Troutline

Yakima River

Washington·Central Washington·46.86° N, 120.48° W
Flow
2,990 CFS
Yakima River at Umtanum
Water Temp
—
Condition
Below Normal
Weather
63°F
Sunny

Insights

Wind
Wind 2 mph — calm
Easy casting and clean surface presentations.
Lunar
New moon tonight
Dark nights — fish are more likely to feed through the day.
Flow
Low flows at 2,990 CFS
Fish are spooky. Lighten tippet and lengthen leaders.
Snowpack
Snowpack snowpack update
Snowpack data for Yakima River basin is limited right now.

The Yakima is Washington's only blue-ribbon trout stream, and it earns the label on the dry, sunny east slope of the Cascades rather than the soggy rainforest side of the state. From Keechelus Dam down to Roza Dam it's managed as a wild, catch-and-release, selective-gear fishery for native redband rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout, with mountain whitefish filling out the bottom of the food chain. Nobody stocks it — the fish are stream-bred and have been protected under catch-and-release rules since the 1990s, which is exactly why a freestone-style desert river that runs through irrigated farmland holds the trout numbers it does. The signature water is the Yakima River Canyon below Ellensburg, a basalt-walled stretch that Highway 821 traces for 25 miles to Roza.

This is mostly a drift-boat river, and the float through the canyon is the classic day — riffle-run-pool water you read from the boat and then get out to wade where it makes sense. The upper river around Easton and Cle Elum is smaller and more intimate, fishable on foot, and it's where the season opens with the skwala stonefly in March. Through the Kittitas Valley farmlands between Cle Elum and Ellensburg the river slows, braids, and runs past a lot of private bank, so that middle reach fishes best from a boat. The hatch calendar is the draw: skwalas and March Browns in early spring, a long PMD and caddis summer once flows drop into shape, and the famous October caddis in fall that brings up the biggest redbands of the year. Fish run 10-16 inches on average with a real shot at something pushing 18-20.

The quirk that defines the Yakima is the irrigation 'flip-flop.' The river is plumbed for agriculture, not anglers, and around the first week of September the Bureau of Reclamation cuts releases from the upper reservoirs and ramps up flows out of Cle Elum to push water down to the lower valley. The upper river drops hard while the canyon comes up — the same week, in opposite directions — which reshuffles where and how you fish. Summer irrigation flows can also run high and pushy through July, so check the gauges before you commit to a reach. Spring runoff blows the river out through much of May and into June. Plan around the flip-flop and the runoff, and the Yakima fishes well from March through November.

Species

SpeciesAbundanceBest SeasonSizeNotes
Redband TroutAbundantMar-Nov10-18"The wild native rainbow of the Columbia Basin and the heart of the fishery. Stream-bred and never stocked — strong, selective fish that average 10-16 inches with some over 18. Best concentrations in the canyon.
Westslope Cutthroat TroutCommonJun-Oct8-16"Native and widespread, more common in the upper river and side channels. Eager dry-fly takers in summer — a good fish to find on a dropper behind an attractor.
Mountain WhitefishAbundantYear-round8-16"Native and everywhere. They hit nymphs aggressively and keep winter days interesting when the trout go quiet.
Ideal wading flow1,500–3,500 CFS
Blow-out>6,000 CFS
Ideal water temp45–62°F

March for skwalas and March Browns before runoff. July-September for PMDs, caddis, and hopper fishing once summer irrigation flows settle. October for the famous October caddis and fall BWOs. Expect high, off-color water through May and into June.

Sections

3 sections on this river

The Upper — Easton to Cle Elum

Wade & FloatRedband · Cutthroat · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

The headwater trout reach below Easton Dam, a smaller, more intimate stretch of riffles, braids, and pocket water than the canyon downstream. Cold and clear out of the reservoir system, it holds wild redband rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout, with the year's first dry-fly action when the skwala stoneflies come off in March. Flows here are tied to irrigation demand and the September flip-flop, which drops this reach hard in early fall.

