yakima-river

Yakima River is a river in Washington.

It ranks #1 among the 19 waters of Washington in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called The Yak and Yakima Canyon.

Fished for trout.

Species: rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and brown trout.

USGS GNIS record: 1528343.

Stretches: Lower Canyon, Farmlands, Upper Canyon and Upper Yakima.

Access points: Big Horn, Big Pines, Lmuma Creek, Ringer Loop, Roza and Umtanum.

Irene Rinehart Park (access). It is fishable. Year-round beginner spot per Troutwater owner; Ellensburg area. Also called Irene Rinehart.

Red's Fly Shop (access). It is launchable. Float endpoint of the Bighorn-to-Red's float (about four hours) with shuttle back to Bighorn.

It is on the stretch Lower Canyon.

Squaw Creek (access). It is fishable and launchable. BLM Squaw Creek Recreation Area, about 13 miles below Ringer.

It is on the stretch Lower Canyon.

It is downstream of River View Campground.

Beavertail (access). It is fishable. Part of Western Rivers Conservancy's Yakima Canyon Ranch.

It is on the stretch Lower Canyon.

River View Campground (access). It is fishable. Private; 10.25 miles below Ringer.

It is on the stretch Lower Canyon.

It is upstream of Squaw Creek.

It is downstream of Umtanum.

Float: Bighorn to Red's Fly Shop, from Big Horn to Red's Fly Shop.

Float: Ringer to Roza, from Ringer Loop to Roza, 19 miles.

Float: Ringer to Umtanum, from Ringer Loop to Umtanum, 8.5 miles.

Sourced from 2 independent fly sites.

Sources: americanwhitewater.org, cwuobserver.com, flyfisherman.com, redsflyfishing.com, wenatcheeoutdoors.org and westernrivers.org.

Hatches

Caddis

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

October Caddis

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov hatching
  12. Dec hatching

A 10/19/26 report advises October caddis in the afternoon.

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Midge

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

Months: September to February

  1. Sep hatching
  2. Oct hatching
  3. Nov hatching
  4. Dec hatching
  5. Jan hatching
  6. Feb hatching
  7. Mar
  8. Apr
  9. May
  10. Jun
  11. Jul
  12. Aug

From a coarse month-group chart.

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Winter stonefly (small)

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan hatching
  2. Feb hatching
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Mayflies (BWO, March Brown, Green Drake; unspecified)

Stage: adult. Sourced.

  1. Jan hatching
  2. Feb hatching
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov hatching
  12. Dec hatching

Listed in every month group (January-February, March-May, June-August, September-December); page text names March Browns, Green Drakes and a strong BWO hatch without separate dates.

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Grasshoppers and terrestrials

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Hoppers and foam stonefly attractors fished tight to the banks in summer heat.

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Golden Stonefly

Stage: adult. Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Page text also names summer stoneflies in its description.

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Salmonfly and short-wing stonefly

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Crane flies also listed June-August.

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Skwala

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Sources: fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com, fishingreports.orvis.com

Access, closures and rules change; check with the state agency before you go.