North Washington guide service

YAKIMA

CLARITY CHART
Upper Proper  5 Feet
Upper Flatlands 6 Feet
Upper Canyon 5 Feet
Farmlands 5-3 Feet
Lower Canyon 3 Feet

Continuing along with a great early season so far. Skwala and the Blue Wing Olive are the predominant bugs with the March Brown about to make its 2022 full on appearance.   A few showing already.

Recent techniques include…
Dry Dropper –  Skwala adult with a CDC Pheasant Tail or Prince
Dry Fly – Skwala renditions, Adams, Royal Parachute, Sparkle Duns
Bobber(indicator) nymphing -Stonefly nymphs, CDC PT’s, Prince Nymphs
Wet Fly Swing – Partridge and PT and Blue dun soft hackles.

Search with the Dry Dropper
Cast dry flies or wet flies to risers

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UPPER COLUMBIA

Fishing as usual on the Upper Columbia is a challenge.  BIG river, nice fish but not a big population.  Predominant tactic would be under tension. Great first group of the season.

The Yakima recently saw a good bump of water but fished right through it. Prior to the bump, the dry fly fishing was A+. Since the bump, the dry fly fishing has dropped to a B…..Pretty good still.

Predominant bugs include Blue Wings and Skwalas.

The Blue Wings have been strong…..with fish responding accordingly.  In addition, fish rising to Blue Wings will take a well presented Skwala usually.

Recent techniques include…
Dry Dropper –  Skwala adult with a CDC Pheasant Tail or Prince
Dry Fly – Skwala renditions, Adams, Royal Parachute, Sparkle Duns
Bobber(indicator) nymphing -Stonefly nymphs, CDC PT’s, Prince Nymphs
Wet Fly Swing – Partridge and PT and Blue dun soft hackles.

Search with the Dry Dropper
Cast dry flies or wet flies to risers

Lots of this happening recently…….

YAKIMA

Verbatim report from one of our senior staff yesterday…

‘Fishing was pretty good today, both deep and shallow. Turned 4 fish on a dry and caught a bunch on the dropper. Skwalas, midges, San Juan’s and princes. Afternoons are best.’

It is that time of year again…. We will see fluctuations in the river based on snow melt directly related to weather.  The dam releases are typically not the culprit this early in the game; The feeder streams are.  The biggest one being the Teanaway.

CLARITY CHART
Upper Proper   5 feet
Upper Flatlands   6 feet
Upper Canyon 4 to 5 feet
Farmlands  3 to 4 feet
Lower Canyon  2.5 feet

UPPER COLUMBIA

Water temps are still pretty dang cold right now but the fishing is worthy.  Swing tactics predominantly with a bit of nymphing mixed in.

A variety of lines based on depth and flow needed on this river.  Dry lines to 300 grain shooting heads for the single handers.  Dry lines to Dual density and T-18 for the 2-handers.

Patterns…. Sculpins, Minnows, Stones, Dick nites (lol)

YAKIMA

Currently blown out…. Should be back in shape quickly and the 2022 Skwala season should be game on.

Take advantage of our SKWALA special Here

UPPER COLUMBIA RIVER

Water temps are still cold but there are some pre spawn rainbows to be had with both nymph and swing tactics.  Clarity is at about 10 feet.  Water temps are around 39.

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

We  hooked a large number of smaller fish this season…smaller than usual.  We also hooked some BEASTS :))

The entire coast was shut down early…As of today.  Good season despite three weeks of high pressure and low water.   The scenario has a lot of people wondering ‘what is up’.  We had some tough days swinging flies but all in all it was WORTHY. It is what it is. We shall see what is in the wheelhouse for 23.

YAKIMA RIVER

Fishing has been great.  We recently saw a bump in the flows due to unseasonably warm weather.  Fishing was kinda off for those two days. We are back on track right now with a dropping and clearing  river.

Bugs of choice…

San Juans
Stonefly nymphs
Prince nymphs
Smolt patterns
Sculpin patterns

UPPER COLUMBIA RIVER

Nice weather across the state!  Swingtactics are in order on this fishery.  Light to heavy tips based on depth and flow.   Sculpins, Seal buggers, Stones, Minnows.

OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Swinging, fly bobbers and conventional float rods have been the tools lately. It is all a personal choice!

This 39.5 inch fish ate a 2.5 inch unweighted black and blue fly behind 10 feet of T-14.

Jedi Craig with a bright one.  Waters have dropped fairly low on the North OP.  The next 72 hours is going to give the region a good surge of needed water.

The Winter steelhead season has started out pretty dang good from the Olympic Peninsula to Northern Cal.  Reports have been sturdy!

Tip of the day….The Speed of which you fish the run depends on the clarity. Target the run with a likely fly and likely tip & line to put you in the zone .  Get your distance down before you start stepping.  That means standing in one locatiuon start short and make your swing. then add some line and do it again.  Repeat that process until you feel you have the overall length needed to target the run.   Then work through the run.

Step sequences based on clarity
->2 feet of clarity 3 big steps
->3-4 feet of clarity 4  big steps
->5 feet of clarity 6 big steps
->6 feet or more 7 big steps

A big step equals 2 feet – Many people take mini steps or commonly referred to as  ‘Great grandpa steps’  and they equal maybe a half of a foot in length.  If this is the case…..You will never get through the run.

Hang downs are important but marinating hangdowns in marginal ‘Hang down’ zones is counterproductive.

Examples of marginal hang down zone would be,
1  Skinny fast water not associated to travel lanes
2 Tanky swirly water

……In the next report –  Steelhead tip – Target the ‘One Off’  zone

Yakima river is in GREAT shape and the catching has been good

The usual winter fare is on the menu.

#8-12 Skwala Stone nymphs
# 8-12 San Juan Worms
6mm Whitefish Eggs
#14-16 Bead head nymphs – Perdigon, Prince, PT’s
#18-20 Brassies
#4-8 Sculpzillas, Sparkle Minnows etc.

The entire river is fishing good, from top to bottom.

YAKIMA REPORT

Fishing has actually been pretty dang good……The weather has been a bit wintery! lol….

Lots of nymphing with the tried and true winter ensembles…..

#8-12 San Juan worms, #8-10 Stoneflies,  #4-8 Smolt and Sculpin patterns, #18-20Midge Larvae,  #14-16 Princes, Caddis larvae.

The entire river is in good condition.

If you are thinking of a little tying this winter…. Click here for a recipe and vid on tying the Dalai Llama on a tube.  The Dalai Llama is a great bait fish pattern…Specifically a smolt pattern.

YAKIMA RIVER

The river is in perfect shape and the White fish spawn is on!

Whitefish Egg patterns, Stoneflies, Worms, Caddis nymphs, Midge larvae and Baitfish are all great choices!