 |
| Washington's Other Trout Streams - Part
II |
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
ramblers, for the most part, 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 able to travel for a few hours, or confined
to shorter day-trips, options abound in the state of Washington
for the moving-water trout folks. 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!).
Methow River
Like the Yakima and Naches to the south, this river courses
through an arid landscape and hosts good populations of nice-sized
trout. These rainbows and westslope cutts (both wild) run well
up into the 'teens (inches!), and can be sampled with
many of the "usual suspects".
While run-off is occurring, and as it subsides, nymphing is
the best way to sample more of the trout in the river. Salmonflies,
Golden Stones, Jumbo Johns and big Prince's dropped with
BH PT's, Copper Johns and Lightning Bugs are excellent
choices for sampling fish when the water's high. Once
run-off is finished, the nymphs will continue to be important;
however Big Dries (Stimi's, Hoppers, CFO Ants) definitely
enter the equation, while some smaller bugs will at times definitely
warrant being prepared for. Through July and into August, little
Yellow Sallies, PMD's and assorted Caddis will be around
to, at times, beg to be matched.
I recall a particular hot-August morning (!) below Twisp not
too many years ago. It was over 90-degrees by 11am, when my
partner and I noticed a group of fish "flashing"
in a bucket to the side of a certain riffle. We'd been
seeing a fair number of #16 medium-tan bodied caddis taking
flight away from the surface of the river over the course of
the hour we'd spent "checking things out".
Of course, this resulted in finding some committed "players",
and based on our observations we already had #16 tan X-caddis
tied on and ready for business. Well, 20-minutes of presenting
flies to these fish resulted in a couple to hand. They were
all 18"-20" 'rainbows'. However, upon
closer inspection, they didn't have their adipose. Hatchery
runt-steelhead on the caddis emerger! Of all things...
Closer to Fall, more summer runs will enter this river, some
years in enough numbers that the State will extend the season
into October and beyond. September is a good month to specifically
target the steelhead, although swinging October Caddis Pupa
will sample both the residents and their anadromous brothers
at that time. Kings get into the river as well, in the Fall,
making Glo Bugs an apt "hatch match", which will
also yield trout and the steelhead. And, of course, Fall being
Fall, don't leave the baetis and mahoganies at home. Especially
on cooler, cloudier, moist days, it'll happen here, too!
San Poil River
We all love our rainbows, coastal cutts, westslope cutts, even
the little brookies that aren't from around here. One trout
species, however, normally takes us to SE Oregon, or Montana
and the Rockies, or Utah even, in the interest of meeting them
in a moving-water environment. We are, as you may have guessed,
talking brown trout, here. Well, they're in the San Poil, along
with some rainbows as well.
Of course, there are rivers in other states that are closer
in terms of drive-time, more "famous" and all. So it's no small
wonder this fishery is not visited all that terribly much. Nothing
wrong with that, really, though, if you're the one sampling
a few rather nice specimens, minus the crowds of, say, the Yakima.
Fish do run up into the teens, and we've heard of fish into
the 20's down closer to the lake (lower-Roosevelt). Highway
21 parallels it up from the lake, through Colville land. Get
the permit (509-634-4711), and enjoy the good water.
As for flies, anticipate toting the same arsenal that does you
justice on the Yak (and other freestones of the west). The same
procession of aquatic invertebrates and seasonal terrestrials
apply. June 1 finds higher water most years combined with bigger
(salmonfly, golden stones) bugs on the move, and caddisflies
in good numbers. Post-runoff finds PMD's, Yellow Sallies,
continued caddis and the impending "Hopper-tunity"
time through July into August (and don't forget the beetles
and ants!).
Kettle River
Yet another far-off Washington State freestone harboring browns
in addition to rainbows, both of which attain good size (well
up into the teens). There are two sections of note within the
state, the remainder wandering up through parts of southern
BC. The first section enters Washington at the border town of
Ferry, only to flow in a "u"-shape back up into
BC at Danville. The second section is where the river flows
back into the state at Laurier, flowing approximately 23-miles
south and then emptying into Lake Roosevelt at Boyds. The first
section is roughly well paralleled by Kettle River Road and
Hwy 21; the second section is hugged closely by US395. There
are some brookies in the U-section as well.
See Yakima/Naches/Methow/San Poil for fly selection.
Upper "YouNameIt" Fork of "What's the name of That"
River
As alluded to earlier, there is no shortage of under-sung, small
wild trout streams (forks, tribs, tribs of tribs) to discover
in the state of Washington. Any reach flowing above impassable
barriers (dams, falls) is trout water, and the options are nearly
endless. All it takes is a good map to find them, and a selection
of mostly attractor dries, maybe some beetles and ants, perhaps
even a few attractor nymphs and soft-hackles. Coupled with a
willingness to cover some water, secluded wild trout waters
await to be discovered.
The main thing to avoid is tributaries that originate from glaciers,
which will contribute color, making it tough for the fish to
find your fly. Consequently, most east, south and westerly originating
waters will yield excellent visibility. Another thing to consider
is the potential health of the stream in question – those
waters originating and flowing within Wilderness areas and National
Parks are outright pristine and as healthy as an otherwise relatively
infertile stream can be. Nevertheless, many streams originating
and flowing through National Forest Service land are perfectly
healthy enough, as logging practices have improved over the
recent past.
Alas, there are streams in need of a fisher to adopt them as
their own, with trout which are yet to see a fly (or a person).
It's out there in spades. Enjoy. |
|
|
|