Its cold. Cold enough my breath plumes with each deep heavy breath. The current tugs at my thighs trying to push me down river. My feet are almost numb, the bite of the rivers’ frigid grasp on my knees.
The sun has tried to break through the high gray cloud cover. The trees have the first hint of new growth on them…aching for the sunlight. As is my body. But my mind welcomes the overcast…the hatch is upon the river. Small blue wing olive mayflies flutter and dance about flirting with flight. The trout just yonder flirting with my heart.
The surface of the water is like glass in the back eddy. A steady spring current brings dainty insects onto the glass. They slow and bounce trying to lift off in the damp afternoon air. It drizzled earlier, my beard still damp. The anticipation builds, my feet slowly move through the heavy cross current, the gravel and rocks click and clock under my felt.
My arm twitches as I postion myself slightly down river of the glass. I watch patiently. The hatch has just begun and the trout holding just up river has only come up once. But once was enough to ignite the drive. I watch, the cold biting the current pulling.
A Rise
My heart quickens. The cold no longer has the sting, adrenaline starts to trickle in.
Another Rise
I pull my line from the reel quietly, my fingers cold as water spurts from the unrolling line. I wait. Enough line measure out flowing in a large green loop in the current below me.
A Dimple
My fly is dressed. The size 18 mayfly imitation between my fingers. Flossed to my fly rod with hair thin line. I will wait…
The river quiets. I watch.
A Rise
Cast. Drift….
….
The fly passes over the glass.
A Rise
Cast. Drift…
A Rise…
The fly disappears under a small nose. The rod lifts and bends.
The Shake and Roll
The trout moves deeper and into faster water. Pulling.
Counter
I lead and the trout follows. The distance betwwen us closes. The heart races, the breath quickens.
Lift
I hold my breath as my net breaks the water. The tension ceases and the dance is finished.
The trout has spots as big as my thumb on the tail. A deep shade of pink from gill plate to back. The cold water on my hand, the trout sliding away back to the glass.
Another Rise just Yonder.
Tamarack
Published by tamaracksguideservice
I have been fishing the Yakima River and its surrounding tributaries, creeks, and lakes for 10 years. I have been tying flies specific to this river for 10 years as well. I have guided not only the river but also many of the hiking and mountaineering trails in the area and fished some of the more remote lakes and streams. I love to fish the Yakima River and have been running my driftboat here for 5 years. I guide a little differently than the other services here and have a slightly different philosophy on guided fishing trips.
Its all about the experience, and while I can't promise there will always be cooperative trout, there will always be good times. I learned from some of the greatest anglers the Yakima has both on the water and at the vise and I guide to share and pass on that knowledge and expertise so others can enjoy this river as much as I do. I love to teach people to fish, I love to teach people how to read the river, and I love showing people the beauty and art of fly fishing. My service is a bit cheaper but that is because I have no shop taking a percentage.
I use a lot of my own fly designs and patterns that no other guide has and have spent the past 10 years fine tuning my tying and patterns specific to this river. I have flies, leaders, tippets, and fly rods and reels, and always welcome anglers to bring their own gear. If you need waders and boots I can arrange for a rental. I support my local fly shop for my trips as well as it is important to me that our local shops stay open.
When you take a trip with me it all about fishing and the experiences that happen along the river. I love getting my clients to have great moments with our trout here. Ask me all the questions you can, I want to teach as much as you want to learn. Whether you are an experienced angler or brand new to the sport I love sharing this river with people. I guide the Yakima River and many other secret waters in the area. When you give me a call I will ask you lots of questions as I want to make sure you have the best experience possible while chasing the trout we have here. Whether its a guided river float or a hike and fish, or a walk and wade to the secret places, I can help make your fly fishing experience memorable and fun.
Give me a call today and lets set up a time to go fishing.
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Tamarack's Guide Service 
We are a couple interested in trout fishing out of CleElum in May if that is a good time. We come from Tacoma and Southern California. I couldn’t find the trip inquiry form but would be interested in your schedule for the spring and whether May is good month for same. Thank for your call or let me know how to reach you. Thank you 253-307-7748