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| Washington's Other Trout Streams - Part I |
Each June, around the 10th, the Yakima River becomes a high-flowing irrigation "provider". Mercilessly pinning trout tight to the bank, the high flows of summer on the Yakima necessitate having somebody on the oars to slow you down, so you can take pin-point accurate shots within millimeters of the bank. This poses a dilemma for the wading angler. While the Yakima is easily the premier trout stream in the state, it's fairly out of reach for the bank-side rambler, until September. Too, even for those with boat/guide access, sometimes a break from the crowds is in order, or cool water rushing through the legs on a hot day seems long overdue (not to mention some elbow room). What's a moving-water trout fisher to do?
Fortunately, whether you're either able to travel for a few hours, or you're confined to shorter day-trips, options abound in the state of Washington for the moving-water trout angler. From rivers and streams that can, at times, almost shine a light to the Yakima's prolific emergences, to the magic solitude and wildness of streams where the trout are smaller, but cooperative, and the surroundings huge - summer time is no time to be waiting out the irrigation season. It's a perfect time to get out and explore Washington's "other trout streams", which at times can easily seem like your trout stream (shh!)
Cedar River
Open from Landsburg Bridge downstream to the mouth, from June 1 through August 31, this is a popular fishery owing to its proximity to the Greater Seattle area (it flows through Renton - it is in the Greater Seattle area!). Along its course, there are sections devoid of most-to-all signs of civilization, although these are the exception. But it is close, and it does harbor some - get this - larger than Yakima rainbows. You'll also find good numbers of bugs hatching at times, to the point the fish definitely "key in", making for some - at times - heady moments.
Sculpins and stonefly nymphs are the go-to searching patterns on this river. Hatches to be ready for are: PMD's, assorted Caddis and Yellow Sallies. Emergers and dries will definitely have their moments, although associated nymphs/pupa will have a larger share of play to be sure. Coming out of this particularly high-water early season on the river, San Juan Worms should prove a nice "sleeper" offering in the near-term as well.
Because it gets "alternative use" (splashers, floaters, occasional empty beer can sinkers), early and late in the day are best bets for unabated presentation work, although cloudy cool days can certainly stamp down the floater and splasher hatches right nicely. Something about being so close, and having such large trout, though, makes it all bearable.
Upper Forks of the Snoqualmie River
The North, South and Middle Forks of the Snoqualmie River (and major tribs - Taylor, Pratt, Denny) are for most folks a fairly obvious nearby option, and consequently receive their fair share (and even then-some) of visitation. Fortunately, most people don't cover much water beyond a certain point of access, leaving reaches of these streams rarely visited. Add the reality of oftentimes stunning alpine backdrops and surroundings, and plenty-cooperative trout, and you have an excellent short-range consideration.
Being relatively infertile, the Forks' finned inhabitants are opportunistic feeders. Not having the luxury of hunkering down between regular emergences, and gorging while an emergence is taking place, these fish need to eat anything that looks like a bug that eventually comes down their holding/feeding lane, or into their "area". Well presented, reliably floating attractor dries (Humpies, Wulffs, Stimulators), beetles and ants are the ticket for covering as much water as possible, and will sample most fish covered. No need to spend more than a few "shots" on a particular aspect of the stream. Some feasibly adequate holding water just simply goes uninhabited. There's only so many fish, but they are highly cooperative. This goes for ALL relatively infertile, high-gradient mountain trout streams - see how much water you can cover. You'll lose count of fish. You'll also lose track of the crowds!
The coastal cutts, ‘bows, cutt-bows, and odd brookie (N.Fk., S.Fk.) run a little small (2"-10" on average), but the occasional fish up to and a little over 12" is possible, and a true prize on a smaller water. 3-weights and below help these wild things fight like the hearty champs they are. Up and down the Cascades, forks and tribs above impassable barriers (dams, falls) provide for endless exploration. These ones just happen to be rather close.
Naches River
This river joins the Yakima at Yakima, and is paralleled over most its length by Hwy 410, offering pull-outs, campground and bridge access points. While a fine fishery into its headwaters (Little Naches, American, Bumping) for eager, smaller cutts, ‘bows and some brooks, it's the lower section that harbors strong insect populations and some bigger (up to mid-high teen inch fish) cutts and ‘bows. In fact, for a few years now, the 9-mile section from the confluence with the Tieton, upstream, has been selective fishery/catch&release, although bigger fish are caught above this section. Because private property breaks up the bank access, this is a perfect pontoon boat mission.
Just like the Yakima, although not quite to the same extent, bigger stones (salmonfly, goldens), assorted caddis and PMD's provide the early summer hatch activity. Soon, the big stones will be replaced by little Yellow Sallies, hoppers, beetles and ants, with the caddis and PMD's remaining into August. When the Yak drops again in September, the BLM will switch irrigation flows over to the Naches system, putting things on hold for several weeks. Once over, look for big October Caddis here, too, until it closes October 31.
Elwha River
Most of this river flows through Olympic National Park. Formerly host to wild runs of all 5 Pacific Salmon species (including a strain of 100-pound Chinook) and steelhead, two dams were erected in the early 20th Century (without ladders) and took it all away. Those wild races of salmon are gone. However, the steelhead that got stuck behind the dams went back to being rainbows, and have provided an intriguing wild "rainbow" fishery ever since. Well, this is finally the year, we're being told, when the dams will finally start to be taken down. Following the removal, the system will be closed indefinitely. This is the year to say goodbye to those rainbows, and wish them luck in rediscovering their pent-up anadromous ways down the road. By the time we get to fish this river again, the 3-weights and 5-weights may well have to be 6's and up!
The river can be divided roughly into two sections. First, there's the section between the two impoundments, Lake Aldwell on the lower, Lake Mills at the upper. This is about a 5-mile section accessed easily by Olympic Hot Springs Road, although fishing away from that easy point of access is advised. The other section is the hike-in reaches above Lake Mills. Rica Canyon/Goblins Gate is an easy hike-in for day fishing, however all the miles upon miles upstream necessitate an overnighter, as the main trail bears up and away from the Elwha for quite a ways past the Rica/Goblins spur.
While the trout are normally fairly opportunistic (humpies, wulffs, stimi's, etc), and will at most times disregard an inexact match in return for what appears to be a bug (attractors), there are moments when bugs come off enough to turn these rainbows fairly selective, where closer matches will illicit surer results.
The Elwha hosts good populations of bigger stones (especially the Goldens), and Yellow Sallies, but also harbors a population of the Yellow Sallies' close cousin. We all know Isoperla (yellow sally). On the Elwha, we get to become familiarized with Alloperla (lime sally), as well, and over there, the little Green Sallies are in abundance July into August.
The upper hike-in reaches are reputed to host some fine PMD emergences through the summer, otherwise, also look for assorted caddis all up and down the system as well. There is a cinnamon caddis, size #14-#16, that is distinctly well represented here, in particular.
And, in the fall, the Elwha hosts an October Caddis hatch that is second to none - just the ticket to reveal some of the bigger (15"-18") ‘bows in the system. Don't be surprised, though, if one of the bigger ones takes a liking to your little soft-hackles, either. They are in there, although most fish will run an honest 6" - 12". And they sure are wild!
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