Took the day off from work and fished the Yakima River in Ellensburg. I
started at 11:30 am and fished until sunset. I tried several dry-nymph
dropper rigs until the fish started hitting on my old standy:
#12 goldbead zugbug dropper (6 feet of line) off of any large dry fly as
and indicator. I tie my zugbugs fat so they look like little footballs. I
also use silver wire instead of tinsel as it hold up better from multiple
fish caught.
I landed over 10 rainbows on the zugbug with the largest about 13 inches. I
had 3 larger fish on but pilot error helped the fish to long distance
releases.
Be careful of what you wish for, my friend. As a drift boat was
approaching, I wished I could hook a fish so the folks in the boat could
see what a great fisherman I am. Sure enough, fish on. However, a 3 inch
rainbow was not the big fish I was hoping for!
I caught several fish in a short span near sunset in only inches of water.
This was in slower moving water near a faster run. Quite interesting.
There were October caddis, mayflies and other caddis coming off in the
afternoon, but no real huge hatches all at once.
I had a little scare when I first started. I was standing in about 3 feet
of water when I saw something swimming toward me. It turned out to be a
beat-up salmon of about 7 or 8 pounds. I'm guessing it was a king.
I also met a guy from North Carolina named Travis. He asked what was
working and I gave him one of my zugs and showed him how I had it rigged.
He said, "Oh, one of those beady-head nymphs, huh? We use those, too!"
Don't know how he did, but I hope he caught something. He is flying back to
NC today.
The Yak is fishing well right now. Everyone I talked to was having a good
day. The fall colors are spectacular. The fish are feeding for winter.
Now's the time, my friend.
Danny McMillin
