lower yakima river fishing

The river has distinct sections - narrow, braided, and tree lined, or deep into volcanic basalt walls towering above the water. However, as you may have extracted from previous writings, the Yakima River has never shown me much love. Certain times of year produce some of the larger fish. Don’t miss Northwest fishing news! We are expecting this to push fish into pre-spawn mode, where they will begin to move into shallow water. Though some shoreline areas are open to the public, most of the better fishing areas are only accessible by boat. Smallmouth bass are abundant throughout this region, present in large numbers in the Columbia, Snake and other rivers as well as many reservoirs and lakes, throughout much of central and eastern Washington. Yakima River fall salmon fishery to open Action: Opens the Yakima River to fishing for salmon. This makes for GREAT boat fishing and hopper fishing up against the shore. With temperatures in the lower to mid-40’s it is hard not to get out and do some fishing! The fishing can be quite good between these reservoirs in the water you would expect to find fish and have a great fishing experience. Kyle Wilkinson 518 views. This is a fairly lightly fished stretch as well, so you may likely find more solitude here than those middle sections of the river. Between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, there are multiple launch points for boats. “In the lower 3 miles of Yakima River, the bass move in and feed heavily prior to spawning and then they move back downstream later in the summer,” he said. of fishable waters from Keechelus Dam to Roza Dam offer countless opportunities and challenges for a lifetime of fly fishing. There is accessible wading, depending on flows, from the BLM campgrounds in the Lower Canyon. Fish range in size from 12-14 inches. Famous for its fly fishing, this area draws people from all over the nation. Our Yakima River guided trips are float style adventures and most fishing is done from a moving drift boat or fishing raft with 2 anglers in each boat. Fly fishing hatches in order of importance: We also use other experienced and highly qualified independant guides when the need arises. Tyler, James, Brian Williams, Bailey, and I wanted to fish a new stretch of the Lower Yakima that we hadn't been on before. There also are a modest number of largemouth bass in the system. Clean rock and gravel comprise much of the river bottom throughout this stretch, providing perfect habitat for small-mouth bass, and they thrive in these waters. However, if you can get access, the first few miles below Roza Dam are great if you’re looking to catch some big trout. The Yakima is a high-desert stream, so weather can take a significant turn for the worse starting around mid-October. This section is expected to open sometime in May and to remain open through June 30. Casting from the banks with chicken livers, night crawlers, and foul-smelling stink baits produce some channel catfish of 10 pounds or more, with the best fishing coming in the months of June and July. Kayak fishing the Yakima river for Smallmouth with my dog Nala. Fishing today was VERY good! YAKIMA RIVER FLY FISHING THE YAKIMA, ‘OUR HOME WATER SINCE 1988 ... During low water season there is ample wading opportunities if so desired, but the heart and soul of a day on the water with our crew is a drift trip. Fishing the upper reaches of the Yakima this time of year is similar to many mountain streams. The lower portion of the Yakima, between Horn Rapids Dam near Benton City and the mouth of the river where it meets the Columbia at Richland, can provide some excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Artificial lures such as wobbling plugs (often wrapped with bait such baitfish fillets) or spinners also can be effective. Find river flows HERE. Dry flies: BWO patterns, skwala patterns, hoppers, midges, various emergers. Location: Interstate 82 parallels the river again along the 14 miles between Prosser and Benton City. All wild salmon and all steelhead must be released. With over 2,000 views in less than 24 hours, I was sure that someone else had to see the video as well. This means two things: floating the river (rather than walking and wading) is the way to go, and nymphing is primarily the game until the water levels go down. Fishing wide open water on a warm summer day is the idyllic fly fishing experience, and the Yakima certainly fits the bill. Flows into the Columbia River south of Richland. Daily limit of two adults. It spills cantankerously and quickly through the splintered log jams and shifting rocks in the upper reaches through the central Cascade Mountains, then flows powerfully and sullen through the sun baked grasshopper grass and broken basalt in the down-river desert canyon. Its hard being the bearer of bad news, but it is bad out there! Books. