Yakima River

[FlyGirl]

Hey all~ Going to hit the Yakima for the first time ever this year for some nice trout. I C & R, but my husband likes to keep and eat! I know alot of the Yakima is C & R, so I am wondering if anyone knows some good spots where he can retain his limit? Hopefully more on this side of the river (west), than too far east. Say within and hour and half, give or take? Really want to try some of that Blue Ribbon River!! Thanks for the ideas.

[drysuperfly52]

on your way home from fishing on the Yak you can easily limit at the easton ponds for dinner....

[FlyGirl]

Thanks Superdry. Never been there, I'll give it a try!

[Bodofish]

Fiorito and Matoon are also well stocked yet close enough to not get comfy on the way back and I know Fiorito has some big fish. The one thing they all have in common is a direct link to the Yak.

[colel311]

The only fish that you can keep in the upper river are brook trout (I've never seen one there) and whitefish when the season is right. Please do not keep anything else, the river is catch and release for a reason, it is a self-sustaining fishery and when people take the native trout, it destroys the runs. You have to go far east to be able to keep trout. Here's the regs:

YaKiMa riVer (Yakima Co.)
entire river, including tributaries and
drains (See DOH Fish Consumption
advisories, page 20) (690)
Downstream of Hwy. 240 Bridge Columbia River rules apply.
TROUT Release all STEELHEAD.
Other Game Fish No size restrictions or daily limit for BASS, CHANNEL CATFISH, and
WALLEYE.
from mouth (Hwy. 240 Bridge) to 400'
below Prosser Dam
(690)
Col. R. Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement (p. 16)
Barbless hooks required for Salmon/Steelhead (p. 16)
cLOSeD WaterS - from Prosser Dam downstream 400' and from Horn Rapids (Wanawish) Dam
downstream 400'.
cLOSeD WaterS - Sept. 1-Oct. 22: from WDFW white markers 200' downstream of the USBR Chandler
Powerhouse/Pumping station spillway chute to the power line crossing immediately upstream of the
powerhouse.
All Game Fish Mar. 1-Oct. 22 Statewide min. size/daily limit. Chumming permitted. Release TROUT.
SALMON Sept. 1-Oct. 22 Min. size 12". Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Night
closure.
from Prosser Dam to Hwy. 223 Bridge
(690)
All Game Fish May 1-Oct. 31 Statewide min. size/daily limit. Release TROUT.
from Hwy. 223 Bridge at Granger to
Sunnyside (Parker) Dam
(690)
TROUT First Sat. in June-Oct. 31 Min. size 12". Max. size 20". Daily limit 2.
Other Game Fish First Sat. in June-Oct. 31 Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WHITEFISH Dec. 1-Last day
in Feb.
No min. size. Daily limit 15 WHITEFISH only. Whitefish gear rules.
from Sunnyside (Parker) Dam to
3,500' below Roza Dam
(690)
Col. R. Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement (p. 16)
cLOSeD WaterS - from Yakima Ave.-Terrace Heights Bridge in Yakima upstream 400'.
aLL SpecieS - selective gear rules. From I-82 Bridge at Selah Gap to 3,500' below Roza Dam: internal
combustion motors prohibited.
TROUT First Sat. in June-Oct. 31 Min. size 12". Max. size 20". Daily limit 2.
Other Game Fish First Sat. in June-Oct. 31 Statewide min. size/daily limit.
WHITEFISH Dec. 1-Last day
in Feb.
No min. size. Daily limit 15 WHITEFISH only. Whitefish gear rules.
from 3,500' below Roza Dam to Roza
Dam
(690)
Col. R. Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement (p. 16)
cLOSeD WaterS - from Roza Dam downstream 400'.
aLL SpecieS - internal combustion motors prohibited.
WHITEFISH Dec. 1-Last day
in Feb.
No min. size. Daily limit 15 WHITEFISH only. Whitefish gear rules.
from Roza Dam to Easton Dam
(690)
cLOSeD WaterS - from Easton Dam downstream 400'. Fishing from floating devices with an internal
combustion motor is allowed from the US Bureau of Reclamation restricted areas signs at Roza Dam
upstream to the boat launch ramp on the Roza Access Area (approximately ½ mile).
All Game Fish Year-round Statewide min. size/daily limit. Release all TROUT. Selective gear
rules, except Dec. 1-Last day in Feb.: whitefish gear may be used for
WHITEFISH only. Internal combustion motors prohibited.
from head of Easton Lake to
Keechelus Dam
(690)
Lawful to fish to base of Keechelus Dam.
EASTERN BROOK TROUT Year-round No min. size. No daily limit. Selective gear rules.
All Other TROUT Year-round Catch-and-release. Selective gear rules.
Other Game Fish Year-round Statewide min. size/daily limit. Selective gear rules, except Dec.
1-Last day in Feb.: whitefish gear may be used for WHITEFISH only.