Grande Ronde

[huntncoug]

It was awesome, we would set up camp on friday and drink beer and fish all weekend till Sunday, drive home, go to sleep around 7pm on Sunday and go to class on Monday.  Awesome scenery, deer, elk, big horn sheep, turkey, chukar, quail.  The only scenery we missed out on while fishing the Grande Ronde was the Split Tail that was ever present at the Pullman bar scence

[Dicko Bob]

I bounced corkys down there for years with the friends!  We always went in late February and early March depending on the run off.  If it warms up a bunch and the water rises to a chocolate shake its not much fun; if you can catch it after it does that and gets cold again for a week your in the money!!!  A lot of fish will move in during the high water, but the fishin is hot when it gets low from cold weather!  Be prepared for combat fishing in hot spots if your bank fishing!!!  There are plenty of spots between the hatchery and Bogans, and even downstream to get away from the hatchery croud! 

Have Fun!
Rich

[countywarrior]

  never been to the grande rhonde but we are heading up for the first time after the week after thanksgiving...Any insights on where to fish and what to use anyone?  And how bout the best way to get there out of yakima?  Thanx

[ribka]

Gear or fly fishing?
Pull-off road anywhere and fish. Look for runs and water tat is moving walking speed.

I live near Yak and go through Tri-Cities and  by Walla Walla

[countywarrior]

my bad brother  yeah drift fishing...........and to get there take the highway down the grade to Bogans?

[ribka]

THat is the way I take.
If gear fishing try slip bobber and a small pink jig or pink worm.

Fly fishing try egg patterns, san juan worms, string leeches( purple, black) , stone fly nymphs ( blue or green)

If drifting the river first time check to make sure conditions ok, get a map and ask at Boggans. Very nice people there
Good luck

[whacker1]

Gear fishing requires staying down on the bottom in the fast water, which also means losing a lot of gear.

In a drift boat, many guides plug the holes, but I have never had much luck with plugs.

Sand shrimp can be helpful with Corkies and yarn.  Same colors ribka mentioned.

If drifting the first time - try and follow someone, because the river is shallow and changes significantly from year to year.  There are several good holes between bogans and shoemaker grade.
Goodluck

[ribka]

That's right, Plugging works well too if in a boat. Forgot can use bait there. Shrimp work well to.
Stop at Hammers in Yakima. There is a few guys there that are very know ledgable about fishing in the area.