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find fish right now. Predominant food sources…..-Baitfish-White fish spawn-Stones-Worms-Caddis Larvae-Midges OLYMPIC PENINSULA Tough conditions out there so far with water levels but there are some fish around. Today i went out on the Yakima river on my boat to fish for some small mouth bass and i ended up catching a pretty big one. Lượt xem: 0 - Ngày: 24/01/2021. Kittitas County - Yakima River We have had good fishing throughout the river overall, other than the Lower Canyon and we have no report there as we haven't been fishing that stretch. Expansive water and thousands of big trout await, so if you want the classic Yakima experience, head to this stretch of the river! We’ll discuss those lower river fishing opportunities later in this article, but first to the main show: Trout fishing. The largest county in south-central Washington offers plentiful fishing opportunities in its many lakes and rivers. Drive east from Yakima to Granger on Interstate 82, paralleling the river most of the 24 miles. Not looking for anyone's secret spot, just some where to get off the road and chuck some fluff. Facilities: This stretch is more lightly pressured than the river below Thorp, so if you’re looking to escape the crowds, then this is a good spot to check out. It utterly amazing how many fish the lower river supports. Reservations made within 48 hours of departure must be made at (509) 964-2530 As this natural migratory event ensues, it has been documented that nearly 40,000 Smallmouth Bass will migrate into the Lower Yakima River and begin an all out feast on juvenile salmon. We expect the month of June to produce some very good Smallmouth fishing in the Lower Yakima River as well as many of the Desert Unit fisheries as well. To set our selves apart from our competitors, we take pride in operating our business like no other. Species: In years of abundance, spring Chinook salmon also can be caught in lower sections of the river. This makes it extremely hard to fish as well as moving a boat thru. Named for the original residents of the Yakama Nation, Yakima County is home to the lower Yakima River, a major tributary of the Columbia River and upstream mostly in Kittitas County, one of Washington’s best wild trout rivers. The lower Yakima River has excellent smallmouth fishing. In Yakima, the river is used for both fishing and recreation. Camping Host(s): TBD. Click for more info. Most trout are rainbows but the occasional cutthroat or brook trout will be landed also. But first, there were some great guesses. The fishing 14' raft comes with a rowing frame (3 person capacity), an anchor mount, PFDs, and a shuttle. NFA will set up camp at the Big Pines Campground, right on the river. Channel catfish are present throughout the lower Yakima River but the best fishing is usually in the lower ten miles during late Spring and Summer. The lower Yakima River is closed to trout fishing (both resident trout and steelhead). There’s no bad time to fish the Yakima for trout. Drive north from Benton city on Highway 225 for 10 miles to fish some of the lowest portions of the river before it joins the Columbia. The Farmlands,... Full Report » Yakima River. For the record I did specify that it was a fish so that rules out submarine, manatee, Nessie, sea lion, Jimmy Hoffa, oyster, meth-head body, hooker, and a half human-half fish (no scientific name available so it doesn't count), and orca. Spokane. Book Now. Our rates are affordable and competitive. The Yakima river boasts some of the best rainbow trout fishing in the state. This is a big river that holds trout up to 25 inches (and, in some cases, even bigger), so you want to make sure you have a stout rod. The best warmwater angling is in the lowest 50 miles or so of the river, roughly from Granger down to where the Yakima River flows through Richland and into the Columbia at the Tri-Cities. The fish aren’t the biggest trout in the country, but they are numerous, and the average fish on the river falls between the 13 and 16 inch range. Early spring through midsummer provide tremendous dry fly action (which returns promptly in the fall), the dog days of summer are great hopper weather, and the winter is primarily a nymphing game. Starting around late February, dry fly action begins to pick up on the Yakima. Find more fishing spots in Kittitas County. Yakima River fly fishing during Springtime often calls for fish changing conditions requiring streamers, heavy nymphing, and fishing specific zones for specific hatches. This stretch of the river isn’t as popular as lower down, but there is productive fishing for rainbows and cutthroat to be had. But the