We have Skwala Stoneflies – End of story!

YAKIMA

Has been fishing great. The river is currently blown out as are most in the state.  Based on the Northwest River Forecast she should come back in shap quick as shown in the graph below.

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Some bright ones around and some once in a lifetime fish as well:)))  Currently in a high precipitation pattern.  The next couple days the rivers will be blown….Should be back on track soon.

All fishing by rule needs to be done by foot.

Best line recently… Standard Skagit
Best Sink Tip…..10 Feet of T-14
Best fly Colors….. Pink and Orange     Black and Blue

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Pretty reasonable fishing on the Olympic Peninsula.  No complaints. This fish was caught on a 8136 Sage Brownie, Loop Classic reel, 10 ft of T-11 and the fly was unweighted.  This fish came UP for the fly.  No doubt about it.

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Click image below for video

YAKIMA RIVER

We just had to do it…. Fish masks at the shop.  Everybondy get’s one on our Yakima fishing trips!

The river is in GREAT shape and the fishing is fantastic.  This sounds like a broken record (which it is) .  This next 2 months should be awesome.

Food-
Skwala nymphs
Blue Wing nymphs
Midge larvae and adults
Worms
Caddis Larvae
Bait Fish

Patterns-
#8-12 San Juans
#8-12 Skwala Stone patterns
#8-12 Pat’s
#14-16 Prince nymphs
#18-20 Brassies
#4-8 Various Streamers

UPPER COLUMBIA

The river is significantly higher than normal for this time of year. Lake levels are starting to drop. Reasonable midges on the ‘right’ day.  Right equals stable.

Swing tactics with various based on depth and flow. Patterns for swinging range from Sculpzillas to Buggers.

YAKIMA

The entire river is fishing good.  Our favorite sections at this time of year would be…
-Upper Flatlands
-Farmlands
-Lower Canyon

Predominant food sources…..
-Baitfish
-White fish spawn
-Stones
-Worms
-Caddis Larvae
-Midges

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Tough conditions out there so far with water levels but there are some fish around.  There are some new rules and regulations for this season.  No fishing from a floating device.  Single barbless hook and no bait.

The fish below was caught on 3.5 inches of Cerise, Purple and Blue,  10 feet of T-ll on a standard floating skagit

No other grabs this day but no complaints

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY TIME WITH YOURS:)))

Yakima Report

Probably one of the best times of year for congregated fish.  If you find one, most likely there are quite a few fish near by.

Don’t want to sound like a broken record but the food sources are very simple at this time of year

Predominant food sources…..
-Baitfish
-White fish spawn
-Stones
-Worms
-Caddis Larvae-=Midges

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Tough conditions out there so far but there are some fish around.  There are some new rules and regulations for this season.  No fishing from a floating device.  Single barbless hook and no bait.

Nice wild doe swung up the other day:))

UPPER COLUMBIA RIVER

Always ‘playing the water’ up on this one.  Current levels are quite a bit higher than normal. Fishing has been worthy.  Never a numbers game here. Swing tactics with different heads based on depth and flow.

I get a little complacent on posting…. After 28 years, I think you can understand why:))

So I will apologize in advance.  That being said, If you asked most of the guides on the river what one of their favorite times of year is, they would say, ‘the winter.’

Fishing has been good recently.   Watch for the fishing to be great when  water temps raise ‘a little’.  One degree increase in the winter and the fishing can be fantastic.

Food choices are pared to the bone at this time of year, as is the landscape.

More here

Predominant food sources
Baitfish
White fish spawn
Stones
Worms
Caddis Larvae
Midges

Here are some favorites of ours….

While it certainly is a different year,  we have plenty to be thankful for.  All of us here at The Evening Hatch wish all of you out there a safe and enjoyable holiday:))

YAKIMA RIVER

The fishing on the Yakima is rockin on into the Fall.  Nymphing little bugs and

KLICKITAT RIVER

Saw the river spike the last few days based on all the rain.  The river did not get to far out of shape due to the cold temperatures.  Current water temps are 44 degrees. Clarity is at 2.5 feet.  Watch for the clarity to increase all week.

Both swing and nymph tactics have produced. Tough to land ’em.  Good size average this year.

Beads, yarn and jig flies for the nymphing

Mini Intruders and Bantams in Black and Blue or Red and Black for the clear water conditions.

String Leaches and Foxy Prawns in Purple and Pink  & Black and Chartruese for the dirty water conditions

Tip of the day – Changing your Sink Tip  mid stream

We just closed down the Upper Columbia / Black Bear Program.  Fishing was an overall ‘Spotty’  this fall.  Regardless a good year in general.  Some big fish caught!

We are going into a major cold snap for the next 5 days and then we see it warming up again.  Watch for the fishing to be a bit tough on the Yakima and Klickitat with the weather pattern.  However it should bounce back starting next Tuesday:))

MENDENITIS

This explanation is based on the technique of swinging a fly

MENDENITIS Definition  – A term referring to the affliction of constantly manipulating your line voluntarily or involuntarily causing your fly to waggle about unnecessarily.

Please no mendenitis….

If you are ‘true quartering down’, Zero mend needed .

If you are casting at a 90 degree often times the best time to mend is after the fly is done drifting and comes under tension.  I routinely see involuntary mends, and multiple ones at that, by anglers.  These mends have zero purpose and generally are moving the fly throughout the water column.