Yak2004reports

Reports are posted as frequently as time and changing conditions dictate. We concentrate on the river from Gladmar to Roza, which generally has the largest and most consistent hatches and most consistent fishing. So our reports are heavily weighted towards this stretch.

12/28/04 The Yakima is great shape. Midging, nymphing and streamers.

12/12/04 The river is up and dirty, but dropping rapidly.

11/26/04 The Yak is currently dropping and in good shape, after rising due to rain and a chinook last week. Midging, nymphing and streamers.

10/22/04 Cloudy fall days have arrived. Great BWO hatches and lots of rising fish. Size 18 and 20 BWOs, size 16 Mahoganys, a few Cahills, small hatches of size 18 grey Caddis and a few October caddis.

9/18/04 Flows are approaching fall levels (approx. 1500 cfs at umtanum today) and should continue to drop over the next few weeks. Fish have begun to look for BWOs and a few Mahoganys, Cahills and Caddis (size 18 olive, size 18 grey and a few Octobers). Dry fly has been O.K. to good and nymphing has been fair to very good over the last week.

9/3/04 Cooler weather and dropping river levels over the past week have produced excellent fishing. Summer Stones and terrestrials are dry fly mainstays. Other hatches: Caddis, PED's, craneflies, Cahills, BWOs and Yellow Mays.

8/12/04 Hoppers and other terrestrials have been very productive over the last week, morning through late afternoon. Big attractors and Stonefly imitations have been working best in the morning and evening. Look for the best Caddis hatches very early and very late. Hatches include: hoppers, ants, beetles, craneflies, summer stones, BWOs, PEDs, Yellow Sallies and Caddis. Important Caddis: Spotted Sedge, Little Tan Short-Horned sedge, Grannom (Brachycentrus americanus) and Micro Caddis. Hot weather over the last few days hasn't affected the fishing significantly. The Yak has been dropping gradually over the last week and is currently aprox. 3500 cfs at Umtanum. Hot weather and dropping levels result in warmer river temps, handle fish with extra care.

7/29/04 Excellent dry stone fishing in the evening Tues. Slow Wed. Good dry fly morning and afternoon Wed. with hoppers and attractors. Not many PED's Wed. evening, but good Caddis.

7/24/04 Summer Stones (Shortwing Stones) have slowed somewhat, probably due to hot weather over the last few weeks. The adults (male and female) began emerging mid June this year and have been a reliable hatch. Evenings generally provide the best dry fly fishing using big stone and attractor patterns. Pale Evening Dun and Caddis (primarily Spotted Sedge) hatches have been pretty reliable, particularly during the hot weather of the last few weeks. These are primarily evening hatches. Terrestrials (ants, beetles and hoppers) can be productive any time of day. Other hatches include PMDs, Craneflies, BWOs and Yellow Sallys and can be important, depending on the weather and section of river.

7/2/04 Summer stones are emerging. Caddis, Yellow Sallys, PEDs, PMDS, BWOs, Craneflies and Terrestrials. The Yak is at summer levels. Good dry fly morning and evening.

6/17/04 Unspectacular but reliable fishing. Nymphing has been good. Dry has been unpredictable. Summer Stones nymphs are becoming active. PMDs, PEDs, Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedge), Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge), BWOs, Big Yellow Mays, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallys, Craneflies and Terrestrials. Hatches have been mostly light. Warmer weather this week should help, particularly late afternoon and evening hatches. The Yak is currently on the rise due to reservoir releases for irrigation. The color remains good.

5/31/04 An abundance of cool, cloudy days over the last few weeks has produced reliable, prolonged hatches. PMDs, BWOs, #18 green Caddis, #18 tan Caddis, Big Yellow Mays, Little Tan Mays, PEDs and small terrestrials.

5/02/04 Good Grannom and Hydropsyche (caddis) hatches. Fishing the last few days has been very good. The Yak is low for this time of year, but is in great shape.

4/21/04 Cool weather has slowed the Grannom hatch. Dry fly action has been mediocre since Monday, but nymphing has been good. Warmer weather is forecast for Sun and Mon.

3/2/04 Good dry Skwala fishing today as well as some BWO and Midge action. The canyon is still off color, but not enough to affect dry fly fishing. The Yak is clear above Wilson Creek.

2/28/04 The Yakima is currently off color due to rain and snow melt. Skwala nymphs have been active and we've seen a few adults. Midges have been good and BWO hatches are beginning to build.