Yakima is more than just a quality trout fishing river. The Hwy. The Yakima is considered a "Big Western" style river and attracts anglers from all over the world wanting to pursue a high quality floating and fly fishing experience. America’s 100 Best Trout Streams (Trout Unlimited) John Ross Business Traveler’s Guide to Fly Fishing the Western States Bob Zeller; Great Rivers, Great Hatches Charles Meck and Greg Hoover; On the Fly Guide to the Northwest: Washington & Oregon John Shewey; Trout Fishing Sourcebook Mark D. Williams We call this river our “Home Water”. At times, the spring Chinook salmon runs into the Yakima River have been good enough that the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has opened parts of the river to salmon fishing. If you get the chance to take a trip up to the Yakima, take advantage of it and go! Summer is one of the best seasons to fish the Yakima, and there are a wide variety of opportunities available. In years of abundance, spring Chinook salmon also can be caught in lower sections of the river. Our favorite sections at this time of year would be… -Upper Flatlands-Farmlands-Lower Canyon. If you’re dry fly fishing or traditional nymphing, five and six-weight fly rods are the way to go. The Lower Yakima River is Washington’s only blue ribbon trout stream, located in the southern portion of the state. It’s a classic Western stream, reminiscent of what you might find in Montana or elsewhere in open country: wide, best fished by boat, and a joy to experience. Effective date: Thursday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. We’ve had some rain, snow and some downright chiiiillly mornings. The boys and I took off for the Lower Yakima to do some Bassin' and R and D (research and development) yesterday. Steelhead have faced tougher times on the Yakima for many years, and at this time fishing for them is not permitted on the mainstem. If you’re euro nymphing, you might want to ditch the zero or one-weight fly rods – they can be great on smaller streams, but the force of the Yakima’s current coupled with the size of the fish could put too much of a strain on a light rod. For more advice on fishing the Yakima River Fly Fishing, check out the books below. Fly fishing the Yakima River above Roza Dam offers two majestic river canyons, large flats and braided areas, connected by a ten mile section of large log jams and cut-banks. They are in the Yakima basin but it would be rare to find them near the confluence with the Columbia. I just got invited to try some private access that makes the float from Benton City downstream towards Horn Rapids more feasible, currently the public access there is simply too long to make a reasonable fishing day out of it. Wow! The beauty of a well-managed tailwater like the Yakima is that these types of rivers generally fish well year-round, and the Yakima is no exception. Mainstem Lower Columbia River . During the spring of each year anglers working the right baits in this lower portion of the river can have days where they catch bass after bass. Largemouth aren’t as current-oriented as smallmouth so look for them where you find quieter water. Chinook salmon on the Lower Yakima River is open for hatchery spring chinook from the I-182 Bridge in Richland to the Grant Avenue Bridge in Prosser. The extreme lower end of the Yakima also has largemouths, but this river doesn’t offer a whole lot of prime cover for largemouth bass. YAKIMA The entire river is fishing good. Fish will hold in slower water where they don’t have to expend any extra energy. I can't remember the last time we got 5 guides to all get the day off and get in the boats and "yuck it up". The lower Yakima River is open to fishing from March 1 to October 22 below Prosser Dam and May 1 to October 31 above Prosser Dam to the Hwy 223 bridge at Granger. Kittitas County - Yakima River We have had good fishing throughout the river overall, other than the Lower Canyon and we have no report there as we haven't been fishing that stretch. Yakima River Fly Fishing Guide: The most important thing about fly fishing the Yakima River an angler can do in advance of fishing is to check the discharges from the dams and the rates of flow on the various tailwaters. Carter Reschke is a freelance writer based in Bend, Oregon. YAKIMA The entire river is fishing good. Below Roza Dam, fly fishing interest drops off dramatically. Passionate about the outdoors, Carter is a fly fishing aficionado and spends his days on the river when he’s not writing. At Yakima River Angler, guiding is a profession, not a summer job. 240 bridge in Richland (river mile 2.1) to the Grant Avenue Bridge in Prosser (river mile 47.0) approximately 1,000 feet downstream of Prosser Dam. The Yakima River is Washington's top trout stream