YAKIMA

Current screenshot of the Yakima flows….northwest river predictions show the river heading to 7K, reportedly to flush the salmon smolts.  All three of reservoirs are at around 85% full.  Although we have minimal low lying snow,  once the reservoirs  are full they have to release.   The good thing is the water is clean coming from the reservoirs.

The fishing was ‘off the chart’ on the 4th….But since they have elevated the flows the bugs have been intermittent.  Water temps have dropped due to the cold water releases.

Bugs include….
Blue Wings
Skwala
March Browns

Clarity Chart
Upper Proper  4 feet
Upper Flatlands  5-6 feet
Upper Canyon  4-5 feet
Farmlands 4-2.5 feet
Lower Canyon 2.5 feet

We should have lots of cold clean water for our summer this year:) In between now and stabilization (somewhere around June 15)  We will have some great fishing and some tough fishing:)

Tough fishing recently…..The window of opportunity is small based on two predominant reasons reasons.

1)Hatches are between 1-3PM
2)Fish are on the spawn otherwise.

NORTHWEST RIVER FORECAST predicts the river heading to 7000 CFS by the 5th…. That will certainly put a damper on things.

WINTER STEELHEAD

Some big fish have been hooked lately on both tactics… Sporadic is the word.  All the rivers are lowwwww , some more clear than others. We would prefer more precipitation.

Quick ties in the evening….. Rabbit and marabou is hard to beat

YAKIMA

Cold nights and warm days with lots of sun in the forecast.  Reasonable conditions….We would prefer a few more clouds.   Fishing has been avg. to good depending on the day and zone.

As always, dry fly activity is limited and specific to zones… Skwala dry fly water can be slooowwwww.  Not always, but often.

Blue wings here and there.

We have SKWALA dry fly activity:))

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

The swing fishing has been pretty consistent

Line choices depend on the depth and flow of the run you are fishing.  Recently we have caught fish on everything from 10′ of T-11 to a FIST line with T-17

Make sure you have a line that gets your fly in the zone.

Nymphing has actually been more sporadic recently…..Best choice-> Yarn.

YAKIMA

Bugs dejour…..

We have Skwalas and Baetis.  Above is a half dozen hot patterns for the Skwala.  Stop by the shop and pick some up:)))

Fishing has been avg to great depending on the day and zone.  It is fishing, not catching:)

Afternoon Skwalas have been ‘happy’

WINTER STEELHEAD

The last 24 hours we received an inch of much needed rain.  It appears we will not see much more for awhile based on the forecast.  Fishing has been awesome….the catching has been all over the board.  Swingtastic as well as a nymphorama…

Best bug recently -> Peachy Cream
Best nymph -> Yarn

YAKIMA RIVER

The 2018 Skwala action is game on…. Every day will be different but the next week should prove to be thumbs up based weather forecast.  Nights at the freezing mark and days at 50…..PERFECT.

Skwala fishing tip…. You may not see a lot of Skwala’s, but the trout know they are there.  At times, the dry will definitely out fish the nymph.

Trout will key on the adult Skwala in a variety of water types; however, error on the slow waters. Grassey banks that are slow – equals thumbs up.

Suggested Pattern Choices -> Images coming soon.

YAKIMA REPORT

GOOD TO GREAT FISHING AS OF RECENT….

We are always talking about the Skwala hatch at this time of year…However, there are some other insects including the Blue Wing Olive.  Here is one of our favorite patterns for the Blue Wing…. SPARKLE TAIL

In addition to the dry fly fishing sometimes the nymphing can be the mainstay at this time of year…Learn more about the ‘Drift’

WINTER STEELHEAD REPORT

Pretty darn good:) End of story:)

Doing my best to be more current with the reports page….As suggested by Mike and Larry.

WINTER STEELHEAD – Got to spend a day with one of our  guests and guide staff yesterday – Ed Fischer took the picture of Chris Owens and me.

Difficult weather yesterday………  We swung hard and nymphed hard and ended up with this nice doe. No complaints.  Just needed one more layer:))

Might catch more if Judge Boldt’s decision got reversed!

YAKIMA RIVER REPORT
Mark and Josh just spent a day on the Yakima with our veteran guide Keith and enjoyed some good trout fishing.  100 % nymph day with a variety of patterns used.

Best bug of the day – Modified Pat’s Stone Size #10