flows holding steady around 3,500 CFS out of Cle Elum. These higher summer flows have been remarkably consistent and are keeping trout exactly where you'd expect—tight against the banks in soft water where they're easy to target with the right presentation. If you're looking for the best fishing of the day, don't hit the snooze button. The early morning bite has been outstanding, and anglers launching between 4:30 and 5:00 AM have been rewarded with some of the most consistent action we've seen all season.

Stoneflies continue to be the name of the game during the low-light hours. Fish are crushing large dries first thing in the morning and again during the last light of the evening, often sitting in surprisingly shallow water along grassy banks, cutbanks, and soft seams. During the middle of the day, a dry-dropper or nymph rig remains the most productive approach, but don't overlook the opportunity for afternoon dry fly fishing if cloud cover moves in.

One piece of good news for the rest of the summer is our water outlook. Reservoir storage across the Yakima Basin is currently roughly 150,000 acre-feet higher than it was this time last year. While we're still just below the long-term historical average, it's excellent news for anglers. Expect healthy flows to stick around throughout the summer, keeping trout positioned along the banks and providing the kind of consistent conditions both fish and anglers love.

Where the Trout Will Be

The most productive water continues to be:

• Outside bends and cutbanks
• Soft seams along fast banks
• Current breaks behind structure
• Shallow water tight against grassy shorelines
• Eddies and softer pockets along the bank

Tactics That Matter Right Now

• Fish large stonefly dries early and late in the day.

• During midday, switch to a dry-dropper setup or a short-leash nymph rig.

• Cloud cover can extend dry fly opportunities well into the afternoon.

• Focus on accurate casts tight to the bank, especially when fishing stoneflies.

Wading vs. Floating

At approximately 3,500 CFS, the Yakima is still on the high side for wading. While there are certainly places to get out and fish, wading should be approached cautiously. As a general rule, stay in water below knee height and avoid crossing fast current. Floating remains the most effective way to cover water and access productive holding lies.

We have GREAT water storage in the reservoir network right now, at this time we have +/- 150,000 acre/feet more than last year at this time. While it's slightly below the historic average, it should make for high flows all summer long. Just the way the trout and the anglers like it!