Best for: Wade fishing for redband rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Skwala stoneflies in March, March Browns and caddis through spring, and a quieter alternative to the canyon crowds.

The Farmlands — Cle Elum to Ellensburg

FloatRedband · Cutthroat · Rainbow Trout

The middle river winds through the Kittitas Valley hayfields between Cle Elum and Ellensburg — slower, braided, brushy water with cut banks, side channels, and overhanging cover that holds good numbers of wild redband rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Access is more scattered than the canyon and much of the bank is private, so this reach fishes best from a drift boat. Summer caddis and PMD evenings can be excellent.

Best for: Float fishing for redband rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout along cut banks and side channels. PMDs and caddis in summer, October caddis in fall.

The Canyon — Ellensburg to Roza Dam

Wade & FloatRedband · Cutthroat · Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Whitefish

The Yakima River Canyon is the signature water — roughly 25 miles of basalt-walled desert canyon from below Ellensburg down to Roza Dam, with Highway 821 tracing the river the whole way for easy access and put-ins at Ringer Loop, Big Pines, Roza, and points between. Steady riffle-run-pool water full of wild redband rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout, plus native mountain whitefish. The September flip-flop raises flows here just as it drops the upper river. This is classic drift-boat dry-fly water — March Browns and skwalas in spring, PMDs and caddis all summer, and the famous October caddis in fall.

Best for: Drift-boat dry-fly fishing for redband rainbow trout, westslope cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish. October caddis in fall, PMDs and caddis in summer, the river's most reliable and most popular water.

Regulations

Current fishing rules and restrictions

Catch-and-release, selective-gear regulations on the wild trout water from Keechelus Dam down to Roza Dam — barbless hooks, artificial flies and lures only, no bait, and no trout may be kept. The river is not stocked. Below Roza Dam the lower river is warmer and managed differently. Always confirm current rules and any emergency closures with WDFW before fishing.

  • Keechelus Dam to Roza Dam: catch-and-release for trout — release all trout unharmed
  • Selective gear rules: artificial flies and lures only, single barbless hooks, no bait
  • No trout may be retained; mountain whitefish rules vary — check current regulations
  • Open year-round on the wild trout reach, but plan around spring runoff and the September flip-flop
  • Below Roza Dam: warmer lower river, separate regulations apply

The September irrigation 'flip-flop' drops the upper river and raises the canyon in the same week — flows swing fast in early fall. WDFW can issue emergency rule changes; check the regulations page and any hoot-owl style heat closures before a summer trip.

Source: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Regulations change annually — verify before fishing.

Access & Logistics

Getting there, fly shops, and lodging

Getting There

Ellensburg, WA

1.5 hrs from Seattle, 2.5 hrs from Tacoma, 30 min from Cle Elum to Ellensburg

Fly Shops

Camping & Lodging

BLM and state campgrounds line Highway 821 through the canyon (Umtanum, Big Pines, Roza, Lmuma Creek). Red's Fly Shop runs a riverside lodge in the canyon. Full services in Ellensburg and Cle Elum.

Highway 821 follows the entire canyon with frequent put-ins and pullouts — the easiest access on the river. The upper river around Easton and Cle Elum has good walk-and-wade access near I-90. The farmlands reach between Cle Elum and Ellensburg crosses a lot of private bank and is best floated.

Conditions data is live from public monitoring networks. Regulations change annually — always verify current rules with your state fish & wildlife agency before fishing.

More in Washington

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Wenatchee RiverWA

A big, cold Cascade river draining out of Lake Wenatchee through Leavenworth and Cashmere to the Columbia. Best known for its returning summer steelhead, plus native bull trout (no-target), westslope cutthroat, and redband rainbows, with major spring chinook, sockeye, and coho runs. Heavy snowmelt means trout fishing is a shoulder-season game around the anadromous runs, which open and close on short notice by WDFW emergency rule.