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Yakima River Fishing Report March 13

Section: Cle Elum
Flow: 1500 CFS
Water Temperature: 41 Degrees
Fish caught on: Pats Stone nymph, Composite Soft Hackle streamer, Unit Skwala dry
Key Notes: Feels like spring, big bugs flying, looks like spring

Feels like spring

The last few days have really been ideal spring days on the Yakima River. Warm air, gentle breeze, and steady flows. Good things never last, and as I’m writing this up it’s raining and the river is on a steep rise. But before we get into that lets talk about how the fishing has been.

First dry fly eat of the year!

Still cold at night (30’s) but getting into the high 40’s and 50’s each day has finialy brought water temps into the 40’s daily. Fishing is usually slower early but as water warms and the sun arcs into the afternoon you can almost say the bite turns on. We still find fish earlier, but hit and miss. Nymphing and moving, find the aggressive and cooperative fish. Into the afternoon more fish are found but still no risers. Around 3pm we start to see skwalas flying but still have not seen risers. Don’t let that deter you, cast a dry to the most trouty looking water and you’ll be surprised! First dry fly taker of the season was a cutthroat eating a Unit Skwala on the first drift over a trouty looking ledge. Soon enough head hunting will be the name of the game.

Looks like spring

When we look at the forecast it’s starting to look like spring, which doesn’t feel as nice. Rain rolling in throughout the 10 day forecast. Some days windier than others with temps between 30 and 50. The river is rising steep right now, but it shouldn’t blow out. A little color is nice anyway. Expect this pattern to continue into actual spring with plenty of actual blow outs to come. For now enjoy the dynamics and fish when you can!

More information about Yakima River access, flows, and guided trips can be found at riverdog-outfitters.com/yakima-river/

Be sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest news, reports, and media https://www.facebook.com/riverdogoutfitters

Check back on this blog for more Yakima River Fishing Reports.

See you on the river!

-Andy Lockey

River Dog Outfitters

Co-owner & Guide

253-381-6539

[email protected]

Post author:riverdog
Post published:March 14, 2022
Post comments:0 Comments

Yakima River Fishing Report February 21

Section: Lower Canyon (Ringer to Mile Post 20)
Flow: 2000cfs
Water Temperature: ~40 Degrees
Fish caught on: Egg Sucker Spawn, Storm Swim Shad
Key Notes: Useful map, cold water don't matter, spinning rod catches big fish

Back on the Lower

Made it back down to the Lower Canyon, this time with Neils. Eager to make use of my intel and river map I sketched from the previous trip (see previous post here). We were floating a little longer this time down to milepost 20, and there was wind forecasted in the afternoon.

So we got started around 9am while the water temperature was still in the high 30’s. Right off the bat I Neils hooked into a nice trout just across from the boat ramp. I also pulled a rainbow up with the Egg Sucker Spawn. Moving downstream it was ridiculous, Neils was using a spinning rod casting a plastic swim bait, specifically the Storm WildEye Swim Shad 1/4oz. I can’t remember the color pattern but it didn’t matter, this lure has a history with Neils absolutly crushing it on the Yakima. Today was no different, we can confidently say he went 5 for 20, but he probably touched more fish than that. And the 5 we did bring to sight were hefty. Most were fought quick and shaken off to keep them in the river and happy, but this one pictured below was worth a quick moment together.

Photo Pro Tip

Pro tip on photos with fish, we all have heard the “keep em wet” idea, we like to say go to the fish. Get out of the boat and in the water (that’s why you’re wearing those $ waders right?). It keeps the fish in the water, or at least over the water, and looks cooler in my opinion. Like you’re actually out there in the action. Not just on a boat ride. None of us are perfect, just striving for better. Anyways, photo rant over.

The crazy thing with this swimbait is we were watching fish chase it all the way to the boat! Water temp barely got up to 40 degrees and fish were MOVING across the river after this thing. Fish don’t like to move far in cold water, at least not after the flies I’m casting. Gear fishing on the Yakima is no secret, plenty do it, but it’s certainly something these fish aren’t used to. So try something new on the Yakima and pick up a spinning rod, or tie a 1/8 shad to your streamer rod. We won’t make fun of you.

The river map helped target the best water, and fish were found in just about every spot mentioned plus more. Thankfully we were off the water around 1pm, just before the wind really started to pick up and freeze us. Stay warm out there!

More information about Yakima River access, flows, and guided trips can be found at riverdog-outfitters.com/yakima-river/

Be sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest news, reports, and media https://www.facebook.com/riverdogoutfitters

Check back on this blog for more Yakima River Fishing Reports.

