North Washington guide service

YAKIMA

The Yakima just keeps keeping on…. Dang good fishing.  Water is dropping and should be bottomed out here in the next few days.  Water temps are a bit  on the high side and we are looking forward to the cooler weather.

Unfortunately the lower river and canyon has been inundated with fire and has been closed.  Luckily no houses have been lost.   It appears the current weather pattern is certainly more favorable after the crazy winds of the last few days.  The lower canyon is now open:))

The streamer fishing has been goooood. Everyday is diffenrent.  Some days they like the Sparkle Minnow.   Some days they like the Sculpzilla.  Having an arsenal of streamers is a good idea.

The dry fly fishing has been OK .  Summer Stones, Craneflies , October Caddis, Terrestrials and some Caddis make up the mix.

UPPER COLUMBIA

As per usual…..The fishing on the Upper  Columbia is anomaly.  Trout fishing in 100K CFS . It is what it is,  Regardless, All tactics have proved to be worthy.  Water temps need to cool down a bit and we are looking forward to a ‘Less Hot’ weather pattern

Check out that fang!

KLICKITAT

Continue to run MUDDY… Praying for cooler weather.

Sorry to be late and short…..

YAKIMA – Fishing has been good on the Yakima.  Dry flies, streamers and nymphs have all been affective at different times and in different zones.  I would say the dry fly fishing in the Lower Canyon has been a little rought due to the MEGA pressure.

Hoppers, Summer Stones, Caddis nymphs, Sparkle Minnows

KLICKITAT – Just cannot get a groove on but will here shortly.  When the river has been in shape, the fishing has been worthy.  Even in the mud the Bait guys are still getting a few.  The mud should subside after this next week.

UPPER COLUMBIA – We are just kicking into gear for our Fall season ]= on this one. More to follow

Photos to follow.

So,  if the fish aren’t biting….. Well, just saying!

YAKIMA

Like a broken record this river rocks on but you have to get’r done.  Just because you are floating down the river casting doesn’t mean it is going to be great catching. The evenings have been pretty magical.  Some mornings have been good…Watch for the fishing to be ROCKIN as they drop the flows on the flip flop +/-  August 20 to Sept 10

Get your dates now

BOOK NOW

Every day has been a bit different but getting good drifts and utilizing the right bugs will make a difference.

Water flows are typical for summer time…Reasonably big.

Marathon floats can be the ticket.   Looking for the opportunistic spot and fish.  Definitely a fast game. You can also slow down/ stop and probe some spots as well.

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Yellow Sallies
Caddis
Salmon Smolt
Summer Stone
Evening Baetis
Terrestrials…. Beetles, Ants, Hoppers

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #6 Pats Stone –  Tan, Coffee and Black, Brown

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

9. #14-16 YB Jig heads

Dry Flies

1. #14-16 Caddis

2. #8-10 Chubbies

3. #14 Purple haze

4. #14-16 Quigley PMD

5. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

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KLICKITAT

There is definitely fish in the river.  Numbers are certainly better then the past few years.   When the river’s clarity has been fish worthy with our tactics, fish have been caught.

Watch for this to be ‘GAME ON’ once we have some consistency in water.  This is why we do not operate our program generally until the end of August as that is typically when things stabilize out…… That being said,  ‘They are here’

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UPPER COLUMBIA – Our fall season is just around the corner:)))

WE  ARE NOT PROVIDING LUNCHES FOR ALL DAY TRIPS CURRENTLY DUE TO CORONA:))))

YAKIMA

Like a broken record this river rocks on but you have to get’r done.  Just because you are floating down the river casting doesn’t mean it is going to be great catching.

Every day has been a bit different but getting good drifts and utilizing the right bugs will make a difference.

Water flows are typical for summer time…Reasonably big.  Marathon floats can be the ticket.   Looking for the opportunistic spot and fish.  Definitely a fast game.

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Yellow Sallies
Caddis
Salmon Smolt
Summer Stone
Evening Baetis
Terrestrials…. Beetles, Ants, Hoppers

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #6 Pats Stone –  Tan, Coffee and Black, Brown

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

9. #14-16 YB Jig heads

Dry Flies

1. #14-16 Caddis

2. #8-10 Chubbies

3. #14 Purple haze

4. #14-16 Quigley PMD

5. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

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UPPER COLUMBIA

The hatch season has officially wound down for the 2020 season.  There are still some bugs but the consistency for a full day trip is a little light.  We will be opening the doors of Black Bear Lodge again towards the end of August:))

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

If you are looking for an adventure less traveled….Holler, we got you covered:))

KLICKITAT

The river has been in rough condition based on the heat wave……Will keep you updated as things change.  We are looking forward to the Fall on the Klickitat – An amazing watershed.

