Not so good – currently

Wow, Not getting much love from this river lately.  There are lots of fish in the system,  Just been inundated with HEAT and now yesterday a MEGA rainstorm on the mountain.

Stay away from this one for awhile. We will keep you updated.

Photo taken 8/13/14

Where – ‘Town hole’

Time – 12:30PM

As long as we have clarity on the river…We have seen some GOOD TO GREAT fishing.  This past Saturday the river was beautiful Steelhead Green.  Yesterday the river was grey with a hint of green.   We are supposed to see lots of heat today and then it is going to cool down come Wednesday.  The weather calls for some thundershowers in addition.  We have seen the river cycle hard over the last few days.

Both the swung fly and nymph have produced.  Saturday we held  the Second Annual Two Hander Day at Leidl Campground (More photos coming soon) – Afterwords we watched Catch Magazine under the stars…thanks to Todd Moen!

Yesterdays highlight was a 7 pound wild hen that thought she was 15 pounds by the way she fought….ballistic.

Fly – She ate an orange and pink Hoh Bo Spey
Rod – 13′ 7″ Guideline Lecie
Line – Fall Favorite
Tip – 10 feet of medium
Angler – Ben Dow

The Yakima is fishing OK right now throughout the system.  It’s not great, but not bad, just average August fare.  (The largest full moon phase a midst 100 degree heat, doesn’t help)   Hoppers! Sure, but think outside the box and there is some good fishing in the right water with a streamer or nymph.  Pick a beat, go fish it.  Tie one on!

Rick with a Yakima Cutthroat

Paul with a fat Yakima bow

Brent with a nice topwater Smally

The Yakima river is fishing great for Trout and Smallies. Both species with ‘topwater’ or ‘dry fly’

Early mornings in the Lower Canyon have been best for the trout with good numbers responding to the #8-10 Stone/Hopper type patterns.  Strategy – Covering water and targeting prime lies has been worthy!   Evenings have slowed a bit, but still worthy for rising fish in the right location.

We have not been in the Farmlands or Upper Proper lately.  We have spent most of our time in the Lower Canyon, Upper Canyon and the Upper Flatlands

The Smallmouth fishing near Benton city has been good recently as well.  Our best fishing yesterday was with a variety of top water bugs including #8 Foam Poppers and #6 C-Ants.

The Yakima is fishing Gooooood.  We have been in the Lower Canyon quite a bit lately with some good morning and evening fishing….end of story.  Hoppers/Stones in the AM and Caddis and PED’s in the eve!

BIG BUGS OF THE WEEK PICTURED

Nice steel from Klickitat on 7-26

Hot weather a couple weeks ago,  then it cooled down, but rained cats and dogs; now hot weather again…..Not giving us much love.

We do have some clarity today and we did yesterday as well.  The river is cycling hard…..With the upcoming forecast of HEAT for this next week,  the cycle may be minimal with TOUGH CLARITY.

Yesterday we had 2.5-3.5 feet of clarity depending where you were in the system and at what time.  Today, we had 2-3 feet of clarity depending where you were in the system and at what time.

Yesterday we hooked some fish.  In fact, I saw one of the most impressive summer run steelhead I have ever seen on the end of our line for about a 40 second ride…Truly amazing.  Figure about 18 pounds and all muscle that was pretty much ‘uncontrollable’ – We did not land the beast!  We caught fish on both the swung fly and nymph yesterday.