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.
The fishing has started off nicely for the spring. Skwallas are just getting started. This next week is when they will pop and should last through the first week of April.
We’ve had some decent fishing, and of course, the guides’ day off yesterday was slow, but trips and the lower canyon section of the river is producing!
I always end up moving things around in the spring, which opens up some dates. I have the 17th thru the 20th now open, and that will be during peak skwallas. Grab a day or maybe just a half day to hit the hatch and let’s go chase some trout.
I’m only here until May 10th then I’m gone until Septermber. Get on the Yakima this spring with me before it’s too late!
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.
I can’t wait to be on the river with my boat under me and oars in my hands. It’s been over 80 days.
I have had so excited schedule shuffling ad you do in the spring, which has opened up some dates.
March 3rd, 8th, 14th. Spring Clinic March 30th.
April 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th
May 2nd and 6th for Bass Only!
I am also running a Refer a Friend 10% off Discount. Refer a friend to book one of the open dates or a spot on the March 30th Spring Clinic. You both will receive 10% off your trip totals.
I’m trying to get the whole calendar as filled as possible.
The May Open Dates are Bass Only Trips in my new motorized skiff.
Reserve today, save some money if you’ve got friends, and help me fill up my Spring Season!
Thank you so much for booking up my 2024 season! I have almost all my dates filled for the Yakima and I am so excited and grateful.
I’m only a few weeks away from getting back to it. I’m stoked to see familiar faces and a lot of new clients and some first time anglers this season.
My first run of trips are coming up soon, and I’m really looking forward to incorporating workshopping, journal use, advanced skill building, and pre amd post trip follow-up work. All to give clients and anglers the best experience while building confidence, knowledge, and skillsets for success without a guide and to really get into the river with a guide.
I only have 10 dates left on the spring calendar. Booked up three more today! I had to move which dates were open around, so I wasn’t booked 15 days in a row and to leave wiggle room for potential reschedules. We can also bump dates to the fall if the eiver just won’t cooperate. Fall dates are still open but are going fast, and I am leaving dates blocked off for reschedules.
Tamarack's Guide Service 