best time to fish the yakima river

The next section down to the Rosa Dam sees more anglers as it flows through the Yakima Canyon and is best fished from drift boats. Please fish early in the day, and take it … Generally on the Yakima some of the best winter calories for the trout consist of Skwala Stone flies, Midge pupae and adults, Whitefish spawn (egg patterns), Caddis pupa and forage fish. The first being winter and early Spring, the second being late spring and early Summer, and the third being Summer and Fall. Depending on the month or season, fishing in a destination may produce more prize catches in one period of time than another. The Yakima River Canyon is, in simple terms, dry fly heaven. Best stretch: Depending on flows, both the Upper and Lower Yakima have great stretches - most well-known is between Easton and Roza Dam. With temperatures in the lower to mid-40’s it is hard not to get out and do some fishing! We start with Skwalas and Blue … Seasons for Floating the Yakima River Canyon June - August - Peak season for floating and enjoying the heat and some splashing around. BOBBER TALK: Catching Up On The Yakima River . Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. Prosser Dam . Most years it is a quality over quantity game, but we are certainly finding a fair amount of fish. The best time to fish in Yakima River is September. Pontoon boat anglers need to dig their boats out from underneath all the junk in their garage that is stacked on top of it too. Nearly all of the river is open year-round. Sometimes, prior and post to the described days activity is optimal because the fish are not typically feeding hard, yet the calorie intake of a small fish is hard to pass up. }. The time of year is crucial to how productive your fishing trip may be. CRAZY busy if temps hit 100 degrees plus. This is an extremely effective method this time of year as we are working the water hard to find fish. Feeding becomes more active as the midge pupae are hatching more regular and the trout target the pupae along with the eggs of the whitefish. Fish very early and late for the best results. Rainbow and Westslope Cutthroat trout dominate the trout water, which runs from Rosa Dam upstream to the town of Easton. If you can stand the chilly weather, fishing can be excellent from late February to late April, when the water is clear, the stream is empty, and March Brown and Blue Winged Olive hatches occur. Bill Bosch, Data Manager. What does usually happen are big fish congregated together in the stable, low river flows during pre-snow melt period. Aside from the actual fishing, Winter brings a new perspective to rivers. On top of that, with the recent consistent runs of SALMON, Yakima trout are becoming predatory and … Check on the Yakima river flows here. Our guides use a dozen, or so, boat launches to access the river. Often times the river is low and clear and the fish tend to be ‘funneled’ and isolated to specific zones. At that time, DDT levels in Yakima River bottom fish were among the highest reported in the nation. Kayak fishing the Yakima river for Smallmouth with my dog Nala. It is important to keep an eye on the flows because we are getting a decent amount of snow over here and snow melt can effect the river and make it unsafe to fish or wade! Two types of trout are present in the Yakima River: rainbow trout and westslope... Best Yakima River Trout Fishing Spots. While every day is not exactly the same, the above description is representative of ‘Winter Fishing’. The water level is down, the fish are beginning to condense into more obvious holding spots, and you can put together a great DIY trip. The advisory was for large-scale and bridgelip sucker, mountain whitefish, channel catfish, northern pikeminnow and common carp. The weather is going to be a little cooler this coming week, but still hot. Proper attire is essential as the water temps and air temps demand quality outdoor gear designed to cushion the elements. A fall chinook and coho salmon season is scheduled for September 1 to October 22 from the mouth to Prosser Dam. for( i = 0; i < recaptchas.length; i++) { Plain and simple, the fishing on the Yakima during the Winter and early Spring can be incredible. River flows are high and swift, averaging about 4,000 cfs. We will not share or sell your email, ever. The Best of Washington Steelhead and Trout Larger fish have to eat more in order to stay healthy, as they burn more calories then smaller fish. Waters We Guide. var onloadSibCallback = function() { The birds of prey are on the hunt. Between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, there are multiple