KLICKITAT RIVER REPORT - 7/29/14

The river is back to almost zero visibility......

YAKIMA FISHING REPORT - 7/27/14

The Yakima is fishing Gooooood.  We have been in the Lower Canyon quite a bit lately with some good morning and evening fishing....end of story.  Hoppers/Stones in the AM and Caddis and PED's in the eve!

BIG BUGS OF THE WEEK PICTURED

KLICKITAT RIVER REPORT - 7/27/14

Nice steel from Klickitat on 7-26

Hot weather a couple weeks ago,  then it cooled down, but rained cats and dogs; now hot weather again.....Not giving us much love.

We do have some clarity today and we did yesterday as well.  The river is cycling hard.....With the upcoming forecast of HEAT for this next week,  the cycle may be minimal with TOUGH CLARITY.

Yesterday we had 2.5-3.5 feet of clarity depending where you were in the system and at what time.  Today, we had 2-3 feet of clarity depending where you were in the system and at what time.

Yesterday we hooked some fish.  In fact, I saw one of the most impressive summer run steelhead I have ever seen on the end of our line for about a 40 second ride...Truly amazing.  Figure about 18 pounds and all muscle that was pretty much 'uncontrollable' - We did not land the beast!  We caught fish on both the swung fly and nymph yesterday.

YAKIMA RIVER REPORT - 7/23/14

Ralston party

Best Bug lately - Chubby Chernobyl

Fishing has been good to great recently in the AM.  A well presented dry in the likely lanes and covering water has been a great approach.  While in a stationary position swinging a streamer in the morning in the 'right spot' has produced as well. We are seeing good numbers of  #16 PMD's and Caddis around; have not seen many summer stones yet.  There are still a few drakes here and there as well.  Definitely a nymph game during the afternoon hours in the Lower Canyon.  

Fishing has been good in the evenings as well.  The Caddis Beds are a good place to be posted up for the last hour.

KLICKITAT RIVER REPORT - 7/23/14

Looking Northwest towards Mt. Adams

The Klickitat region experienced HEAVY rains and thunderstorms last night as well as into this morning.  The Glenwood area is expected to see a lot more of it today and then will subside according to the weather report.  However, the recent weather report missed the mark over the last 24 hours as we were only suppose to have a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.

So the Klickitat volume has increased quite a bit since yesterday's report;  the clarity decreased.  Currently back to 'unfishable'... We will keep you posted.  Should be back on track quickly.

It appears our regions of fire are receiving the rain as well.....That is a good thing.  Let's just hope the lightning does not add to the issue.

KLICKITAT RIVER REPORT - 7/22/14

Klickitat clarity on July 17

These images show the difference in clarity on the Klickitat  over the past week.  Photos are deceiving, but the first image depicts about 3-4 inches of visibility and the second image depicts about 1.5 feet of visibility.

My largest fish last year came with 18 inches of viz.  We are a go, as I see it......I will be swinging a fly manana!

Based on weather reports, the river's clarity should only get better.

Klickitat clarity today, July 22

YAKIMA RIVER Report 7/21/14

We have seen some good consistent fishing this year.  Through the hot spell, the mornings and evening definitely proved to be the time for the dry.

Recently, with the cooler temps in comparison to the previous weeks, the mornings have been less predictable.




Hatches include, # 6-8 Summer Stones, #14-16 Caddis,  #14 PED's,  #14-16 Yellow Sallies, #6-12 Hoppers and #12-18 Ants/Beetles.  Above is a 'guides choice' for the past week.

The Upper Flatlands, Upper Canyon and Lower Canyon seem to be the place to be recently and....The fishing in the Farmlands and the Upper Proper have been OK...

UPPER COLUMBIA - KETTLE REPORT 7/20/14

We would suggest not fishing the Kettle until the water temps cool down.  We pulled the plug on it yesterday. We have also never seen the river so low at this time of year....

UPPER COLUMBIA - KETTLE Report 7/18/14

The heat has finally caught up with the Northeast corner of Washington.

Catching over the past few days has slowed quite a bit on both watersheds....Pray for cooler weather.

Second Annual Klickitat Two Hander Day!

This free gathering is for those who would like to learn not only how to cast the two hander better and further, but also how to fish it!




11AM - 12PM CHECK IN at Leidl Access on the Klickitat - Directions to Leidl - After crossing the bridge...Leidl campground is on both sides of the highway... Take a left to enter the west side campground and follow the sign down river...

Class topics to most likely include but not limited to...