See you on the river!

-Andy Lockey

River Dog Outfitters

Co-owner & Guide

253-381-6539

[email protected]

Post author:riverdog
Post published:February 22, 2022
Post comments:0 Comments

Yakima River Fishing Report February 7

Section: Lower Canyon (Ringer to Big Horn)
Flow: 1400 CFS
Water Temperature: 39-40 Degrees
Fish caught on: Zebra Midge, Sculpzilla, Egg Sucker Spawn
Key Notes: Fish later in the day, know your water, stay warm.

Back on the Yak

First time back fishing on the Yakima River since steelhead season. Fished with my buddy Drew of Crow Creek on a section neither of us have much time on, the lower canyon.

We put in at Ringer loop after 10am hoping to give the water a chance to warm up. It’s a short float down to Big Horn, just over 3 miles, so we took our time behind other boats. Got into some whitefish on the Zebra Midge at one constriction, saw trout rising (finning) to what seemed like gnats. No takes nymphing. Moved down to the mouth of Wilson Creek, there’s a nice ledge here and Drew was able to swing up a nice Cutthroat on the Sculpzilla. The run below Wilson is fishy as well and I found a Rainbow to take an Egg Sucker Spawn towards the tailout.

Do you make your own maps?

We spent a lot of time in the upper half soaking up the winter sun and pushed through the lower half being in the shade with a breeze. Saw fish being caught throughout the float, I did take notes and even sketched a map for future reference. A lot of the fishiest water isn’t obvious until you’re right on top of it. Excuse the penmanship and enjoy the beta!

More information about Yakima River access, flows, and guided trips can be found at riverdog-outfitters.com/yakima-river/

Be sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest news, reports, and media https://www.facebook.com/riverdogoutfitters

Check back on this blog for more Yakima River Fishing Reports.

See you on the river!

-Andy Lockey

River Dog Outfitters

Co-owner & Guide

253-381-6539

[email protected]

Post author:riverdog
Post published:February 7, 2022

Yakima River Fishing Report September 30

If you look closely over Jenci’s shoulder (as shes fighting a monster fish) you can see the faint traces of our first snow on Peoh Point at the upper waters of the Yakima River. Air temps have dropped dramatically this weekend with highs only in the 40’s. Water temp remains steady near 50 so fishing has been excellent! Oh and here’s that monster fish:

My net is a 16″ hoop and this beauty stretches AT LEAST 4 inches past that soooooo (steelhead?) yea big mamma. Didn’t take the time for a real measurement, quick photo and back to swimming #keepemwet

That encounter came within the first bit of our float, the many many other fish we encountered through today weren’t quite as big but plentiful at least.

Most of our luck came on rooster tail spinners, real easy way to fish efficiently on the Yakima that many don’t bother with. We certainly aren’t fly fishing purists, what works works. Not to say a fly wasn’t thrown, bit of action on the zebra midge dropper. Lot’s of top water action from BWO being a nice cloudy day, made it easy to decide where to cast our spinners!

Fall (or in today’s case, early winter) is underway. Fishing is excellent, water is crystal clear and low. Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll see a couple live ones. Head to our FISHING PAGE to join us on a float!

Post author:riverdog
Post published:September 30, 2019

NEW Kids Fishing Opportunity

First let me say that this has been a great summer! Lots of whitewater and lots of fishing. And new beginnings, we are rolling out a new offering to Upper Kittitas County youth. An after school fishing trip down the Yakima River. Stoked to get kids outside and enjoy our natural world. For more information check out our YOUTH FISHING PAGE

For all us kids we need to remember that fall is some of the best fishing on the Yakima all year, take a look!

Sign up for a guided trip and bring your own gear (BYOG) for a discount!

And as summer comes to an end i’d like to share one of my favorite adventures. A trip down the White Salmon River! Now i’ve done tons of trips down the White Salmon as a whitewater raft guide and as a kayaker, but this was new territory. We took my custom designed fishing raft (info on that later) and put it to the test on its ability for fishing and whitewater. Check it out;

We were fishing waters only accessible by boat and those comfortable running technical and committing whitewater. The whitewater went fairly smooth, including Drew running steelhead falls, but the fishing could have been more productive. We connected with a few resident trout and maybe had some tugs from steelhead in a promising hole but otherwise slow. A little late this year I think. Still an amazing experience and its cool to cast a line somewhere others can’t so easily.

If you are interested in adventures like this then I doubt there is any other place to talk to, look forward to adventuring with you soon! Get a hold of us!

Post author:riverdog
Post published:September 20, 2019