blue Fox

YAKIMA

The Yakima is low and clear throughout.  Not much dry fly fishing to be had from now until the end of February.  however it is possible to find a little pod of fish here and there on Midges or Blue Wings.

Predominant techniques include

1) Indicator fishing with double nymph rigs – combos to include:
Streamer and a #14-18 nymph behind it
Stonefly and #14-18 nymph behind it
#14-16 attractor nymph with a #18 nymph behind it

Favorite nymphs at this time of year
Green Rock Worm, Prince, Brassie, Pats Stone, San Juan Worms

2) Retrieving  streamers –  Sometimes a weighted streamer behind a 10 foot Flouro leader is perfect.  Remember the Yakima is on average 3 feet deep.

3) Swinging streamers
What line to use depends on depth and flow …. Suggestions – Standard short Skagit, Rage, Dual density lines

Favorite Streamers –
Sculpzilla, Sparkle minnows, Dali Llama, JJ Buggers, Wooley Bugger

KLICKITAT

Reasonable fishing over the past week for both Steelhead and Coh.  The pressure is LIGHT and the water is beautiful.

UPPER COLUMBIA

The dry fly fishing is limited to finding an isolated pod of fish on midges or the like.  Best technique would be to fish the fly on the swing…

Fly Choices include Sulpzilla, Zonkers, Catchalls, JJ buggers

From the Teanaway River confluence down the Yakima is in poor condition due to an inordinate amount of rain….

Should clear up quickly based on weather conditions. Couple great groups of guys over the past few days:)  Fishing and catching yesterday above the Teanaway was good.   The river over all has been fishing great.