-> Demystifying the variety of two hand lines
-> Beginner two hand casting 
-> Intermediate/advanced two hand casting
-> Getting more distance
-> Fishing the fly, hooking and fighting fish
-> Single hand spey casting
-> Up against the trees 
-> Combining casts to optimize efficiency
-> Long Belly Casting vs Underhand Casting
-> Overhead Casting with the Two Hander

Schedule of Events

-> 12-4:30 PM free classes and free riverside barbecue
-> 4:30 - 6:30 Open time
-> 6:30 - 8:30 Free Barbecue and Catch Mag viewing at The Steelhead Ranch
-> At Dark at The Steelhead Ranch - A Special Outside and Under the Stars Presentation of and by Catch Magazine.

Product lines represented by Echo, Redington, Sage, Rio, Airflo, Hardy/Greys, Vision and more to come.

Speakers; Brian Chou, Brian Styskal, Eric Neufeld, Ben Dow, Jack Mitchell, Steelie Mike. Jeff Cottrell.

UPPER COLUMBIA - KETTLE REPORT 7/16/14

Robert and Nikolai with a great UC Trout

We are in the middle of the Upper Columbia Drake Hatch.  Everyday is different.  We have seen some great fish lately with some 'nice ones' eating the large Mayflies.  Nymphing during the day continues to be a bit unpredictable....However, definitely has produced.  A variety of of typical Caddis and Mayfly nymphs have been productive but

The Kettle river is dropping fast in volume and has fished avg to good based on the day.....Predominant bugs used lately fall into the terrestrial category with a #8 'Foam Bug' winning the contest.  Streamers have been 'not so good' lately with the bright sun and heat.

Bailey with a classic Kettle Redside

YAKIMA RIVER REPORT 7/13/14

Brendon with a Yakima smile

We definitely have our summer flows now on the Yakima.  The fishing has been 'pretty darn' good considering the heat.  The big flow doesn't pose a problem as long as it is reasonably stable.

Bugs of the Week

Hopper Stone - Tan   # 6    Super Chernobyl - Pink # 8
Chernobyl-CFO Ant - Flesh #8

Copper John - Black #12  FB Pheasant Tail # 12-14 
Lightning Bug - Pearl # 12-14 
CDC Pheasant Tail # 12-14

We recommend using nymphs one size bigger than usual because of
the high flows. One of our best dropper nymphs this week has been

a #12 black Copper John simulating a Green Drake or small 
Stonefly nymph.

Hatching this week :
Summer Stones
Yellow Sally's
Caddis
PMD's
Hoppers , Ants

KLICKITAT RIVER REPORT 7/11/14

TOUGH CONDITIONS  currently on the Klickitat with minimal visibility if any at all.  Prior to the heat wave we manged to have some great fishing.   There are definitely fish throughout the system, both Steelhead and Chinook.  We will keep you posted here in our new blog report format as conditions change.

Some of our favorite fly choices recently are shown below here...

Here are some recent fish catching videos prior to the river going off color....

UPPER COLUMBIA / KETTLE REPORTS 7/11/14

Upper Columbia fishing during the day has been unpredictable and definitely not much dry fly fishing.  The evenings,  while not always predictable, have been pretty darn good recently with the drake hatch....sometimes shorter then we would like, but nonetheless pretty cool.  In addition to the drakes we have Caddis, Yellow Mays and Baetis.

Day time nymph choices can be reasonably eclectic but generally Caddis Pupa, PMD Bubble backs and the like have done the trick when they are in the mood.

Great image below of a Drake from the Upper Columbia recently...

Recent images from the UC

Recent Video from the UC

YAKIMA RIVER REPORT 7/11/14

The Yakima has been good to great fishing recently.  With the first full moon phase timed with the kick off of the Summer Stones the fishing has been CONSISTENT throughout.  The morning and the evening game has been good with the dry fly while the day time best with the nymph.

Best nymphs lately include the Pat's Stone and a variety of Caddis Pupa.

UPPER COLUMBIA / KETTLE RIVER REPORT 7/02/14

Tough over the past week with the barometer all over the board and huge electrical storms. Regardless we stuck it out. Over the past couple days the weather stabilized and our drakes showed up. Good to great fishing currently!

YAKIMA RIVER REPORT 7/2

The entire river seems to be fishing good. Or nmbers have been coming from the nymph. The dry fly fishing has been 'OK'. Currently the PMD's, Caddis and Yellow Sallies have been the main fair for the aqautic bugs and Ants and Beetles for the Terrestrials.

Hoppers and Summer Stones are just arond the corner...The hopper/dropper combo is a good bet soon...I know we have displayed this PDF before, but this shows a very effective way to tie your dropper tag line to the fly....