Yak2003reports

Reports are posted as frequently as time and changing conditions dictate. The purpose of this report is not to give specific details on one day fishing one stretch of the river, but rather to provide a good overview of what is currently happening on the Yakima. The Yakima has over 65 miles of great trout water. Good fishing is available throughout the system.

11/30/03 The Yakima rose rose 1000cfs (umptanum) on the 29th. Fishing had been good, particularly midging and should be good again as the river drops. Best fishing will be at even flows and rising temps.

11/23/03 Cold weather has dropped the Yakima back into shape after more than tripling in size last week due to snow and then rain and warm temps. Fishing had been slow to good, mostly nymphing and streamers, but with a few good midging days. Fishing is currently slow due to very low water temps, but should pick up as the weather warms this week.

10/19/03 Good fishing. #22 to #16 BWOs, #14 Mahogany Duns, a few Cahills, #18 grey Caddis and Midges. Best hatches are on cloudy days.

9/30/03 The Yak is at fall levels, 1100 cfs at Umtanum and 700 cfs at Ellensburg. Summer Stones are mostly done for the year. Current hatches: Cahill, BWO, October Caddis orange# 10, Caddis (tan #16 and grey #18), and midges. Cahills and BWOs have been good on cloudy days. BWOs should be in full swing as soon as cooler weather arrives.

8/30/03 The Yakima has gradually dropped this month from a high of 4300 cfs to 2900 cfs today (measured at Umtanum). Hopper fishing has improved in the last few weeks. Current hatches: Caddis (tan, pale green and grey), PEDs, Yellow Mays, BWOs, Yellow Sallys and Summer Stones. The evening Caddis hatch (mostly tan #16) can be fairly strong, all other hatches have been mostly light. Summer Stones should begin their Sept. surge soon.

7/28/03 Summer flows and sunny days. Best dry fly: early and late. Mostly nymphing during the heat of the day. Same bugs as the previous report.

7/8/03 The Yakima is in great shape and fishing well. Slightly lower than normal summer flows and good water temps. Current Hatches: Summer Stones, PMDs, Caddis, Pale Evening Duns, Yellow Sallys, BWOs and terrestrials, all mostly light to moderate. Best dry fly fishing: early morning and evening. Nymphing has been more productive during late morning and afternoon.

6/9/03 Increased flows for irrigation from Cle Elum reservoir on the 3rd, 4th and 5th have raised the Yak to summer levels. Fishing results have slowed, but will pick up as fish adjust to the higher flows.

5/28/03 The Yakima rose aprox. 1200 cfs and visibility decreased due to warm weather the 23rd, 24th and 25th. Fishing slowed briefly but is good once again. Caddis, PMDs, BWOs, Yellow Mays, Yellow Sallys, Terrestrials and a few big Stones. The past few weeks, the Yak has produced good numbers of big fish.

5/6/03 Cooler temps have slowed the Grannom hatch. Current hatches include: Caddis, PMDs, BWOs, March Browns, Yellow Sallys, Salmon flies, Golden Stones, midges and Crane flies. Hatches have been somewhat unpredictable. Generalized hatches by section: Lower 20 miles: Caddis, PMDs, BWOs and Yellow Sallys. Middle 20 miles: Caddis, PMDs, BWOs, March Browns and Yellow Sallys. Upper 20 miles: Caddis, March Browns and Stone flies. Bring a good selection of flies. The river is in good shape, although low for this time of year. Since the river is low, the lower (desert) canyon is off color after mixing with normal muddy irrigation flows from Cherry Creek (via Wilson Creek).

4/28/03 The Grannom hatch is going strong again. Sundays hatch was explosive. Too many bugs. Fishing was easier after the main hatch. Still some March Browns from Ellensburg up. Some BWOs.

4/24/03 Flows increased a few hundred cfs yesterday due to rain. Clarity decreased slightly, but is still good. Cooler than predicted air temps have dropped temps in the Yakima a few degrees, enough to slow the Grannom hatch significantly. High water temp yesterday was 50.5. Some March Browns, mostly above Ellensburg, mediocre BWO and Caddis hatches. Hatches can be good in spots. Decent dry fly fishing currently. Nymphing was good yesterday- Salmon fly and Summer Stone nymphs, Caddis larva and BWO nymphs.

4/22/03 As water temps approach 53-54 degrees, we are beginning to see strong Grannom hatches. High water temp in the lower canyon yesterday was 52.75 degrees. Flows remain good, although the start of the irrigation season has Wilson Creek (from Cherry Creek) dumping increased loads of mud into the lower canyon. Good March Brown hatches still from Ellensburg up. Can be very localized. BWOs can still be good, cloudy days are best.

3/25/03 The Yakima rose an average of 600 cfs Saturday with good color. The river began dropping rapidly early Sunday morning. Fishing remained good for the weekend. Current hatches include: Skwala, BWOs, Caddis, midges and March Browns. The fish are looking up!

3/19/03 The Yak has been dropping and clearing for the past few days. Clarity is still below average. Fishing currently is decent. Skwala, BWOs and a few Caddis.

3/12/03 Fishing has been great. Skwala and BWOs. Unfortunately the river is rising and off color currently. Basin lakes have been good.

2/26/03 Cold overnight temps have dropped and cleared the Yakima. Somewhat slow fishing, but warmer temps this week should get things going. Skwala nymphs and adults, caddis larva and a few midges.

.2/3/03 The Yakima is currently blown, but is dropping rapidly as cooler and drier weather has replaced the warm, wet conditions of the last few weeks