Yakima River Trout
Yakima River Fly Fishing Guides
The Yakima River is one of the most accessible fly fishing destinations in Washington, making it an ideal day trip for anglers. Located less than a two-hour drive from Seattle, it offers easy access points and boat launches, allowing for both guided float trips and wade fishing opportunities. Whether you’re an experienced angler or new to the sport, the Yakima provides a diverse and rewarding fishery for all skill levels.
Our Yakima River fly fishing guides are fortunate to have three key ingredients for an exceptional fishery: wild trout, steady water flows, and an abundance of summer stoneflies, making for outstanding fishing during the warmer months. On top of that, with the recent consistent runs of salmon, Yakima trout have turned more predatory, and the streamer patrol dominates large catches!
the natural beauty of
central Washington
As you immerse yourself in its waters, you’ll be surrounded by diverse wildlife, including deer, eagles, and bighorn sheep that inhabit the river’s scenic corridors. This rich ecosystem not only enhances the fishing experience but also provides a tranquil backdrop, making each trip on the Yakima River a memorable adventure.
Less than 2 hours from seattle
An Easy Day Trip
Take a break and join us for a perfect day on the Yakima river!
Inquire Here
Yakima River Highlights
Season
April — August
Target Species
Rainbow Trout & Westslope Cutthroat
Techniques
Dry Fly — Nymph — Streamer
Headquarters
Yakima, WA
Yakima River Resources
River Flows
USGS — Yakima River Flows at Umtanum
River Flows Forecast
NOAA — River Flow Forecasts
Ellensburg Weather
NOAA — Ellensburg Weather
Weather Forecast
NOAA — 10 Day Outlook
Yakima River Trout Photos
Trip Information
Yakima River Day Fishing Trips
**Day Trips Include: guide, flies, all terminal tackle and necessary fishing gear.**
**Not Included: Washington State sales tax, all necessary Washington State fishing licenses and tags, and travel to and from your guide meeting location.**
**Guide will provide cooler with ice, drinks and snacks. Guest will need to bring their own light lunch.**
TYPICAL Yakima GUIDE TRIP DAY
6:30 AM – 7:00 AM
Your guide will meet you at your lodging or a designated location near the river. Depending on water levels and the season, we may start earlier to take advantage of the best fishing conditions.
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
After meeting up, we’ll finalize the game plan for the day based on current hatches, water flows, and weather conditions. The Yakima River offers a variety of sections, from the braided channels and large flats above Roza Dam to the freestone waters near Cle Elum. Your guide will determine the best stretch to fish for the day.
8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
We’ll launch the boat and spend the day floating and fishing. Depending on the season, we might be throwing big dry flies during the summer stonefly hatch, nymphing deep runs in the spring, or swinging streamers in the fall. The Yakima’s wild rainbows, cutthroat, and cut-bows provide a diverse and rewarding fishery.
A break for lunch will be taken mid-day, either riverside or in the drift boat, depending on conditions and angler preferences.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
As the day winds down, we’ll fish the final section before taking out at one of the many boat ramps along the river. If conditions allow, we may squeeze in a last-minute evening hatch session, casting to rising fish as the sun drops.
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
We’ll wrap up the day and return you to your vehicle or lodging. If you’re looking for post-trip dining options, The Canyon River Grill near Ellensburg offers a fantastic setting right along the river, perfect for recapping the day’s highlights over a well-earned meal.
Lodging in the Yakima Valley
Ellensburg Lodging
Resources for lodging option in Ellenburg, Washington
Cle Elum Lodging
Resource for lodging options in Cle Elum, Washington
Yakima Valley Lodging
Resource for lodging options in Yakima, Washington
VRBO
Options for your entire group in Kittitas County, Washington
How To Get Here
Meeting Place: we prefer to pick up at your lodging location provided it’s a suitable range. Otherwise 9 am Jennica’s Coffee House 1300 N Dollarway Rd, Ellensburg, WA 98926.. Meeting details should be arranged a few days ahead of trip.