launch points for boats. Summer's the best time to fish in this blue-ribbon river, but fishermen come here year-round. This section can be floated but will be best under high water conditions. Best time of day to fish: Seasonally dependant. var gCaptchaSibWidget; What does usually happen are big fish congregated … 'sitekey' : '6LccMBEaAAAAAMyPaeHPy_fBeo74Kc7deivC7zbw' People come here from all over the region to test their skills on this great river. Fish Counting in the Yakima River System . Fishing this winter has been consistently good, most likely because of the warmer weather we have had. The fish actively seek the aforementioned food sources combined with the occasional Skwala Stone nymph. more both the upper Yakima River and the Lower Yakima River. Often times the river is low and clear and the fish tend to be ‘funneled’ and isolated to specific zones. Most of the angling occurs near Cle Elum and Ellensburg. Summer is decent as well, but watch out for recreational boaters that come in a predictable surg… However, water temperatures can often rise during this period before cooler temperatures set in. Yakima River.The Blue Ribbon section of the Yakima between Easton and Roza dam is our home water. your listing, click here . This is one of the best times of year to fish “The Ford.” Take notes as Kyle drops some great information that can get you into more fish the next time that you make a trip to Rocky Ford. Odds are, you already have, since the premium hops used in most of the nation’s craft beers are one of the major crops sprouting up from the irrigated soil in the Yakima River Valley. The Naches is a great river for wading and the highway 12 and then 410 parallels the river with easy access. The midge activity is minimal. (hatching). Wade-fishing is easiest in early fall, when water flows drop from 4000 cfs to 1200 cfs. Slow down and really work the water hard to make sure you hit every inch of a run or hole to maximize efficiency. 9am in the morning and the water temperature is 35 degrees. At about 3:30 the water temps start to drop usually and given the strength of the subsurface activity the trout may continue to feed or may settle back into the hole where they can conserve energy until the following day, eating here and there. Our Yakima River guided trips are float style adventures and most fishing is done from a moving drift boat or fishing raft with 2 anglers in each boat. December 16, 2020. Local vineyards are crushing it, too. Best access point: The Upper Yakima has easy access along I-90, between Easton and Cle Elum. Steve Joyce of Red's Fly Shop in the Ellensburg Canyon, has been fishing the Yak for three decades and says, "It's my favorite time to fish the Yakima between March 1 and May 15. This means stopping the boat to get out or pulling the anchor to drop the boat down 15-20 feet. Miles of scenic river meander through the Yakima Canyon, making the area one of the premier spots for fishing in the Northwest. Rarely is the river crowded; In fact, never. If you had to pick the best time to fish the Yakima River it would be during the fall when the river stabilizes and the fish gorge themselves for the winter. Greg Smith hit the nail on the head. The Yakima and its tributaries irrigate about 460,000 acres Small herds of elk find refuge near the river bottom especially from Ellensburg upstream. We have been starting early in the mornings to avoid the high water temperatures throughout the river. These places are in lakes that do not have drought restrictions (check the WDFW site for current restrictions). With 75 miles of diverse water, strict catch and release regulations which ensure a stong population of wild Rainbow and Cutthroat trout and one of the longest dry fly seasons in the West, March through mid-November, the Yakima River is the top fly fishing destination in Washington. Plain and simple, the fishing on the Yakima during the Winter and early Spring can be incredible. The lower Yakima River is open to fishing from March 1 to October 22 … Fishing Forecast: Dry-Dropper and deep nymph rigs. Fishing the Yakima River When to Fish the Yakima River. The Trout Season February/March – Skwala Stoneflies, March Brown Duns Mid to late February through March is one of the best times to find the large, mature rainbows of the Yakima River. When fishing in the winter you must consider that fish are lethargic and won’t go to far out of their way to chase down flies. The best time of day to fish seems to be the last few hours of the day. The beauty of a well-managed tailwater like the Yakima is that these types of rivers... Trout Fishing on the Yakima River. Popular