Yak2002reports

Reports will be posted as frequently as time and motivation allow. Major changes in fishing
conditions will be reported as promptly as possible.

10/9/02 Fishing has been good. Current hatches: #16 to # 22 BWOs, #16 Light Cahills, #10 October Caddis, #18 tan Caddis, #18 grey Caddis, #8 Summer Stones and a few terrestrials.

9/22/02 Average current river levels: Cle Elum: 600 cfs, Ellensburg: 800 cfs, Umtanum: 1300 cfs. Good numbers of Summer Stones are active throughout the day in the lower river. A mixed bag of sparse hatches morning and afternoon include: BWOs, Caddis, October Caddis, Cahills and Yellow Mays. Terrestrials are still active as well. Look for Summer Stones, PEDs, Caddis and October Caddis in the evening. Good nymphing and occasional good dry fly.

9/4/02 The annual flip-flop is under way and should be complete by the 10th. Fish are moving away from the banks into newly exposed structure. Caddis, terrestrials and nymphs morning to afternoon. Stones, Caddis and Pale evening duns afternoon to evening.

8/12/02 Dry fly is generally best in the morning and evening (caddis, a few mays, some yellow sallys and summer stones). Mostly nymphing during the hottest hours of the day, but don't overlook terrestrials.

7/9/02 Good fishing and much lower flows. Summer stones are active and fish are looking for nymphs and adults. See the report from 6/27 for other active bugs.

6/27/02 The Yakima has been running at higher than average summer flows, but continues to fish well. Excellent nymphing. Decent dry fly fishing, but very dependant on time, section and weather. Caddis (tan # 16 and 14, dark olive # 18, 16 and 14, tan and pale green # 16 and 14, bright green # 16), PMDs, Yellow May, BWO, Yellow Sallys, Crane flies and terrestrials (Ants and Beetles). See hatch chart and click on links for more details.

6/23/02 The Yakima is once again at fishable levels, although it is currently trending upwards. Fair to good fishing.

6/12/02 The river from Easton to Roza is in great shape. Excellent fishing the last few days. Caddis, PMDs, Yellow Mays, Yellow Sallys and terrestrials.

6/9/02 The Yakima is dropping rapidly and should be at normal June levels by tomorrow, barring more large releases from the reservoirs. Color is good today. Caddis, PMDs, terrestrials, and Yellow Sallys.

5/12/02 The 11th produced Grannom flights from 10 am to 8 pm. Best dry fly fishing was from 2 till dark. The Yak is currently on the rise, but the color is still good.

5/7/02 The entire river is in good shape due to cooler weather. The Grannom hatch is on hold for the most part as a result of cooler water temps. Current hatches include caddis, PMDs, golden stones, salmon flies and BWO's. All are generally sparse.

4/13/02 The river is up and out. This could last for a while. Fishing should rebound once the Yakima has been stable for a few days. Check river levels here. Basin lakes are fishing well, with good Calibaetis hatches.

4/8/02 River levels have been trending upward for the last two weeks, with occasional periods of fair fishing. The Yakima is currently off color from Roza to Easton. Mostly poor fishing.

3/28/02 Most of the Yakima is off color. The upper stretches remain clean, but hatches there are fairly sparse. Die hard anglers will still find a few rising fish from Roza to Thorp.

3/15/02 Great BWO hatches between 12 and 2:30. Trout are looking for Skwala adults in the afternoon and the river is in great shape.

2/25/02 The Yakima tripled in flow on the 22nd due to warm weather and melting snow. The river is currently dropping and should be in good shape later this week. Skwalas and BWOs have been emerging sporadically, but aren't particularly important to the dry fly fisherman yet. Dry midging has been O.K., but nymphing is much more productive. A wide variety of nymphs are active, but Skwala and summer stone nymphs, baetis (BWO) nymphs, midge pupas and net building caddis larva are the best producers.