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Yakima River Fishing Report // September 4th, 2024

Yakima River Fishing Report // September 4th, 2024

Yakima River Conditions and Report

River Flow: 1,630 cfs at Umtanum

Water Temp:  64-70 (water will hit 70 in the Canyon this weekend - guides are moving back to voluntary Hoot Owl restrictions)

Trending: The "flop drop" continues....

Water Clarity:  4-5' in the Canyon (clear throughout the system)

Hatches Upcoming and Current:

 

 

Yakima River Report

With the arrival of cooler nights and warmer days, fall is shaping up to be prime fishing season but we do have a heat wave coming this weekend. Fish early, take the afternoon off this weekend. However - water wise... We’re enjoying ideal conditions DIY anglers with the water down it's much easier to read the river. That said, as temperatures rise again, we're now observing voluntary Hoot Owl hours on our guided floats. On Saturday/Sunday, we’re looking at air temperatures climbing into the 90s. Combined with the river flows dropping due to the "flip flop," the trout will benefit from a break during the hotter afternoons and evenings, allowing them to feed without stress and stay healthy. For now, we’ll focus our efforts on morning fishing and take it easy in the afternoons.

If you're planning to go DIY, it’s wise to concentrate on familiar waters rather than trying to cover too much ground. DIY floaters often attempt long stretches, trying to emulate a guide’s strategy, but that’s a difficult task. Guides have the advantage of daily experience on the water, which allows them to quickly assess and choose the best spots based on current conditions. My suggestion for DIY floaters: opt for shorter floats, use more delicate setups, and take your time wade fishing around the riffles and rocks. When you find a spot that feels promising, work it thoroughly. Change up your flies, experiment with different techniques, and resist the urge to simply drift along unless you’re ready to relax with a cold one. DIY anglers have the unique advantage of being able to wade into areas and approach seamlines in ways that guides, who are often moving quickly, can’t easily replicate. While guides might take a quick shot at each target, you have the freedom to spend as much time as you need on productive water if you stick to a shorter float.

From my personal experience, when I’m fishing for myself and not guiding, I keep my floats to a maximum of about 5 miles. This gives me the opportunity to switch flies, adjust weights, and try different techniques—starting with a dry fly, followed by a streamer, then a nymph, and finally working the bank with a dry fly again. Moving from spot to spot, I repeat this process as needed. You get the picture. When I’m guiding, my main responsibility is boat handling, ensuring that the boat stays in the best water as much as possible. While we’re explaining, directing, and teaching during the trip, my primary role is to row and position the boat effectively.

The key takeaway here is not to imitate the guides. There are more effective strategies for DIY boaters and waders, and it’s worth finding ways to take advantage of what the guides might overlook. Guides often move quickly, picking off a fish here and there, but they rarely exhaust any one spot—you should! Find water that speaks to you, and take your time exploring it thoroughly.

 

Naches River Fishing Report

Good wading, will get better as it gets cold and the fish return to the big traditional holes. Right now they are still spread fairly thin into mixed riffle water and the heads of the pools. Fish dry flies as Plan A, stick with it through multiple holes before you bail. It's fast, efficient, effective. Ants are a great choice. The bottom is pretty slick, wear felt and/or studs. Naches River Guided Trips. 

Flies: Micro chubby's, small hoppers #10's and #12's, small stimulators, and Roza's violet tag nymphs. 

Tieton River Fishing Report

Hwy 12 is open, river is high. Stay on the Naches.

Cle Elum River Fishing Report

Same report. Killer trip, leave time for picking Huckleberries too. Great trip for families, couples or dry fly lovers. Consider a walk 'n wade guided trip up here right now if you want some great dry fly fishing for trout up to 13". Red's has a USFS outfitter's permit for the National Forest and it's a great little adventure. The lower Cle Elum below the lake is running pretty much max flow and providing most of the water into the Yakima system, unless you are with a guide with big shoulders it's best to stay away. The upper Cle Elum above the lake is fishing VERY well with cold water and good dry fly fishing for trout in the 6-12" range. Pretty much everything above the Davis Peak trailhead is a great spot. The further down in the canyon you're willing to hike... the more aggressive the trout! 

Flies: Dry Humpers, Micro Chubbys, Ants, Caddis (dry flies are all ya should need!)

Klickitat River Steelhead Fishing Report

The river is currently in rough shape. The vis thanks to the heat is pretty iffy. After it cools down we're looking forward to a great fall working with our lodge crew and partners down there

Flies: Black leeches, Hoh Bo's, Dirty Hoh's, and other dark spey flies. Nymphing is the standard big black stonefly, egg sucking leech, chase it with a bead or an egg pattern.

Hilltop Lake Bass Report

Fishing is still ON. If you want to catch bass on frogs, poppers, and dragon flies this is a great time to reserve a slot. You can DIY for $150 per rod, or go with the full blown guided experience and we'll have all the flies. It's great fun, check out our YouTube video from last week where we fished frog patterns with Patrick Kilby from RIO products. Hilltop Lake Private Bass Fishing

Flies: Poppers in the low light, Dragon Flies anytime (good mid-day fly), and Rich's Ultimate Worm is good for staying up out of the weeds.


Vehicle Shuttle Service

We move cars, not bodies. Just choose your float, leave us a key and we will valet your rig from the launch point to take-out. 

River Flow Links

Yakima River Flow Prediction Chart

While the chart is only a "prediction", it is based on historical data, weather forecasts, current weather, current snow-pack etc. You can use this to get a rough idea of how the river is going to react to predicted rainfall, run-off, etc.

Yakima River Flow Prediction Chart at Umtanum

Yakima Water Temperatures

 

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Comments

Phillip Dennis - June 26, 2024

Hope to meet everyone in July 2024

Thomas Titus - May 17, 2022

Good morning,

I’d like to see if it would be possible to set up a personalized fishing trip. I recently purchased a new flyfishing raft setup and I’d like to take a rowing lesson in it. Ideally I’d like to setup a guided trip for me and my best friend using my raft (if possible). Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back.

Tom

Joe Rotter - April 25, 2022

RE: Smolt Pushes – Great question! We feel your pain. There isn’t a very good line of communication from the operators on when they plan to push, but we do have a contact there that has given us a heads up a time or two. I’ll see if can get on a regular notification and share it here.

Joe Anderson - April 19, 2022

Is there any information regarding water releases for the “smolt pushes”. I would like to think that they could do these on a somewhat regular basis or give some sort of warning. As a weekend warrior with a 3+ hour drive (one way) it would be great to be able to predict when these increased flows will occur.

Aaron - April 18, 2022

All time March brown hatch in the canyon today!

Rafael Amilca Salado - February 18, 2022

Thanks Joe! I’ll be sure to stop by on in tomorrow unless Boston continues to get more delays & cancellations. : (

Joe Rotter - February 6, 2022

Bob, great question! Most all the takeouts are good for pontoon boats depending on how close you need to get to the river. For full sized drift boats or trailer access, just avoid Mahres and Big Pines downstream of Red’s. Other than that, you are all good!

Bob Conley - February 5, 2022

what put in/take out ramps are snow free enough for my one man pontoon? Suggestions appreciated for put in take out points for 3-4 hour float this week. thanks!

Joe Rotter - February 4, 2022

Hi Wes, I think you’ll be in great shape. The river is low and clear now. We do have a PILE of snow in the low valleys but the extended forecast suggests stable weather.

Joe Rotter - February 4, 2022

Hi Rafael, there is no better place to start than Red’s Fly Shop. Within a few minutes of the shop you can be wade fishing on public water right here in the scenic Canyon section. Just come on in and chat with the crew here, we’ll help you out!

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