fishinChristian
5/30/2013 9:11:00 PMMy suggestion to newbies on the Yakima is to go below Horn Rapids Dam, preferably near or after dark, though after gets more iffy every year. Where the dike goes out to Bateman island there's culverts, and if you go on Google maps, there's a boat on a good spot. The north point of the big island can be good, using scented spinners, and below the 240 bridge. Main thing is if you don't get something soon, don't hang around. Drifting is a good way to locate fish, the deep holes hold fish, and they come up to shallow when they feed actively. and if you can change the weather, it's even better!!!! Oh, that boat dock can really produce at times, too.
fishinChristian
5/30/2013 9:12:00 PMOh, one more thing: When they aren't hitting, the smallmouth usually are, further up.
tluedeke
5/30/2013 9:29:00 PMYeah, I was pretty much only equipped for channel cats. Didn't have the time to do anything else, since it was 6:30 before I left the boat dock in Richland.
Rocky
5/30/2013 10:05:00 PMHey F.C. I use to fish below Horn Rapids I would wade across the canal and used chicken livers did great.
BentRod
5/31/2013 10:58:00 AMThey're all over the river system. Just got to go find some holes. If you've got a depth finder, go looking for some deeper spots with cover. I've caught them from above Horn Rapids all the way down to the 240 and even at the Bateman Island access. Used to have quite a bit of success at the 240 bridge fishing at night as a kid. Night crawlers, chicken livers, etc. Also used to pull some big ones out of the Columbia across the river from the Yakima mouth, also fishing at night. The river path and holes have changed a lot over the past 20 years, so will take some looking to find good spots. Better luck on your next try.