Yakima River Fly Fishing Report - September 6, 2026
YAKIMA RIVER
ReportSEP 6 — 13, 2026
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Flow
—CFS
🌡️
Water Temp
—
☀️
Weather
51–70°F
Partly Cloudy
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Live USGS gauge data is unavailable for today, but recent web intel confirms flows have been falling hard from ~3,500 cfs toward the 2,000 cfs range at Umtanum, concentrating trout in predictable seams and softer holding water with clear clarity. Cooler overnight temps in the low 50s and a partly sunny Sunday with a chance of afternoon showers set up a classic early-fall fishing day.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Top Secret Baetis #16
#16
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Frenchie #12
#12
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
#20
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
#14
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 18-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Moderate | 4 PM - 7 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Light | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 12-16 | Light | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| PMD (Pale Morning Dun) | 18-20 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Early midge and BWO nymphing in the soft seams before the sun hits the water; fish are active and less wary in low light.
- 10 AM - 2 PM: Prime dry-fly window as BWOs and PMDs emerge in the tailouts; watch the flat water carefully for rising fish.
- 4 PM - Dusk: Evening caddis activity along riffled edges; switch to a CDC caddis dry and work the banks as light fades.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows dropping into the 2,000 cfs range, focus your energy on the transitional seams where fast water slows and dumps into softer holding water — that is exactly where trout are stacking right now. Set your indicator depth to 1.5x the water depth and use a tight-line or euro-nymphing approach in the shallower riffles to stay in contact with your fly through the entire drift. If afternoon showers materialize after 2 PM, expect a BWO spinner fall to kick off in the flats — have a size 20-22 dry ready and look for subtle, rhythmic rises in the slick water. Keep fish in the water and use a downstream release to minimize stress in the still-warm early-fall temperatures.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
Mountain Whitefish