Fishing in Yakima River . And it is. Best Season To Fish In Yakima River. BWO perdigons and frenchies have been our most productive flies, but plenty of fish are eating stoneflies and worms too. gCaptchaSibWidget = grecaptcha.render(recaptchas[i], { Generally on the Yakima some of the best winter calories for the trout consist of … The Yakima River is used for rafting, kayaking, and fishing, especially around the Ellensburg area and near the confluence with the Columbia River during the summer months.The Yakima River is ranked between Class I and Class II rapids, depending on the circumstances and season.In the Tri-Cities, the delta where the Yakima meets the Columbia has several hiking trails. I have been tightline nymphing mostly and it has been serving me well. That should provide some cheer for the throngs of outdoor recreation lovers from Seattle and the Puget Sound looking to wet their whistles after a day on the playground that surrounds the Yak. 07/30/16 The stream levels are staying about the same as last week. We call this river our “Home Water”. Planning a trip there this coming week. Typical ‘feed me’ zones can be described as defined drop-offs and slow downs following large riffles or less isolated waters such as long deep pools. This is an extremely effective method this time of year as we are working the water hard to find fish. It flows southeastward about 200 miles (320 km) past Ellensburg and Yakima to join the Columbia River near Kennewick in Benton county. From its picturesque headwaters spilling from the national forest in … DDT is a pesticide that was used in agriculture. Its use was banned in the 1970s. If that time won’t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. http://redsflyshop.com/yakima-river-fly-fishing This is some great info on wade fishing the Yakima River. Since 1988. Usual water temps for this time of year range from 35-40 degrees. Food sources are significantly less at this time of year so the trout and whitefish will target the available foods in the ‘feed me’ zones. This is the best time of year for wade fishing the Yakima River. The Big Horn sheep are wintering in the Lower Canyon after a long and arduous rutting season. You will be re-directed to NOAA's website in a new tab for this info. But the lower portion of the Yakima, between Horn Rapids Dam near Benton City and the mouth of the river where it meets the Columbia at Richland, can provide some pretty darned good bass fishing too. Saturdays in July and August are nuts from 1 pm - 5 pm. Several big insects species are hatching now on the Yakima, combined with aggressive rainbows makes for fun and productive days on the river. The Yakima River is a fly fisherman's favorite for catching Rainbow, Steelhead and Cutthroat trout. The weather may suck or it could be mild and comfortable during the end of winter. Especially if you find a run with fish in it, stop and work the water hard as fish are podded up this time of year and there is likely more then one fish in a particular run or hole. Yakima Klickitat Fisheries Project . The Skwala stonefly perpetuates with a two year life cycle and hatches in March+/- on most western streams, including the Yakima. April/May – March Browns, Salmon Flies, Drakes, Caddis. There is no current minimum size restriction and no daily limit on channel catfish in the Yakima River. Dependable hatches can be found eight months of the year, starting in March and continuing through October. var recaptchas = document.querySelectorAll('div[id=sib_captcha]'); Mid to late February through March is one of the best times to find the large, mature rainbows of the Yakima River. Especially through the lower canyon swinging a big sculpin can get you fish all year, but for the upper sections of the river around our Cle Elum shop, fish can be pretty picky about eating certain bugs and a little guidance is needed. Channel catfish are present throughout the lower Yakima River but the best fishing is usually in the lower ten miles during late Spring and Summer. … By about 11am the water temp has warmed up to 36 and the trout are starting to move up from the depths of ‘the hole’ toward the drop off that forms the hole. Our Yakima River fly fishing guides are blessed with three things: wild trout, good water flows, and summer stones to offer excellent fishing opportunities in summer time. It is If anglers enjoy wading, simply express this to your guide and they will do their best to give you the best possible wade fishing experience. } Utilizing the retrieve and the swing can both be very effective. Fishing streamers (forage fish) is a great technique at all times of the day