YAKIMA

This river continues to rock on ‘Amidst the Rona’ (Corona) that is. Apparently, the trout are not susceptible:))

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Yellow Sallies
Caddis
Worms
Salmon Smolt
Summer Stone nymphs
Evening Baetis

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #4-6 Pats Stone –  Orange and Black

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

9. #14-16 YB

Dry Flies

1. #12 Black Carpenter ant

2. #14 Egg laying Caddis

3. #8 Golden Stone

4. #14 Purple haze

5. #14-16 Quigley PMD

6. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

YAKIMA RIVER

See below … Bristol launch will be closed the 3rd and 4th.

The fishing has been good. The wind has been relentless. We have been covering the entire river.  We are looking forward to less winds. Regardless, We have been busy having fun.

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Yellow Sallies
Caddis
Worms
Salmon Smolt
Golden Stones

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #4-6 Pats Stone –  Orange and Black

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

9. #14-16 YB

Dry Flies

1. #12 Black Carpenter ant

2. #14 Egg laying Caddis

3. #8 Golden Stone

4. #14 Purple haze

5. #14-16 Quigley PMD

6. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

KLICKITAT

Water clarity has been worthy overall other than a few days when the weather was HOT.  Fish numbers are lower than normal over Bonneville except for the Shad! Wow!  Actually the number of Sockeye aren’t to bad either. Of course, the shad and Sockeye are not coming up the Klickitat itself.

Multiple tactics are worthy on the Klickitat …..From the swing to the nymph.  Dry line fishing is probably not the best idea as water clarity is at about 2 feet max.  Stick to tips currently for the swung fly.

UPPER COLUMBIA

Big spring across the northwest.  Everything is a little late.  The pattern on the Upper Columbia has been the same.  Overall fishing has been good. Water levels are bigger than normal and we have a mix of insects including, Caddis, Baetis, PMD’s and Drakes

The trout fishing in Washington is fired up!!!

YAKIMA

THERE IS A PARTIAL BLOCKAGE in the Farmlands …Please refer to the last report for images

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Baetis
Caddis
Worms
Salmon Smolt
Salmon Fly Nymphs
Carpenter Ants
Golden Stones
Green Drakes

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #4-6 Pats Stone –  Orange and Black

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

Dry Flies

1. #12 Black Carpenter ant

2. #14 Egg laying Caddis

3. #8 Golden Stone

4. #14 Purple haze

5. #14-16 Quigley PMD

6. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

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UPPER COLUMBIA

Fishing has been all over the board but certainly worthy.  Not much dry fly action lately .  PMD’s, Baetis and Caddis are the predominant bugs.  Water clarity is at about 6 feet and the river is in great condition.

**UPDATE -The river flows have increased by 1000cfs as a direct release out of the Cle Elum .reservoir.  Clarity has remained good throughout the system. Water temps have dropped slightly.

There is a ‘Partial Blockage’ in the Farmlands

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Baetis
Caddis
Worms
Salmon Smolt
Salmon Fly Nymphs
Carpenter Ants
Golden Stones
Green Drakes

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #4-6 Pats Stone –  Orange and Black

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

Dry Flies

1. #12 Black Carpenter ant

2. #14 Egg laying Caddis

3. #8 Golden Stone

4. #14 Purple haze

5. #14-16 Quigley PMD

6. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

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SMALLMOUTH –  THE LOWER YAKIMA

‘Enfuego’

Both subsurface and topwater tactics have been effective.  Mostly dry line  for subsurface tactics utilizing a variety of patterns

YAKIMA
The fishing has been good on the river. The river seems to be lower than normal…..Maybe this is the new normal?  No reference to politics.  Clear water above the Lower Canyon and ‘Less than clear’ down low.

CLARITY REPORT

UPPER PROPER  – 6 Feet
UPPER FLATLANDS – 7 FEET
UPPER CANYON – 7 to 5 FEET
FARMLANDS – 5 to 3 FEET
LOWER CANYON – 2 FEET

INSECTS AND FOOD SOURCES

PMD’s
Baetis
Caddis
Worms
Salmon Smolt
Salmon Fly Nymphs
Carpenter Ants
Golden Stones
Green Drakes

FLIES  DE JOUR

Under the surface

1. #14 PT Jig head CDC

2. #4-6 Pats Stone –  Orange and Black

3. #14 Hares Ear Soft Hackle

4. #8 Dali Llama

5. # 4-8 Sparkle Minnow

6. #10-12 San Juan

7. #12-16  Prince

8. #16 PMD Hot Spot nymph

Dry Flies

1. #12 Black Carpenter ant

2. #14 Egg laying Caddis

3. #8 Golden Stone

4. #14 Purple haze

5. #14-16 Quigley PMD

6. #14-16 Yellow Humpy

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UPPER COLUMBIA

Little rough lately…. minimal bug activity plus we had a major blowout.  River is back in good condition.

BUGS
Baetis
Caddis
PMD’s
Carpenter Ants

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Klickitat

Is in GREAT shape…not many steelies yet over Bonneville.  Regardless fish have been caught .  We have not been on the

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OTHER  –

Some good Smallmouth lately….Mainly a topwater approach for us; Why not!