Kayaking the Yakima River? Canyon?

[jackelope]

We did Reds to the slab a lot. That was a good day of fishing.

[Limhangerslayer]

Umtanum to Rosa is a big float for one day if you’re fishing too. Won’t be able to fish off the kayaks so it’ll be lots of stopping. 10+ miles.

it’s actually a quicker float then one thinks in June.  Flows are pretty fast that time of year.  Fly fishing or spin  fishing? 

[jackelope]

It’s 10 miles. Just seems like a lot while trying to get some quality fishing time in. I fly fish. Spin fishing would probably be easier and faster I guess.

[Limhangerslayer]

It’s 10 miles. Just seems like a lot while trying to get some quality fishing time in. I fly fish. Spin fishing would probably be easier and faster I guess.

come on Josh, nobody Quality fly fishes nowadays!  They just floated the Yakima with nymphs and bobbers! yep, I said it!

[Dale Gribble]

Just drove the canyon the other day. Umtanum is closed for repairs it said. All blocked off and what not, you’d have to use bighorn which is now private and open only sometimes, or go even further up river and use ringer loop.

[buckcanyonlodge]

That area can still be very dangerous during that time of year, way to many sweepers, I would wait until July.  If you want go now i would go to the canyon.

As  teenage kids my brothers and I tried to use an inner tube to cross a section of the river to an island behind and north of Boise Cascade in Yakima. We had one tube ...so the great idea was to tie a thin rope to it and I would cross first and they would pull the tube back and come across them selves. It had been in the 90's in June and the runoff was coming down pretty good. I got across and threw the tube back for them to pull back...you guessed it. The line broke. So here I am on an island in the Yakima.. 90 degrees outside not much shade. Brothers had to go to town and find someone with an innertube we could borrow and try to get it to me.....Lost two more tubes before we decided to call the county sheriff. They came about 5 that afternoon in a jet boat and picked up a sun burned dumba** kid. Of course the local news had to be there and mom had to see it on the news..GROUNDED

[Skyvalhunter]

Are you still grounded??

[Karl Blanchard]

It’s 10 miles. Just seems like a lot while trying to get some quality fishing time in. I fly fish. Spin fishing would probably be easier and faster I guess.

come on Josh, nobody Quality fly fishes nowadays!  They just floated the Yakima with nymphs and bobbers! yep, I said it!

hahahaha! So true!

[7mmfan]

Just drove the canyon the other day. Umtanum is closed for repairs it said. All blocked off and what not, you’d have to use bighorn which is now private and open only sometimes, or go even further up river and use ringer loop.

This is true, I should have added that. You can slide in easily down around the corner from Bighorn at the slides though, especially with Kayaks. Actually a good quiet launch spot. It's about 2.5 miles above Umtanum. This will take you through the Rock Garden, which isn't much at these flows but is arguably the waviest part of the canyon. Would be fun for the kids. Very straight forward, not dangerous at all.

[nwwanderer]

Snow melt, irrigation flow equals cold water, be careful out there

[jackelope]

It’s 10 miles. Just seems like a lot while trying to get some quality fishing time in. I fly fish. Spin fishing would probably be easier and faster I guess.

come on Josh, nobody Quality fly fishes nowadays!  They just floated the Yakima with nymphs and bobbers! yep, I said it!

I wouldn’t deny that. Just trying to picture it on a sit on top kayak. I ain’t doing it. I’m 100% positive I’d end up in the drink.

It does catch fish though!

[fly-by]

I floated from Irene Rinehart to Ringer in a Hobie SOT 2 weeks ago.  Would not recommend it over 2000 CFS.  From Ringer downstream, including the Canyon, you should be fine.  Rule of thumb is 1mph per 1k CFS.

[Fl0und3rz]

Lots of good info here and in PMs.  While it might not happen when in Yakima, soon, I'll keep it open for future trip ideas.

Thank you very much. 

[rainshadow1]

It’s 10 miles. Just seems like a lot while trying to get some quality fishing time in. I fly fish. Spin fishing would probably be easier and faster I guess.

come on Josh, nobody Quality fly fishes nowadays!  They just floated the Yakima with nymphs and bobbers! yep, I said it!

hahahaha! So true!

The term "casting bubble" adds a little bit of purism the the activity. Seems so much classier than the red and white bobber!




(Although I remember a time when I'd have traded a body part for a red and white bobber... picture 9yo me tying on a little stick and trying to wing it out there without losing it!)

[jackelope]

It’s 10 miles. Just seems like a lot while trying to get some quality fishing time in. I fly fish. Spin fishing would probably be easier and faster I guess.

come on Josh, nobody Quality fly fishes nowadays!  They just floated the Yakima with nymphs and bobbers! yep, I said it!

hahahaha! So true!

The term "casting bubble" adds a little bit of purism the the activity. Seems so much classier than the red and white bobber!




(Although I remember a time when I'd have traded a body part for a red and white bobber... picture 9yo me tying on a little stick and trying to wing it out there without losing it!)

Fly fishermen call them strike indicators. Can’t believe he used the term “bobber”.
Sheesh.