The weather is finally cooling off, and we're excited to report that our guide team has returned to offering full-day float trips into the evening. After several weeks of voluntarily operating under Hoot Owl restrictions, it's great to be back on the water later in the day and seeing trout respond to improving conditions. The mid-day bite has been equally productive as dawn patrol. 

We are definitely in the flop portion of the flip flop, meaning our water level has dropped and should remain low for the remainder of the year. We are seeing a slight increase in water early this week due to some rain, but that should clear by Tuesday or Wednesday. With the reduced visibility try flashier patterns that can stand out, but do not shy away from your standard naturals. Trout feed in all sort of water conditions their whole life, and can see your bugs even with reduced visibility you just need to be closer to the fish. Just expect fishing to be slightly slower due to the sudden shift in water level, and reduced clarity. Make sure your flies are right where the fish are sitting as they will not be able to see your flies from as far off. 

Right now, anglers should be prepared to fish a variety of techniques. We're currently in somewhat of a hatch lull, with most of the summer insect activity winding down and the river waiting for cooler water temperatures to trigger fall Blue-Winged Olive hatches and October Caddis. Dry fly opportunities still exist, especially during overcast periods and evening twilight hours, but anglers should be prepared to switch tactics throughout the day. Midday fishing will often be most productive with nymphs fished through riffles, pockets, and other prime holding water where trout can escape the bright sun.

If you don't know where to start try a Red Tag under a hopper, or a caddis and/or stonefly nymph under an indicator. 

Streamers are certainly worth trying, particularly during low-light periods, although historically we tend to see streamer fishing really come alive after the first hard frost of the season.

Where to Fish: 

Where there is depth fish are still on the banks and can take hopper or stonefly on the surface. Keep in mind many banks that held fish through the summer months are now running shallow. 

In sections with low water against the bank many fish have moved off closer to the gut of the river and are still sitting in riffles are pockets along the river. Wade anglers have the advantage of time to pick through every pocket availible. Boat anglers many want to focus on banks but be prepared to change tactics and adapt to sections with lower water. 

Water temps are still fairly warm so do not expect fish to be pooling in deep slow runs just yet. Especially when the sun is in the sky focus on riffles and structure where fish can hide from predators. 

How to Fish:

All tactics can produce right now which is the blessing of this time of year. However, most productive will be nymphing in riffles and pocket water. If you want to throw dries you will be doing a lot of searching as our fall hatches are still waiting on cooler water to get going. Fish are rising at time and fish are being caught on everything from BWO's and mayflies to Chubbies. But expect little indication of what they are eating from the river. 

Streamers are worth trying this time of year and many streamer anglers wait all year for fall. Olive sculpins always produce as well as your standard baitfish patterns, crawfish, and wet flies. Swinging and stripping will both produce fish and consider using both methods throughout the day. 

When nymphing try and get your flies into seems, around boulders, and close to structure. While it is cooler fish are still mostly in the summer lies and it is still not the time of year to be running your indicator at the top of your leader. Keep your indicator light and 1.5-4' from your flies depending on depth when fishing pocket water. Euro nymphing will continue to be very productive and has an advantage for this type of fishing. 

This is one of our favorite times of year on the Yakima. The combination of cooler weather, declining flows, and increasingly aggressive trout creates outstanding opportunities for both floating and wading anglers. If you've been waiting for conditions to improve after a long, hot summer, now is the time to get out and fish.

Current Trend: Improving
Flows: Dropping currently at  around 1,650
Best Tactics: Dry flies, nymphing, occasional streamer action
Outlook: Very good, with continued improvement expected as cooler weather arrives.

Cooler water temperatures are giving the Naches a much-needed boost, and the fishing has responded. We've settled into one of our favorite seasonal patterns: cold nights, warm days, shortening daylight, and trout beginning to feed with a little more urgency. It's the kind of weather that gets us excited about fall on the Naches.

The river remains very low and continues to drop, but there are still fish to be found for anglers willing to cover water and fish thoughtfully. Water temperatures remain the biggest factor. Afternoon temperatures have still been pushing into the upper 60s on warmer days, so anglers should plan accordingly. If you're headed to the Naches, fish early, carry a thermometer, and keep an eye on conditions throughout the day. Mornings continue to offer the best combination of cool water temperatures and active fish.

One bright spot is that we're on the doorstep of one of the river's most anticipated fall events. October Caddis should begin showing up any day now during the evening hours. For whatever reason, this hatch often gets rolling a little earlier on the Naches than it does on the Yakima, giving local anglers an early taste of fall dry-fly fishing. We're not seeing consistent emergence just yet, but it's close enough that we'd keep a few October Caddis patterns handy every time we hit the river.

With flows as low as they are, dry flies remain the primary game. Trout have fewer places to hide and surface-oriented fish are often easier to locate than during higher water conditions. That said, don't overlook nymphs and streamers. Well-presented subsurface flies can still move fish, especially during the cooler hours of the day or in deeper holding water.

If the lower river is feeling a little warm for your liking, now is also a great time to explore some of the higher-elevation tributaries and smaller streams throughout the basin. Those waters typically maintain cooler temperatures and can provide excellent late-summer and early-fall fishing opportunities.

We're still offering guided trips on the Naches, but conditions are changing quickly as flows continue to fall. Depending on when you're looking to get on the calendar, we may only be able to accommodate single-angler float trips. We also offer walk-and-wade trips for anglers who want to experience this unique fishery on foot. If you're interested in fishing the Naches with one of our guides, reach out to Dallas at dallas@redsflyshop.com and we'll do our best to find a date that works.

Current Trend: Improving with cooler nights
Flows: Low and dropping
Best Tactics: Dry flies, with nymphs and streamers as secondary options
Outlook: Good, with October Caddis season just around the corner and improving fall conditions ahead.