Trout and Steelhead fishing has been worthy.  All of our watersheds seem to be in great shape with ample water which bodes well for the upcoming Fall!

Average to good fishing with Drakes being the highlight.  Colder weather than normal.  Some days have been good….some not so much.  The river is at about normal flows for this time of year — Up from a couple weeks ago where it was as low as we had seen it at this time of year.

Bugs include – PMD’s, PED’s, CADDIS, DRAKES

YAKIMA

Flows are up from 2900 CFS to 3900 CFs over the last 24 hours.  The flow increases are from the Cle Elum reservoir. This flow increase has added a bit of turbidity but nothing inordinate.

Prior to the rise….Average to Gooood fishing depending on the day lately. Clarity has been great throughout the system and currently is as follows…

6 feet – Upper Proper
5-6 feet – Upper Flatlands
5-6 feet – Upper Canyon
5-4 feet – Farmlands
3 feet – Lower Canyon

Bugs include….

Caddis, Yellow Mays, Drakes, Ants and Beetles

KLICKITAT

In good condition currently.  Water clarity/cycle is ranging from 2-3 feet depending on where and when on the river.

Fish counts are  below the 10 year avg on the year to date graph  But higher then last year!   …..Hopefully the trends stays the course!

Current heat has the clarity marginalized.

Suggestion – Down low on the river in the morning | Up high in the evening.  Water clarity at its worst yesterday was 6 inches of visibility.  In the AM down low you might have 20 inches.

The extended forecast looks favorable with highs in the 70’s and lows in the upper 40’s:)

YAKIMA

The river continues to fish average to good depending on the day. The river also continues to be lower than normal for this time of year….

Trout food includes….
#6-8 Golden Stones
#14-18 Yellow Mays
#14-18 Caddis
#12-18 Terrestrials – Ants and Beetles

Clarity is as follows

The entire river is fishing.  The river might require a bit more stealth based on the clarity and overall pressure.  Regardless,  some nice fish to be had with a well placed dry.

KLICKITAT RIVER

In phenomenal  shape. There are definitely fish in the system, both wild and hatchery.

Hard tailouts, big current lines, big flies and small flies too:))

UPPER COLUMBIA

This river is as low and clear as I have ever seen it at this time of year.  One BIG tailwater.   Longer leaders are in order:)

Bugs Dejour
PED’s PMD’s  #16-18
Baetis #18
#12-16 Caddis

Lots of trout like this on the UC:)))

YAKIMA

The Yakima continues to be consistent throughout the system- From Easton to Rosa.  Clarity is ranging from  7 feet in the upper to 3 feet in the lower.

Golden Stones have been strong, especially in the Upper Canyon.  PMD’s are coming in second for ‘table fare’

Sounding like a broken river….but that is the story and we are sticking to it:)

UPPER COLUMBIA

This river was as high as I have ever seen it to weeks ago and now it might be as low as I have ever seen it at this time of year?

Bugs djour
Baetis
Caddis
Yellow Mays

YAKIMA RIVER

Goooood fishing recently on the Yakima.  From top to bottom.  No issues with clarity overall.  A couple days ago we received a bunch of rain and the river bumped up and was a bit off in color and catching.  But we are good to go currently with clarity ranging from 7 feet in the upper to 3.5-4 feet in the lower.

Bugs include…
#16 PMD’s
#16 PED’s
#6  Golden Stones ( Probably one of the best Golden Stone years…)
#14-18 Caddis
#10-12 Drakes

Best Bugs ….

#4-8 Sparkle Minnows
#12-14 Prince Nymphs
#14-16 PT’s
#14 YB’s
#6-8 Golden Chubby

UPPER COLUMBIA

Good fishing with goodMayfly hatches.  Some dry fly fishing to be had.  PMD’s, Baetis, PED’s

Shallow Nymphing, Soft Hackles and Dry Flies

Photos by Cj

One of the Yakima MVP’s lately….   Golden stone #6  =   Golden Chubby:))

Best combo lately – #6 Golden Chubby and a #14 PMD Nymph

Small mouth in the basin – All Topwater!

YAKIMA RIVER

YAKIMA river predominant bugs include;
PMD’s
Golden Stones
Caddis
Green Drakes

CLARITY is GREAT throughout:))  Fishing has bee average to good depending on the day.

MVP’s include
#4-6 Sparkle Minnows
#14-16 Prince Nymphs
#10-12 San Juan
#14-16 PMD Trigger nymphs
#8 Golden and Purple Chubby
#16 PMD Parachute

UPPER COLUMBIA

Dropping into GREAT shape itself. Bugs have been a bit sporadic recently but are building:)

Klickitat is in GREAT shape.   There were some fish caught this past weekend on the opener :))