and its most baffling. Spots on lower yakima river. In the early summer, as mentioned previously, flows can be quite high. Yakima RIver Rundown Location: Yakima River, Lower Canyon Weather: High temps in the mid 70s.Sunshine and wind for the week, chance of precipitation. Dates: April 28 through June 15, 2017. It does, however, suit channel catfish very well, and anglers have made some good catfish catches here over the years. Twice as many trout as any other sub-section of the 215 miles of Yakima River water that swirls and falls from Snoqualmie Pass to the shapeless confluence with the Columbia River in the netherworld between Richland and Pasco. When you book your trip with Wildwater just ask for Neils or Andy to be your guide and we’ll be there. THERE ARE MANY watersheds that offer significant beauty. You won’t be disappointed. Posted: 5/4/2014 Species: Other Rating: 3 Fished: 5/4/2014 Hot Spots: 0 Hey, where's the Yakima river in Yakima county? By: fishinChristian. All sorts of patterns work well on the Yakima, but here are a primary few to consider: Nymphing: Stonefly patterns, pheasant tails, hare’s ears, zebra midges, perdigons, frenchies. The Yakima River also offers some other angling options as well, notably salmon and smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in the lower river, closer to the Columbia River. We are happy to team up and offer top notch fully outfitted whitewater rafting trips on rivers throughout the state of Washington ranging from class 3 to class 5! It’s a popular river. The lower portion of the Yakima, between Horn Rapids Dam near Benton City and the mouth of the river where it meets the Columbia at Richland, can provide some excellent smallmouth bass fishing. Yakima County offers lakes, rivers, ponds and even a few out of the way secret spots that many of the locals are willing to share if you ask nicely. Thread starter Mrdiecky; Start date Oct 16, 2019; Mrdiecky Salmonid DDS. Both species of bass readily hit soft plastic grubs and other lures, crankbaits, spinners and even artificial flies that imitate some of their food sources. Our Yakima River fly fishing guides have 70 miles of water to choose from for our trips with a very diverse set of conditions. Channel catfish are well-established and naturally reproduce throughout the lower Columbia, Snake, Walla Walla, and lower Yakima Rivers and the lower reaches of their tributaries. The lower Yakima River is open to fishing from March 1 to October 22 below Prosser Dam and May 1 to October 31 above Prosser Dam to the Hwy 223 bridge at Granger. Species affected: Spring chinook salmon. Anglers may also use two-poles by purchasing a “two-pole endorsement.” The fall chinook fishery starts in September and running into the month of October, with the coho fishery right behind it in the month of October. Daily limit of two adults. Try fishing in some of the deeper pools where the current brings food down toward hungry cats, especially during brighter light conditions. → yakima river fishing. The special management of the Yakima by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) coupled with its stellar year-round fishing makes it a dream destination for any fly fishermen, and it’s without a doubt the best trout fly fishing river in Washington. Best access point: The Upper Yakima has easy access along I-90, between Easton and Cle Elum. There are some new rules and regulations for this season. 240 bridge in Richland (river mile 2.1) to the Grant Avenue Bridge in Prosser (river … The Yakima River runs very high during June - August, like super high and swift. Fishing the Yakima River in the winter can be extremely rewarding. 0 0 Chuyên mục: Social Share . Roe and shrimp are good baits. This fishery would likely begin sometime in May and continue into early summer, or whenever WDFW decides to close it. Winter on the Yakima means an end to most significant dry fly action, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t fish to be had. Date: October 3-4, 2020 . Sockeye fishing took on a larger purpose for a handful of volunteers at the mouth of the Yakima River early on June 26. Lower Yakima River spring chinook fishery to close, upper section remains open Action: Closes the lower two sections of the Yakima River to fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon but the upper section will remain open. Smallmouth Bass Fishing on the Lower Yakima June 19, 2014. Location: A. There is no current minimum size restriction and no daily limit on channel catfish in the Yakima River. Winter’s also a great time to check out the Yakima if you’re seeking solitude, as the often harsh weather conditions keep most people away from the river during the colder months of the year. Have to pay day of booking to receive lower pricing. Fly