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See Where Trout Hold Under Water

It’s one thing to think you know where the trout are. Last time you may have hooked up near some structure or on an eddy line and that gives you a good reference. But seeing where trout are sitting under the surface can put you a huge step ahead of other anglers. Check it out,

My favorite referral to finding trout, foam is home. That stands true for the most part, on this snorkel trip majority of the trout spotted were on eddy lines. Between the main current and the slack water to the side (eddy) a trout can choose its most comfortable current speed and happily sit while food drifts to them. One of the most deadly, and enjoyable tactics to catching these trout is swinging a streamer from the faster current into the slower current. This covers the lie pretty thoroughly.

When it comes to dries and nymphs there are two approaches. Cover water quickly or cover water thoroughly. When moving quick (such as from a boat) make your first cast count and get it in the correct zone. This takes experience and a bit of luck to sometimes guess exactly what piece of water the trout are sitting in. When covering thoroughly it’s best to start near then far to cover the different current options along the eddy line.

On a blue ribbon trout stream like the Yakima it’s likely that every bend has a willing trout. The reason you haven’t met is probably a matter of presentation rather than fly (or lure) choice. They’re in there, just gotta find them and put it in their face! Of course to make it easy book a trip with us, we found them.

Post author:riverdog
Post published:September 10, 2019

Yakima River Fishing Report September 5 (Flip Flop)

Flip Flop, it’s a big deal. Basically the irrigation supply shifts from our valley to the next one down (Tieton/Naches). All summer long they drain our reservoirs in upper Kittitas County keeping the Yakima River running high (3000+cfs). While its unnatural, it does benefit the fishery by keeping the water temps down in the heat of summer. But now the levels are dropping to a more natural state heading into fall and winter. Check out a little video action from the beginning of flip flop!

It’s one of my favorite times of the year right now. Great weather, great water, great fishing! With cooler nights the daytime water temps are staying low and you can fish any time of day. The video was afternoon/evening but today I went out at noon and caught too many fish to count in just a one mile section!

Fishing a dry dropper set up works well, here you can see I use a foam bug (stone or caddis are my go to) to suspend a small heavy nymph. Euro style jig nymphs are great droppers, they get deep fast and are overall simple and effective.

Aim at the usual trout waters; shallow riffles, drop offs, inside bends along the eddy line. But really try anywhere, these trout all have to shuffle around now that their comfy hold up along the bank is going dry. Go find them!

Post author:riverdog
Post published:September 5, 2019

Yakima River Fishing Report March 29

Da Wills and the ladies say it’s time for spring. The fishing has been great so we ain’t complaining! So great I have plenty of content for plenty of videos. Enjoy!

And yes, that was a dry fly on a spinning reel catching a dandy rainbow! Back story; we were nearing the take out and I think the spinning rod was already de-rigged and the fly rods were rigged to nymph. We saw a dry fly on a low hanging branch and grabbed it, same moment we saw a riser in a nice pocket. Anchored up I told Drew to just tie it on the spinning rod to avoid spending time re rigging something else. And there ya have it, you can cast a total of 15 feet with the wind but sometimes that’s all you need. Always exciting on the Yakima River!

Post author:riverdog
Post published:March 29, 2019

Yakima River Fishing Report Winter 2019

Here’s a video, words below that.

This winter has been fairly warm, I mean just above freezing but not having to chip ice off the guides is so nice.

Fishing on the Yakima River in the winter can be a real treat or a real struggle. One safe bet, hit it when the weather is decent not only for your own well being, but also the trout are stoked on good weather too. Watch for that water temperature to creep up above 40 degrees and you’ll see a difference in activity. But even in the cooler temps it’s all about knowing where to go. Target the best holding water and that’s about it. I usually put in and float a good ways to the honey hole and skip any questionable water. Sometimes that means fishing only two spots in a couple miles! But it pays off.

From the video you can see i’m messing with a pretty wacky set up. My 11’6″ 7wt switch rod has become my euro rod of choice. The OPST Lazer Line works great as a “mono rig” and I run tippet straight off of that. Casting any euro set up isn’t great and this one is no exception but it works. The fish are in deep pockets so my go to combo is a jig head pats stone with a worm dropper most winter days. Needless to say it works. Looks like winter will continue for the foreseeable future, keep getting after em!

Snowmageddon was no joke this February.

Post author:riverdog
Post published:March 20, 2019
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Sauk River Fishing Report Winter 2019

If you are like me and rather watch than read here ya go.

Truly a favorite time of year for us. We’ve been privileged to spend the last few years on the Sauk in January (and now February and beyond thanks to new rules!) chasing unicorns. The fishing can be slow as steelheading is what it is, there’s always a bull trout here and there, but just being out in it is what I love most. It’s good for the soul to get out in natures beauty in the dead of winter. I mean just look at it (photos courtesy Jay Neely of @tumwater_creative )

Overall this season on the Sauk River was tough. Early on the water was quite high (about 4700cfs) which was pushy and tilly from the Suiattle River down. On another day we put in on the upper river from the Darrington Saw Mill down to the Suiattle which is an amazing stretch of water. Managed to find a unicorn! Sauk River hatchery steelhead (if that’s really a thing anymore)

The weather stayed pretty dry through the end of February and into March bringing the other side of tough conditions, low and clear. As seen in the video there are still chances to mingle with some fish if you put in the work. But word on the street is with the about 1300 cfs most of the fish are hanging out lower in the system until rains come. But by then we’ll be sticking around on the Yakima River and getting ready for whitewater trips on the Wenatchee River. So until next time, stay warm and tight lines!

Post author:riverdog
Post published:March 12, 2019
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