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.

YAKIMA

At Fall levels and fishing consistent.

 The big bug recently has been ok to good; predominantly Craneflies and October Caddis.  Watch for that to change  and striking out soon.

The later Fall can be listed as the Far and Fine on the Yakima  Don’t get me wrong, a streamer and the like will continue to catch fish of course, but the big dry flies will lighten and become non existent soon.

#14-20 Nymphs  WD-40’s, Brassies, Blue Wing Epoxy Jigs, CDC PT Soft Hackles, YB’s
# 14-18 Soft Hackles  Iron Dun, Yellow and Partridge,
#18 BWO Quigley’s, Parachutes, Sparkle Duns,
#16 Mahogany Duns  Quigley’s, Parachutes, Sparkle Duns
#14-16 Fall Cahills  Quigley’s, Parachutes, Sparkle Duns
#10 Craneflies
#8 October Caddis

KLICKITAT

Plenty of fish in the river:)) Just been a tough one to get any water consistency on.  We just finally came into shape from to much heat and now we are dealing with rains…..

UPPER COLUMBIA

Up and down this Fall season.  Average to tough fishing overall.  Water levels have been way higher than normal with very little bug activity.

KVICHAK

We met with some good success this fall on the Kvichak.  Not many salmon in the river this year which most likely equates to fewer rainbows coming down from the lake.  Regardless, good fishing!

Entire trip was two hand swingtime:))

2021  Dates – more to follow
June 8-19
Sept 19 – Oct 9

YAKIMA

This river is like clockwork this year

September Crane flies, October Caddis, Summer Stones and Hoppers make the month a great opportunity for big dry flies. The big bug recently has been gooood. Watch for that to start to change soon.

The later Fall can be listed as the Far and Fine on the Yakima  Don’t get me wrong, a streamer and the like will continue to catch fish of course, but the big dry flies will lighten and become non existent soon.

#14-20 Nymphs  WD-40’s, Brassies, Blue Wing Epoxy Jigs, CDC PT Soft Hackles, YB’s
# 14-18 Soft Hackles  Iron Dun, Yellow and Partridge,
#18 BWO Quigley’s, Parachutes, Sparkle Duns,
#16 Mahogany Duns  Quigley’s, Parachutes, Sparkle Duns
#14-16 Fall Cahills  Quigley’s, Parachutes, Sparkle Duns
#10 Craneflies
#8 October Caddis

KLICKITAT

Plenty of fish in the river:)) Just been a tough one to get any consistency on.  We just finally came into shape from to much heat and now we are currently out because of the rains:((

UPPER COLUMBIA

Up and down with consistency but some good fishing overall. October Caddis, Fall Baetis,

KVICHAK

40K  CFS of Swinging trout water that will blow your mind. Average fish being 20-24 inch rockets.  Literally the hardest fighting fish  pound for pound I have experienced.  The BIG ones hooked by the guests have been lost.  Understandably because they literally headed for the Salt.

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

_____________________________________

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’

_______________________________________

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

_____________________________________

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