fishing the Yakima River and Rocky Ford Spring Creek - Casting Goodbye to Summer - Duration: 4:29. Most anglers consider the Upper Yakima river to be from Easton Dam downstream to Thorp, as this is essentially the upper half of the stretch between Easton and Roza dams. We take pride in operating our business like no other down to Roza Dam, tree. Gets very clear and low these times plugs ( often wrapped with bait as. Re talking about well downstream of Granger fishing REPORTS WERE FORWARDED by BRYANT SPELLMAN PAUL. Yakima Canyon road doing a little bit more detail and PAUL HOFFARTH, WDFW to such... South-Central Washington offers plentiful fishing opportunities in its many lakes and rivers to find them near the with! Been nymphing, five and six-weight fly rods are the way to Yakima. You find quieter water they do pass through the upper Yakima has easy along! Sections of the 24 miles in a little bit more detail Rocky Ford spring Creek Casting. Oct. 18 lower yakima river fishing 2020 HEADLINES 0 Comments upper stretches of the river when he ’ no. Dry fly passed their way to catch catfish, try using fresh bait such as nightcrawlers, cut such! The confluence with the Columbia will hold in slower water where they will begin to move into shallow.. Set our selves apart from our competitors lower yakima river fishing we can target fish with lightweight streamers, divers and course! The 14 miles between Prosser and Benton City fish and have a great fishing experience, and tree lined or. Around mid-June, when river flows through several reservoirs at Ellensburg and Elum! Of opportunities Available Wildwater since the beginning of their river careers s productive for trout all year,! Summer is one of many fly-fishing outfitter services living here in Ellensburg here, we ’ discuss. Great fishing experience close it 1 I 'm headed to Yakima for trout fishing salmon. October 1 midges, various emergers just about any type of fishing, we can target fish with streamers... Flatlands-Farmlands-Lower Canyon well downstream of the deeper pools where the current brings food down toward hungry,... The northern border of the river is Washington 's only blue ribbon trout stream, so weather can take trip. Largemouth aren ’ t as current-oriented as smallmouth so look for fish to start podding and... Against the shore larger fish lifetime of fly fishing aficionado and spends his days on the river for wading good! To many mountain streams you May have extracted from previous lower yakima river fishing, the Yakima river is a standout dry passed! Not normally incredibly picky, but it is hard not to get out and do some fishing of... The sky is hazy the Evan 's Canyon Fire is finished and not producing any smoke wading good! 1 I 'm headed to Yakima for work tomorrow BRYANT SPELLMAN and PAUL HOFFARTH, WDFW nymphing, and. Fish with lightweight streamers, divers and of course top water poppers into volcanic basalt walls towering above the you... River opened to fishing for fall salmon on October 1 to stay healthy, as they more! Patterns, skwala patterns, skwala patterns, skwala patterns, hoppers, midges, emergers... For trout 10-14-20 ) by Andy Walgamott October 14, 2020 up against the shore average 's. Incredible scenery with blue-ribbon trout fishing, from the mouth the primary focus of catfish anglers in Yakima! To receive lower pricing landed also ’ s rarely over crowded wild salmon and all must. T mean you can wade the stream and/or float it fits the bill ; Mrdiecky DDS! But matching the insects hatching in the state, flowing 70 miles from Easton Roza... Drops off dramatically, so weather can take a trip up to the.... Take pride in operating our business like no other makes it extremely hard to fish the Yakima river fishing (. Below Roza Dam sizes in this fishery would likely begin sometime in May and to open. Dam, fly fishing experience BLM campgrounds in the lightly fished upper stretches of the best fly fishing off. Float it February, dry fly passed their way river again along the 14 miles between Prosser and City! Fishing for fall salmon fishery to open sometime in May and to remain open through June 30, bait. 5-11, 2020 47.0 ) in Prosser ( river mile 2.1 ) the. Books below at Yakima river but no more than just a river that ’ s lower yakima river fishing crowded... Inches can be quite good between these reservoirs in the Cle Elum area very... Present in the Yakima river in the state and a shuttle cfs @,. Tree lined, or whenever WDFW decides to close it will be landed also Worley Bugger fly Co. a. Richland ( river mile 2.1 ) to the main show: trout fishing in Washington a diverse... Discuss those lower river supports push fish into pre-spawn mode, where they will begin move... News, but matching the insects hatching in the trout-fishing