in the winter. The water temp peaks at 38 degrees and holds at that temperature from 1-2:30. Big broad open flats, riffles and pocket water with multiple current lines are inviting and intriguing but certainly not isolated . We get so many good hatches during that window that there will be a period during the day where you'll throw dries with success, and the nymphing is usually good outside of that window. We have been finding fish in the “classic” walking speed winter water, and finding a fair amount too! Yakima River: Upper, Washington fishing report, rainbow trout fly fishing forecast, fishing season updates, fly shop and fishing guides, and fly-fishing weather. The weather may suck or it could be mild and comfortable during the end of winter. }); YAKIMA RIVER FLY FISHING THE YAKIMA, ‘OUR HOME WATER SINCE 1988 WASHINGTON is blessed with an incredibly diverse selection of watersheds to chase fish with the fly. Food sources are significantly less at this time of year so the trout and whitefish will target the available foods in the ‘feed me’ zones. This is a great time to fish large dries on the surface, when the shadows are still on the water and fish are feeling a bit less picky. Wow! Highway 410 is in National forest land and no problem with access. It is no surprise that this river is one of the favorite fly fishing destinations in the state. Map of the Yakima River. 3-12-99/The exceptional dry fly-fishing continues on the Yakima river, and if you are climbing the walls with cabin fever now is the time to get out and cast big bugs to big fish. Let’s paint a picture here. If you haven’t experienced fishing on the Yakima River this time of year I would certainly recommend you get out here and try it. 41:52. hatching. Fishing Yakima River, WA on 1/18/2021 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM. Yakima River, river, south-central Washington, U.S., rising in the Cascade Range, near Snoqualmie Pass. There is accessible wading, depending … If you want to learn more about tightline nymphing click here. The landscape is ‘pared to the bone’. When conditions align for optimal fishing, some of the best fishing/catching on the Yakima River can be in the Winter. Therefore, the most mature adult Skwala nymphs are active during the winter time as they are not far away from their emergence. If you haven’t experienced fishing on the Yakima River this time of year I would certainly recommend you get out here and try it. (Whitefish spawn in the flat riffles of tail outs and the riffles at the heads of pools). It’s best to break down the upper section of the Yak by seasons. The trout are often ‘holed’ up at this time of year and will move with in that hole to ‘funnels’ zones. The most patient fisher of all, the Blue Heron, is present daily. I was fishing from my Perception Pescador. Raise a glass to the Yakima River. We float anywhere from 5-20 miles in a single day depending upon river conditions. The Yakima River, which is 1.5 to 2 hours east of Seattle, is one of Washington's best trout rivers. We have mostly been nymphing, but doing a little streamer fishing as well. Yakima is hot this time of the year, but many sport fishermen are willing to brave the heat in order to take part in some of the best fishing in Washington State. Its hard being the bearer of bad news, but it is bad out there! The fish are definitely more migratory within a zone during winter’s low volume and cold water season. Fish counts at Prosser, Roza, and Cowiche Dams in the Yakima River Basin are maintained by the Yakama Nation under the Yakima Klickitat Fisheries Project contract with the Bonneville Power Administration. The Yakima river is listed as a Blue Ribbon trout fishery from the headwaters at Easton Dam to Roza dam. It is quicker for me to fish the Naches than to drive down the canyon to fish the Yakima. Most anglers know the Yakima River as a quality trout fishing river. I have been tightline nymphing mostly and it has been serving me well. 38 degrees and holds at that temperature from 1-2:30 is our Home water ” terms dry..., combined with aggressive rainbows makes for fun and productive days on the Yakima when... Been tightline nymphing mostly and it has been serving me well all, the Blue Heron is. 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Easiest in early fall, when water flows drop from 4000 cfs to 1200 cfs southeastward... Rise during this period before cooler temperatures set in, which runs from Rosa upstream! Is 35 degrees life cycle and hatches in March+/- on most western streams including! Access the river day depending upon river conditions quality outdoor gear designed cushion.