Tailwater · Mixed · Washington

Yakima River

Yakima River venue image
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The Yakima is Washington's blue-ribbon trout river, and it is unapologetically a trout river — not a steelhead stop.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for cutthroat trout
Ideal
9°C est.ideal 9–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for cutthroat trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
20°C
Wind
N 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.3 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for cutthroat trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Selective gear (single barbless, artificial only), catch-and-release trout Keechelus–Roza, year-round
  • Whitefish retainable Dec 1–Mar 31
  • Closed near dams; motor limits near Roza
  • Verify WDFW.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Yakima is Washington's blue-ribbon trout river, and it is unapologetically a trout river — not a steelhead stop. Through the Canyon it's a drift-boat classic: wild rainbows (with westslope cutthroat in the upper reaches and tributaries) holding on the seams and under the basalt walls, with mountain whitefish to keep your nymph honest through the winter. The catch is that the Yakima is a working river first and a fishing river second. Its flows are run for irrigation, and the seasonal 'flip-flop' can swing the river from a wadeable trout stream to a pushy float almost overnight — so the read here is the release, not the rainfall. Stable flow is your friend; a sudden ramp is the warning. The hatches are generous when the river settles: skwala stones in early spring, March browns, caddis, PMDs and BWOs, terrestrials through the summer, and streamers when the water colors. Watch the reservoir releases on the Bureau of Reclamation Hydromet the way a tailwater angler should, pick a stable window, and the Canyon will fish beautifully.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December