[BobbyZ]

Are parts of the Yak wadable this week? I see river flows are going down. I only done a float of the Yak was looking to do some wade fishing this weekend but my buddy that was going to show me around a bit had to cancel.

Any recommendations for easy access (rookie here)? Anyone heading out and mind an extra tagging along?

 

[SERE Nate]

Not in the Canyon

 

[BobbyZ]

i am thinking more towards cle elum

 

[River Is Polluted]

IMHO it is time to wait until after Labor Day (or a couple of weeks later when fish find their new waters) when the river levels drop dramatically and makes the Yak very wadeable...

 

[wetline dave]

A good rule of thumb for wading is flows at or under 2000 cfs at Umtanum. And at 2000 cfs it is still a bit dicey in some areas and one should not wade deep, deeper than mid thigh.

When flows drop below 1800 cfs a lot more river will become available and wading more enjoyable but still not suited for deep wading in most areas.

Rivers are not forgiving and to fall in with waders is not going to turn out well in a lot of instances. Even in knee deep water it is a real bitch to get back up on your feet. There isn't a fish that is worth a rod or reel and maybe your life.

Dave

 

[BobbyZ]

A good rule of thumb for wading is flows at or under 2000 cfs at Umtanum. And at 2000 cfs it is still a bit dicey in some areas and one should not wade deep, deeper than mid thigh.

When flows drop below 1800 cfs a lot more river will become available and wading more enjoyable but still not suited for deep wading in most areas.

Rivers are not forgiving and to fall in with waders is not going to turn out well in a lot of instances. Even in knee deep water it is a real bitch to get back up on your feet. There isn't a fish that is worth a rod or reel and maybe your life.

Dave

yes...making it home safe is the number one priority. Not looking to get out too deep, but understand that the Yak runs bank to bank most time.

So you are saying i need boat.....interesting.

 

[Stonefish]

I think it really depends on what you define as wading.
If crossing the river is what you are talking about, then no on wading right now.
If wading means fishing the banks, then yes. Regardless of how high the Yak is unless it is flooding, there are almost always places you can wet a line and have success.
SF

 

[BobbyZ]

I think it really depends on what you define as wading.
If crossing the river is what you are talking about, then no on wading right now.
If wading means fishing the banks, then yes. Regardless of how high the Yak is unless it is flooding, there are almost always places you can wet a line and have success.
SF

Yes. Bank fishing or close to it. Not interested in swimming across.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[blackbird]

Yak is flooding meadows in the tri cities right now.
Cant speak for upstream myself.
j

 

[SeattleFarq]

I was on the upper Yak very briefly on Sunday above the confluence with the Cle Elum River. The flow was around 800 CFS and it was technically wadable (in that I was standing in the water, but not far from the bank). The water was nice and clear, but it was moving pretty good. I took a peek at the Cle Elum River, too - it's running high, but not like the Yak further down stream. If I were to go back, I would fish that river as it tends to braid a bit more than the upper Yak. There should be wadable side channels and pools. I've only been out there twice, so I'm no use for locations. Give Troutwater a call.

Looks like flow rates are down a bit from Sunday, but we're due for more rain this week. Check this out for regional flow data - https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yaktea.html

 

[Alex MacDonald]

way WAY to high until Fall. According to Bureau of Reclamation, right now at Umtanum, it's at 4,000cfs. Even in a boat, that's "run & gun" fishing. And pretty soon, the irrigation demands will kick in, and it'll stay that high until the Fall flip, when it reverts to low flows. I'd advise looking elsewhere, but options are few and far between this time of year.

 

[Old Man]

Try the river around Easton. Go behind the Ponds. It is hardly a secret place if I found it with no trouble.

 

[Stonefish]

way WAY to high until Fall. According to Bureau of Reclamation, right now at Umtanum, it's at 4,000cfs. Even in a boat, that's "run & gun" fishing. And pretty soon, the irrigation demands will kick in, and it'll stay that high until the Fall flip, when it reverts to low flows. I'd advise looking elsewhere, but options are few and far between this time of year.

Alex,
I'll kindly disagree. You can certainly catch fish off the bank on the Yak with it a 4,000 cfs, especially in the summer.
That high water pushes the fish right up next to the bank. If a person looks for areas with rip rap etc, they can have some excellent days.

Prior to the tracks being utilized by the railroad again, if a person was willing to hike you could have some great high water fishing days.
Even without utilizing the tracks, there are still lots of places to fish on high water.

There is nothing more fun on the Yak in my opinion fun then casting a dry fly directly upstream next to the bank. Watching a large bow or cutt emerge from behind a soft water spot created by a rock is a hell of a lot of fun.
Don't get me wrong, fall is my favorite time there. That said, if a person waited until fall to fish the Yak they would miss out on a lot of good fishing.
SF

 

[Alex MacDonald]

Yes, if you can get to the railroad side, there's lots of bank fishing, that's true-especially downstream from the Umtanum bridge. I was thinking only of the road side, where it's still there, but with the high flow, you need to really be careful were you put your feet.

 

[River Is Polluted]

Has anyone noticed the best wading spots are always on the opposite side of the river?

 

[Gard Nale]

IMHO it is time to wait until after Labor Day (or a couple of weeks later when fish find their new waters) when the river levels drop dramatically and makes the Yak very wadeable...

So no fishing all summer then?

 

[Old Man]

There's more to the Yakima than in the canyon.

 

[DennisE]

Gotta look at Teanaway flows, too. If it's up (which it is. Over 1000) than the downstream water is likely to be colored up. Speaks well for fishing the ponds stretch through Cle Elum. Just be careful of the crossing at the parking area at high flows.

 

[River Is Polluted]

So no fishing all summer then?

I have developed a great respect for higher flows and avoid them when wading. I have had several very scary moments when I thought I could handle the situation only to find out 'Never fight Mother Nature'. And as I get older, I have an even deeper respect for the power of Mother Nature.

Since I am retired, much of my fishing on rivers and streams this summer will be in Montana (per usual) and hopefully Colorado. Montana always tugs at my heart and many of those small blue lines on the map are worth investigating. I live near a small private lake and will get lots of chances to C&R nice fish here in western Washington.

 

[Nogz]

Waded it this afternoon a little below the Teanaway. You have to pick your spots, but it was good fishing. Believe it or not, the pat's stone was working.