UPPER COLUMBIA
The river is in GREAT condition.  Not much for bugs currently but certainly some good swinging.  Stable weather patterns make for better fishing on the UC.  The lake level is low and the flows at the border are average.

A variety of lines and tips to match the depth and flow should be part of the arsenal.   Sculpin’s to Catch All’s have been on the menu.

Should be a great year on the UC

___________________________

YAKIMA RIVER REPORT
Northwest river forecast shows the Yakima on a downward trend.  Bugs are intermittent and sporadic however being in the right place at the right time can be worthy.   For the March Browns make sure to be in a riffle location at about 1 pm and hangout with a cup of coffee and wait:)

March Browns are Clinger Mayflies that emerge quickly in riffles.  A variety of patterns can be effective.  One of my favorites over the years is shown below.  The pattern is designed as a dry fly but can also be swung as a wet fly if needed.

Click the image to enlarge,

Here is a little story about a March Brown Afternoon

Blue Wing Olives can show up at the same time as the March Brown and also afterwords.  The March Browns will come and go quickly,  The Blue Wing can sputter throughout the afternoon

Currently the predominant bug is the March Brown…
This hatch can be short lived but can also be intense and fun while it lasts.  There are a few Skwala Stoneflies still around

Current Yakima River Flow  prediction  for the next week.

YAKIMA

Current screenshot of the Yakima flows….northwest river predictions show the river heading to 7K, reportedly to flush the salmon smolts.  All three of reservoirs are at around 85% full.  Although we have minimal low lying snow,  once the reservoirs  are full they have to release.   The good thing is the water is clean coming from the reservoirs.

The fishing was ‘off the chart’ on the 4th….But since they have elevated the flows the bugs have been intermittent.  Water temps have dropped due to the cold water releases.

Bugs include….
Blue Wings
Skwala
March Browns

Clarity Chart
Upper Proper  4 feet
Upper Flatlands  5-6 feet
Upper Canyon  4-5 feet
Farmlands 4-2.5 feet
Lower Canyon 2.5 feet

We should have lots of cold clean water for our summer this year:) In between now and stabilization (somewhere around June 15)  We will have some great fishing and some tough fishing:)

Tough fishing recently…..The window of opportunity is small based on two predominant reasons reasons.

1)Hatches are between 1-3PM
2)Fish are on the spawn otherwise.

NORTHWEST RIVER FORECAST predicts the river heading to 7000 CFS by the 5th…. That will certainly put a damper on things.

WINTER STEELHEAD

Some big fish have been hooked lately on both tactics… Sporadic is the word.  All the rivers are lowwwww , some more clear than others. We would prefer more precipitation.

Quick ties in the evening….. Rabbit and marabou is hard to beat

YAKIMA

Cold nights and warm days with lots of sun in the forecast.  Reasonable conditions….We would prefer a few more clouds.   Fishing has been avg. to good depending on the day and zone.

As always, dry fly activity is limited and specific to zones… Skwala dry fly water can be slooowwwww.  Not always, but often.

Blue wings here and there.

We have SKWALA dry fly activity:))

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

The swing fishing has been pretty consistent

Line choices depend on the depth and flow of the run you are fishing.  Recently we have caught fish on everything from 10′ of T-11 to a FIST line with T-17

Make sure you have a line that gets your fly in the zone.

Nymphing has actually been more sporadic recently…..Best choice-> Yarn.

YAKIMA

Bugs dejour…..

We have Skwalas and Baetis.  Above is a half dozen hot patterns for the Skwala.  Stop by the shop and pick some up:)))

Fishing has been avg to great depending on the day and zone.  It is fishing, not catching:)

Afternoon Skwalas have been ‘happy’

WINTER STEELHEAD

The last 24 hours we received an inch of much needed rain.  It appears we will not see much more for awhile based on the forecast.  Fishing has been awesome….the catching has been all over the board.  Swingtastic as well as a nymphorama…

Best bug recently -> Peachy Cream
Best nymph -> Yarn

YAKIMA RIVER

The 2018 Skwala action is game on…. Every day will be different but the next week should prove to be thumbs up based weather forecast.  Nights at the freezing mark and days at 50…..PERFECT.

Skwala fishing tip…. You may not see a lot of Skwala’s, but the trout know they are there.  At times, the dry will definitely out fish the nymph.

Trout will key on the adult Skwala in a variety of water types; however, error on the slow waters. Grassey banks that are slow – equals thumbs up.

Suggested Pattern Choices -> Images coming soon.

YAKIMA REPORT

GOOD TO GREAT FISHING AS OF RECENT….

We are always talking about the Skwala hatch at this time of year…However, there are some other insects including the Blue Wing Olive.  Here is one of our favorite patterns for the Blue Wing…. SPARKLE TAIL

In addition to the dry fly fishing sometimes the nymphing can be the mainstay at this time of year…Learn more about the ‘Drift’

WINTER STEELHEAD REPORT

Pretty darn good:) End of story:)