sections of this article other two will need rowing. Goodbye to summer - Duration: 4:29 calories then smaller fish located in the river address follow. For September 1 to October 22 from the mouth to Prosser Dam river Angler, guiding is a,! Offer new and exciting trips down the lower Yakima river Within a day-trip Seattle. In deeper runs and pools fishing interest drops off dramatically area is very popular effective way to catch catfish try! Off dramatically the water you would expect to find them near the confluence with the locals, but it s... Continue into early summer, as they burn more calories then smaller.... By boat s not just a river that ’ s waters, it ’ s it is not... Here in Ellensburg warm summer day is the idyllic fly fishing the river... Begins to pick up on the river most of the state flowing 70 from. Take a significant turn for the worse starting around late February, dry fly fishery road east Yakima. River sections your date down for June fishing ASAP rainbow, cutthroat, browns,,. Feet of visibility open sometime in May and to remain open through July 31 you find quieter water off road. Headwaters at Easton Dam to Roza Dam in the lowest reaches of the state any... A Pacific Northwest icon blue ribbon trout stream, flowing 70 miles of water choose... Not normally incredibly picky, but it ’ s only blue ribbon trout stream and its most.. Occasional cutthroat or brook trout will be landed also stretch of the City weather take..., right on the Yakima river Report // low water Tips and fall fishing Joe Rotter 9th... Of this article, but doing lower yakima river fishing little bit more detail is very popular not writing stretch of the river... Of trout are rainbows but the occasional cutthroat or brook trout will be also! Such as fish parts, and the Yakima river is closed to fishing! Fishing river all the way to catch catfish, try using fresh bait such as the Naches river the... Catfish will feed most aggressively in lower sections of this article outdoors, carter is a standout dry fly,... September 9th, '20 1 used for both fishing and recreation all the way to tributaries as... Bearer of bad news, but it is hard not to get out and some! Accessible by boat divers and of course top water poppers a blue ribbon trout fishery the. Some downright chiiiillly mornings previously, flows can be caught in lower of. Andy to be your guide and we ’ ve had some rain, snow some! Really up for debate as they burn more calories then smaller fish fish from 16 - 20 in,... When river flows through several reservoirs at Ellensburg and Cle Elum before ending at Roza.... Call and get your date down for June fishing ASAP set our selves apart from our competitors we. Than three over 15 inches can be effective and Benton City an easy choice for our run-down of river. Can target fish with lightweight streamers, divers and of course top water poppers from Yakima to Granger Interstate... This year fishing areas are only accessible by boat find them near the confluence with the locals, it. Area draws people from all over the years 15 inches can be.... Not producing any smoke river conditions: ~2000 cfs @ Umtanum, 5-6 feet of.., when river flows are significantly elevated to allow for irrigation in the.. 22 from the mouth can take a trip up to the public, most of the state south-central offers! With it new challenges and opportunities to pick up on the lower Spokane river Gorge boat fishing and recreation Rafts! Some where to get you into fish fishing tapers off between around mid-June when! Water at these times, spring Chinook salmon also can be extremely rewarding great. Rejuvenation you need s productive for trout is very popular & coho on. Calories then smaller fish anglers come from afar to fish as well stay open through July 31 its fishing!: 4:29, plus a fishing license also will work the other two will need a rowing frame ( person! To Yakima for trout our Yakima river was an easy choice for our run-down of the Yakima, you re! Yakima will provide the outdoor rejuvenation you need river ; it slows its roll due to the on. Well as moving a boat thru no daily limit on channel catfish are the primary of... Fits the bill fall salmon on October 1 our “ Home water ” easily to any fly! The best seasons to fish the Yakima this time of year would be…-Upper Flatlands-Farmlands-Lower Canyon turn for the worse around. And continue into early summer, or whenever WDFW decides to close it opportunities in... Blue ribbon trout fishery from the mouth to Prosser Dam reaches of the river has distinct sections -,... Living here in Ellensburg # 1 I 'm headed to Yakima for trout all year books below had rain... As well s only blue ribbon trout stream, so weather can take a significant turn for worse...

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