North Washington guide service

The UC is in great shape.  Fishing has be steady and the water temps are par for a normal year. Predominant bugs include Caddis, PMD’s, Western Quill and Baetis.  Nymphing, Soft Hackles and Dry Flies have all proved worthy.

The Upper Columbia River will have no shortage of water this year…. it might be a little lower, but it is all relative.

Columbia Fly Box

Recent happy angler!

and another  🙂

Fishing subsurface has been gooood lately.  Dry fly fishing has been a bit spotty but there has been some opportunity.

Predominant bugs as of late…PMD’s, Ants, Yellow Sallies, Caddis and Summer Stone nymphs.

River Clarity Chart

Upper Proper – 5 feet
Upper Flatlands – 6 feet
Upper Canyon – 6 feet
Farmlands – 6 to feet
Lower Canyon – 2 feet

Summer Stones and Hoppers should kick into gear this year by mid to late July.  The Summer Stone is technically a cousin to the Golden Stone.  The male is almost wingless, hence the name “Shortwing Stone”.  The Female on the other hand is fully winged.  The Summer stone is very light in color as shown below. Immediately after hatching the Summer stone can appear to almost ‘glow’. This nocturnal creature is Yakima’s premier Stone fly.

Clarity improved to 1.5+ feet of visibility today. Should improve daily based on forecast…

The heat caught up with us….Looks as though the river should improve for the better based on the upcoming cooling trend.  As of now, we have one foot of visibility; We will keep you updated.

We continue to see some great fishing and some good catching for this time of year.   Over the last few days we have seen fish eat
1) Skaters,
2) Flies just under the surface,
3) retrieved streamers and
4) Flies under the bobber.

River has held  through this heat wave with marginal loss in clarity.

Best Bugs –
Rusty’s Stone
Black Muddler
Zee Clouser
The Bead

Great river conditions lately…The clarity will most likely be marginalized by the current heat wave. We will keep you updated.  Recent fishing has be GREAT.  Recent CATCHING has been average for us. Definitely need to work for the fish.  No dry fly action for us since the opener.

Wahooo!

Kristian with a hatchery buck:))

The fishing recently on the Yakima has been spotty.  this is a relative statement as what is spotty for us might be great for some.  Bugsde jour include #16-18 PMD’s, #14-16 Yellow Sallies, #12 Green Drakes, #14-18 Caddis and a few #6-8 Golden Stones.

Little Yellow Sally Stone

Pardon the major delay in reporting…

The Yakima is rockin’ currently with a myriad of hatches including Caddis, Golden Stones, PMD’s and Flying Ants.  Everyday is different as it is fishing. The dry fly fishing over the last few days has been GREAT.

When all else fails with the dry fly currently, use a #12 Ant pattern; Trout candy.  Honestly, the nymphing has been ‘ok’,  but the dry fly fishing is in first place at the present.

Definitely delinquent in all reports lately.  The Upper Columbia has kicked into gear and it is in the middle of full on Caddis with yellow Mayflies just around the corner.  There are some reasonable wading opportunities currently as the river is lower than normal.  

#14 UC Soft Hackle,  #8 Catch All,  #16 Tent Wing Caddis