Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
As good as the fishing was before this past week of a dirty and rising river… We needed the change up. The river is close to normal flows for this time of year and back in shape! Some incredible steel in the river with ‘lotsa’ Chinook as well.
Multiple tactics are worthy for duping the steelhead.
Favorite sink tip this year has been 10 feet of T-8. Favorite swung fly recently has been the Black and Blue Searcher by Jeff Cottrell.
Favority Nymph – The Bead
 |
| The Searcher |
Author Jack MitchellPosted on Author Jack MitchellPosted on Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
The Klickitat took a turn for the worse yesterday regarding clarity….Two 90 degree days in a row, warm winds on the mountain with warm night time temps were the culprit. 1-2 feet of clarity.
Definitely plenty of fish in the system….as the Nymph and the Swing have been good to great lately.
Will keep you updated.
Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
#8 Orange Stimulator
#10 Cranefly
#16 Purple Haze
#8 BH October Caddis
#10 CDC Pricne beadhea
#16 BH Deep Six Caddis
#16 Tungsten Readay Baetis
Honborable mention….
‘The Bead’ in select zones….especially up river!
The adult Crane Fly
The entire river has been fishing good to great from head to toe and it is ultra low as are most western streams currently. A variety of tactics are needed depending the day and the stretch of river.
As listed above, The winner for the dry fly is a #10 Crane fly. The best nymph in the upper river undoubtedly is the egg pattern behind the salmon. The best nymph for us in the middle and lower stretches has been the #16 BH Deep Six Caddis. A well place streamer in the upper river, especially an Eggsucker…..has been WORTHY.
Get out and catch one! – Grass roots on the Yakima SINCE 1988
Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
 |
| October Caddis |
Average fishing some days, great fishing on others. October Caddis are here! 15 feet of visibility – WOW!
Long leaders and immaculate presentation (not conception) make for challenging but good days.
What is hatching…
October Caddis #8
Midges #22
Baetis #18
 |
| John with a noooicccee buck |
Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
 |
| Nooiicce wild native! |
 |
| Hatch dog for some fish chicks |
We have seen average to great fishing since the last report MULTIPLE tactics are worthy; from the nymph to the swung fly with a dry line and sink tip as well. Pick your favorite technique and get’r done. The water has been LOW and CLEAR until today when the river bumbed up a bit – 60CFS – and changed color to Steelhead ‘Grey Green’. Clarity change was most likely due to some rain and wind on the mountain. No worries……River is in great shape.
We have seen some incredible fishing lately with mutiple tactics…as listed above. We have also seen some incredible pressure on the river as well. With the Methow river in poor shape for Summer run potential…..There have been a good number of other anglers and guides on the river. In addition, the amount of Salmon anglers has added to the pressure.
The Chinook have not ‘inundated’ the system yet. There have been fish entering; definitely quite a few in the past 24 hours with the bump.
Highlight of the past week…..One fish eating the skated fly 3 times!
Author Jack MitchellPosted on Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
 |
| Columbia Highlands Redband – 9/9/14 |
 |
| Dale Depreist ‘AKA ‘Big Daddy’ |
Best Bugs this past week….
#12 Tan Morrish Hopper
#10 Cranefly
#8 Olive Sculpzilla
Author Jack MitchellPosted on 
|
| October Caddis |
The
fishing on the Yakima river has been great this week… That is, when
shade of any kind is on the water. Mornings and evenings have yielded
spectacular fishing, with nearly perfect weather! River flows are low,
1300 cfs at Umtanum, making for slightly warm mid day water temps.
However, fish are lying in deeper water, foamlines, and focusing dryflies on
shady banks will produce topwater takes. Fishing sub surface with Salt
& Pepper Pat’s Stones #10, Prince nymphs #16, #18 Red Copper John, #16
W-D40 (Blue Wing Olive) can be productive when trout are laying low.
Smaller Hoppers, #10 and #12 flying ants, or a Tu Pac Stones, Caddis Patterns,
are all effective flies this week. Crane Flies are the fly of choice this
week, fished by skating and bringing life to the fly will get the attention of
some big opportunistic Rainbows, just waiting for a meal. Hatches
include: Crane Flies, Small Baetis and Caddis (#16, #18), with big October
Caddis on the way… We have spotted a few on the river banks
in the last few days.
