Anglers, it has been a while since I posted last. I have been busy. I just finished trip number 34 since I started back in March. My partner and I are very fortunate to be this busy with everything that is going on right now. The world is crazy at the moment…again…but thankfully the riverside life for us has been rather ordinary. I will take ordinary. Its these damn unprecedented times I have had enough of.

I am just a trout guide. And a bummy one at that. I run a bare bones kind of operation. There is little flash or pizazz except for my rather awesome demeanor. I run my own shuttles, you bring your own lunch, I tie most of the flies we use and this season even some of the leaders. Shit is getting a little too expensive even for me.

But all that nonsense aside the fishing has been rather good. As far as springs go. Good size of fish, good numbers of fish. Decent hatches, good flows. Weather hasn’t been too bad. Id say a decent spring.

What kind of ushers out the spring is the Salmon Fly and Caddis Hatch. This season the salmon flies are starting a little early. The 75 degree days last week kind of got them moving around. We have seen a few flying and the fish are just now starting to think about them. They are smashing the nymphs and as the hatch progresses and probably peaks around the 7th of May, they are going to start horking down big orange dry flies. It only lasts about 2 weeks if we are lucky. The trout will literally fill up on them, hunker down to digest, and then they switch over to caddis. Usually right when the flows start to come up.

Now I have a full schedule for the Salmon Flies. I think I have May 2nd open and that is it until May 12th. Then we switch over to caddis.

Caddis is some of my favorite on the Yakima. This river is a Caddis river. It is why this place can sustain the population of trout and other fish that it does. Because there are 13 species of caddis down there and all of these fish eat caddis throughout their lives but especially when they are younger. The Lower Canyon of the Yakima River can and does have blizzard caddis hatches. So thick you cannot see the other side of the river bank. A carpet of them on the surface of the river. And big ass trout snorking them into the evening hours.

Its the first time of the season where I will fish until dark and then fish for 30 more minutes. The largest trout in the river, after finally digesting all those salmon flies, and water temps starting to tick up, making them have to eat more…those big trout will wait until dusk, and then gorge themselves on all the caddis. Puking them up, and eating more. Its gross, and its really fun to fish. Nothing like size 12 and 14 dries, slightly skated in the evening and huge fish rolling and smashing them tight to the bank. Its what the lower canyon fishing is all about. Dry flies until dark:30. Awww ya….the slurps. Holy fuck some of the slurps we get during these two hatches anglers. Its awesome.

I have dates open for this caddis bonanza and weather and flows moving forward look exceptional for fishing. I for one am very excited. I thank all of the anglers who have come out this season already. A lot of new faces this year. As always I appreciate my regulars so much and am looking forward to this season. All the new followers, the website traffic, and the trips. Truly means a lot. Entering my 11 Full Time Season of guiding this year has been all I could ask for. Thank you everyone…now…

Let’s go Chase some Trout!

Tamarack

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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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