I've flyfished for trout on the Yakima since the early 80's. In that time, I've caught two steelhead on the river. I remember when the new hatchery was put on line at Cle Elum. My ex father in law and I decided to stop by the hatchery to see what was going on. The gate was closed, so we parked the truck and walked around. After a few minutes, a fellow who identified himself as a member of the Yakama tribe asked us what we were doing. We replied we were checking out the new hatchery. We were asked in a not so kind manor to leave the premises immediately.

After a few years of operation, people where singing the praises of the wonderful run of "wild" chinook that had showed up in the upper river. I believe 20K + returned that year. How these "wild" fish somehow made it from the into the rearing ponds near Easton must have been an act of god.

Hatchery Chinook, coho now, sockeye soon, steelhead no doubt in the future. Yakima
River fish factory, not a bright outlook.