The upper Yakima is open now for spring Kings. What would people recommend using to fish it? Should we use mag warts or what???
Where do you recommend floating from?

Thanks,
Melissa

The upper Yakima is open for the next 4 weekends. It sounds like selective gear rules and no C&R. Anglers are done fishing when catching a Salmon, whether keeping it or not. Well I guess C&R one.

This should make the trout flyfisherman real happy . I floated the Yakima the last two weekends, and indeed it is loaded with Kings. Although barbless hooks are not mandatory, pinch 'em anyway. I would hate to see a 20" wild rainbow with half of it's face ripped off. Leave the bait at home. The area they have open is not the prime holding water, that area is farther upstream.

[This message has been edited by salmontackler (edited 06-09-2000).]

What should I use? I think that I am going this weekend. What part is open Teenaway to Rosa dam???

pink

What should I use?

Yakima will be crowded beyond belief...Does the Icicle ring a bell? lol
bring a rock to stand on, or a skinny boat.

I didn't look like anyone had any luck fishing for dem darky kings. It must of been frustrating to watch all of those 18" trout sip dry flies all day long. My advise, bring two rods next time. Cause you aint gonna catch many of dem darkies without bait , but if you put on a #16 PMD(barbless!) ya just might catch few beautiful wild rainbows on the surface .
So next time you get bored of pulling divers and plugs for the elusive yakima spring king, and there just happens to be about 7 zillion mayflys flying about. Whipout the 5 weight flyrod and spank a few redsided beauties, just don't spank 'em to hard.


Catch and release all wild trout

[This message has been edited by salmontackler (edited 06-11-2000).]

First of all the Yakima River from Lake Easton to Rosa Dam falls into selective fisheries, catch & release regs. Whether these have been lifted for salmon I don't know. I'd check WDF&W web site for special regs and openings. This is an awesome trout fishery and some fly fishers have hooked some chinook while fishing for trout. Most have been using large patterns, streamers, muddler minnows, wooly buggers, etc. Swinging these flies at areas where currents meet i.e. downstream end of islands, can produce large trout and I would assume the possible Chinook. The Yak is very tough to wade except in limited areas. Drift boat almost manditory. If not sure of floats check before shoving off. There are some areas that are just plain dangerous and also there are dams that block downstream navigation. Been floating the Yak for over 15 years and know how this river changes seasonaly. Some floats also very long (15 miles). Do your research before floating. Believe there is a web site with map of river, put-ins take-outs and other info. If I can find it I'll post it on this post. Tight Lines& Smilin' Faces
Here's a web site page with a map of river. www.worleybuggerflyco.com/yakima.htm
Also go to home page and click on Yakima Caynon Map on left side menu on this site a better map of lower canyon exsist.
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[This message has been edited by rod 'n' reel (edited 06-14-2000).]

The final score for the 1st weekend ended up being 309 fisherman caught 17 fish. Not exactly redhot fishin. But it is reel nice to see something open that hasn't been opened for 40yrs.

I tried river salmon fishing for the first time this weekend and it was great! From the upper Yakima, saturday I caught a 15 pound Chinook on a red wiggle wort and on Sunday I caught a 21" Jack on the same plug. If you got indurance they can be caught from shore, and what a payoff! They seemed to slow down later sunday, but I will give it a try again next weekend.

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Hookedonfishing (edited 06-19-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Hookedonfishing (edited 06-23-2000).]

I am glad to here that there are fish being caught. Is that the Orange-Red wiggle warts or just red? Would mag warts work??

Chris

The one I used was 5 yrs old and red with black dots, but I don't see those around any more. The red mag-wart with black stripes is very close and actions just the same. I had some strikes on a Hotshot #35 gold as well. The fish seem to be up near or past Thorp.

Does anyone know how far up they may be?

Thanks
Jon.