RSSEnjoying Yakima's fishing paradise
Yakima Herald-Republic
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Sometimes anglers here in the Yakima Valley forget how good we have it. Not only do we have some decent trout fishing lakes within easy driving distance, we have three great trout-fishing rivers to choose from.
The upper Yakima has become a fly angler's paradise, and between the many anglers who migrate here to fish and the floaters who are looking for some fun and sun in the water, the Yakima can be a little hectic this time of year.
Fortunately, we have two other fine rivers to fish, and the dog days of summer are a great time to fish them.
Both the Naches and the Tieton Rivers can provide some excellent spin-fishing and fly-fishing for native trout during the late summer. And when the temperatures hit triple digits, both can offer a little break from the searing heat.
The rivers flow out of the Cascades, the Tieton following Highway 12 from Rimrock Lake and the Naches flowing along Highway 410 through the Nile and Naches valleys, all the way down to Yakima.
Construction near 16th Avenue this summer has made the lower Naches basically unfishable, but travel upstream a ways and you'll sometimes find excellent fishing.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stopped planting both rivers with trout a number of years ago, and at that time set up regulations on both streams to allow for the fish to repopulate the rivers naturally.
Over the years, that plan has worked. There are now good numbers of trout in both rivers, and some have grown to pretty decent sizes.
The lower portion of the Naches River from the confluence of the Tieton down to the mouth, like the stretch above the confluence of Rattlesnake Creek, falls under selective gear rules. That means no bait is allowed and anglers must use barbless, single-hooked lures or flies.
The daily limit on these two portions of the Naches is two trout, and only in the 12- to 20-inch range. All fish smaller than 12 inches and longer than 20 must be released.
The portion of the Naches from the confluence of Rattlesnake Creek on down to the confluence of the Tieton is strictly catch-and-release.
The Tieton River is a little less restricted. The entire river falls under selective gear rules -- only barbless, single-hooked lures or flies -- but two trout over 8 inches may be kept per day.
Both rivers have pretty good access along the two highways and from several campgrounds next to the rivers, but they also flow through private property in a number of spots. If you are crossing fences to get to where you want to fish, just make sure to get permission from the landowners first.
The secret to success on both rivers is to move upriver or down and look for good fish-holding water. These spots are not hard to find, but the farther you get from the parking spots, the better the fishing will be.
Throw on a pair of waders -- or, if it stays hot for the next couple of weeks, cut-offs and a pair of sneakers -- and do a little wading to get upriver or down.
Fly casters can chose from several different flies and be successful on the Naches and the Tieton.
Gary Fairbanks of Fairbanks Outfitters in Yakima normally recommends a caddis imitation or terrestrials like ants, beetles or grass hoppers. He also suggests attractors like the Royal Wolf or the Royal Trude, a Bead Head or Bead Head Pheasant as good Naches and Tieton River flies.
As far as fly sizes go, Fairbanks recommends a size 16 on the caddis and a 14 on everything else except the grasshopper, for which a larger size 10 is preferred.
Like other trout, Naches and Tieton River rainbows will readily take a single-hooked spinner too. Always productive are black, brown, or white Rooster Tails or Vibric Rooster Tails in 1/4 or 1/6 of an ounce. Try different blade colors in changing light conditions, as sometimes a silver-bladed spinner will work better than a brass one, and vice versa.
Remember, all bull trout (aka dolly varden) caught on these rivers need to be released unharmed, as they are a protected species. It isn't uncommon to catch a bull trout or two in a day's fishing.
Also, once in a while, especially on these hot August days, it is possible to come across a thirsty rattlesnake along the river's edge. So keep an eye on where you step, especially if you are working through grass and brush between holes.
Most of the time when anglers think of quality trout fishing in Central Washington, the Yakima River immediately comes to mind. But the Naches and Tieton Rivers can be just as good. And because they are far less popular, you could have a portion of one of these great rivers to yourself.
And when it's 100 degrees in the Valley and you're standing thigh deep in a cool stream, with pine and fir trees all around, throwing your favorite fly or spinner, does it really matter if the fish are biting or not?
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