Our Fly Fishing Guide To The Yakima River
Streamflow Chart | Float & Wade Conditions
Wading Conditions:
If you’re wading, 1,000 CFS or lower is ideal. At these flows, usually in spring and fall, you’ll have better access to soft edges, gravel bars, and feeding lanes. Wade fishing here is about picking apart seams and working the water methodically.
Floating Conditions:
When flows hit 4,000–6,000 CFS in summer, wading gets tough, but the drift boat fishing turns on. High water pushes trout to the banks, making it prime time for hoppers, stoneflies, and streamers. Covering water fast and hitting structure with big flies is the name of the game.
Stay dialed in on flows and fish accordingly — the Yakima rewards those who can adjust with the river.
Yakima River Flows
Fly Fishing Techniques & Seasonal Strategies
Summer: Run & Gun Approach
The high summertime flows offer a “run and gun” style of angling for our Yakima River guide trips. This approach is very technical in casting and rewarding when it comes together in the act of getting trout to rise inches from cover to our offerings.
Spring: Changing Conditions & Hatch Matching
The shoulder months offer complete counteraction to the high water of summer. Yakima River fly fishing during Springtime often calls for fish changing conditions requiring streamers, heavy nymphing, and fishing specific zones for specific hatches. During spring on the Yakima, we have the opportunity to fish to risers with a variety of insects from Green or Grey Drakes to Caddis and Skwalla Stones.
Fall: Low Water & the Egg Drop
The fall season again changes the conditions on the Yakima when the days become shorter and the water drops from 3-4 thousand cfs. to 1200 cfs. and lower. We fish much smaller hatches like 16-20 size Mahogany Duns and Blue Winged Olives etc. Then there’s the “egg drop” which follows a completely different set of rules, if you will. This time frame also brings out the big guys gorging on the best food of the year fattening up for winter… and it can be a spectacle!
Yakima River Trout
Native Trout Species
The wild trout on the Yakima River consist of native Westslope cutthroat trout and wild rainbows.
Distribution of Trout
For the most part, the “cutties” are found in the upper Yakima River above the diversion. Wild rainbows – both “red sides” and “Gerard” are found throughout the system, while Cutt – Bows (hybrid Cutthroat and Rainbow) are found predominantly above the Thorp area.
Sections of The Yakima River
Yakima River Above Roza Dam
Our Yakima River fly fishing guides have 70 miles of water to choose from for our trips with a very diverse set of conditions. 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.
Yakima River Near Cle Elum
Fly fishing the Yakima near Cle Elum includes spring creek attributes and a freestone geography throughout.
Yakima River Hatches & Seasonal Fly Selection
Summer Stoneflies & Terrestrials
The summer stoneflies on the Yakima offer both the trout and the angler opportunity, food in big bites for trout, and flies in big dries for the angler. The Yakima stonefly hatch runs from July through September and is the prevailing food source during these warm summer months. Combine the stoneflies with hoppers, beetles, crane flies, and ants, and you could say that our Yakima River fly fishing trips are exclusively a “big bug” game.
Fishing with Big Dries
Maybe it’s not 100% big dries all the time, but I have never fished the Yakima River without using some kind of stonefly or terrestrial during the summer months. So what does this mean for us as anglers? It means we can choose to fish the Yakima with the dry fly nearly anytime with one that is large and visible and do this on the move from a drift boat covering many miles a day.
Catch & Release
The Yakima River is a year-round, catch-and-release fishery managed under selective gear regulations, which means anglers are required to use single, barbless hooks, and the use of bait is prohibited. These regulations are designed to protect and preserve the river’s wild trout populations, ensuring a sustainable and enjoyable fishing experience for all.
Before planning your trip, it’s essential to consult the WDFW official regulations to stay informed about any updates or emergency rule changes that may affect fishing on the Yakima River. The WDFW also provides an annual fishing pamphlet detailing statewide rules and regulations, which can be accessed online.
Additionally, the Fish Washington® mobile app offers up-to-date fishing regulations on your mobile device, ensuring you have the latest information at your fingertips.