River Flow: 3,280cfs at Umtanum
Water Temp: Wet wading is great! Temps - 54-61F
Trending: Fairly Stable, slow rise. Water will remain high for summer to aid in lower river irrigation.
Water Clarity: 36"+ Vis
Hatches Upcoming and Current:
Summer’s here and so is the water. With the Yakima climbing above 3,000 cfs, it’s officially high-flow season. That means wade fishing is mostly off the table, and drift boats are the name of the game. This is when a skilled guide on the oars makes all the difference navigating fast currents, hitting productive seams, and putting you on fish while you stay focused on the cast.
The Summer Stonefly hatch is lighting up the river. These big nocturnal bugs are crawling and fluttering under the radar, and trout are keyed in during the low-light hours. Your best shot with a dry? Early mornings, late evenings, or when clouds roll in. Midday, we’re switching gears—running nymphs and streamers through drop-offs, seams, and mid-river structure. And now that flows are up, trout are finally sliding into those prime, hard-to-reach banks that make floating so rewarding.
The Naches has dropped into perfect wading shape, and the cutthroat are hungry. Small to mid-sized terrestrials are getting plenty of love right now, especially in riffles and pocket water. It’s the kind of dry fly fishing we wait all summer for. Float season has all but wrapped up flows are just too skinny for safe drifts but guided wade trips are still a killer option if you want to explore this wild, remote river with someone who knows where the fish live. It’s classic freestone action with room to roam and plenty of eager eats.
Need something totally different? Bass are on the menu. Largemouth are active at Hilltop Lake, our private oasis, and Smallmouth season is in swing on an unnamed river we won’t mention here (because it’s too good). If you’re looking to shake things up, email dallas@redsflyshop.com to check for available Smallmouth dates.
Bottom line? Flows are up, bugs are out, and the fishing’s only going to get better in the coming weeks. Pick your target, book your trip, and let’s go fishing.
