The mountains are shrouded.  Their folds and peaks covered by wispy soft clouds hung heavy with the passing rain. The sun pokes through the deep blue, illuminating the emerald green river that flows its familiar path through the canyon.

I drove highway 10 this afternoon.  I haven’t set eyes on the Yakima since October. I missed it.

I have made a trade of water.  The tannin leaf filled rivers of Michigan, slow and shallow, sandy and filled with logs, twigs, and sticks…teeming with fish waiting for winter to break.

For the wide, deep, and fast rolling rivers of the west.  The familiar Yakima River, every inch known, fish named, riffle, run, pocket, shelf as if it were my own home. The feel of the river under the boat, and the steady beating of oars against the fast and predictable current.

I missed parts of this place. The change in scenery since October has been vast. The Yakima is but an ever so small piece of the world of fishing and the world in general. Travel reminds me of the comfort of this place but also how much I long for different. 

Now I get to travel between the two.  Trading the waters of one place for another, enjoying each and rediscovering a passion for the old, and exploring, fulfilling passions with the new.

I am happy to be back.  I am excited to embrace the river after a long offseason away.  To share in experiences the river blesses us with.  To tickle a trout, create a smile, shake a hand, and release a fish.  A trade of water.

Tamarack

Unknown's avatar

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.

Leave a Reply