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Pretty float down the Yakima Canyon



By Troutnut on October 6th, 2019
A friend who recently moved to Washington joined me October 6th for a fishing float through a lower part of the Yakima River Canyon. The fish were fairly uncooperative. I lost a mid-sized rainbow on a streamer, but they generally weren't interested in those the rest of the time. Small blue-winged olives were hatching at times throughout the afternoon, and they provided the only real action of the day, but the fish rising to them were mostly small. They were a fun challenge, though, because two of the three spots we found pods of fish rising required very difficult casts. They were rising in shaded back eddies, always on the far side of a long stretch of fast, deep water. It was a great opportunity to practice various trick casts that pile up slack at the end, trying to give my flies 2-second drifts instead of 1-second drifts. It's rewarding when that works just right and draws a strike.

This was also the first real test of my new Flycraft Stealth raft, which had only previously been out for a 1-hour evening trip down part of the Snoqualmie. I'm thrilled with it so far. For a craft small enough to easily carry and load on top of my Jeep by myself, it feels exceptionally stable. The build quality and layout are excellent. It rows like a drift boat, but it's more nimble, and it has a similar ability to instantly drop anchor and fish. I've never had that in a boat before and was giddy about it once I figured out I could anchor in moderate current and fish places I couldn't reach otherwise. I also really enjoyed being able to just drop anchor in the shallows and step out of the boat to wade, without having to pull it up on shore or tie it off. That's such a minor nuisance in most other boats, I never would have guessed I'd take so much pleasure in circumventing it.

Photos by Troutnut from the Yakima River in Washington

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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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Interesting muddy nests from cliff swallows here. From the Yakima River in Washington.
Interesting muddy nests from cliff swallows here.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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I love how easy it is to park this boat just by dropping anchor in the quiet shallows, without having to tie it up anywhere or drag it onto shore. From the Yakima River in Washington.
I love how easy it is to park this boat just by dropping anchor in the quiet shallows, without having to tie it up anywhere or drag it onto shore.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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From the Yakima River in Washington.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
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A typical rainbow for the day. From the Yakima River in Washington.
A typical rainbow for the day.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
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When we finally found some rising fish, they were in an almost-unapproachable foamy eddy on the far side of some fast, deep, unwadeable water that would yank on my fly soon after it hit the water. It took lots of tries with trick casts to catch a few rainbows here. From the Yakima River in Washington.
When we finally found some rising fish, they were in an almost-unapproachable foamy eddy on the far side of some fast, deep, unwadeable water that would yank on my fly soon after it hit the water. It took lots of tries with trick casts to catch a few rainbows here.
StateWashington
LocationYakima River
Date TakenOct 6, 2019
Date AddedOct 30, 2019
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNIKON 1 AW1
«Older: September 13th, 2019Newer: Quick stop at Silver Creek between deer hunting»

Most recent comments on this post (latest on top)

MartinlfMarch 6th, 2020, 7:25 pm
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3233		Matt, I've looked at the Watermaster. My friend John Dunn has one. Yes, PM me his number. I don't think I'm quite ready to pull the trigger on a boat that expensive, but I'll inquire.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
WbranchMarch 5th, 2020, 9:32 am
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2733		Louis,

I'd like something I can stand in, but that may be out of the question.


That is likely going to be impossible in a packable boat. Although I have seen inflatables than have a rigid floor where you might be able to stand. I know a guy who has a brand new Watermaster for sale. It lists for $1400. If you want his number PM me. I leave a Creek Company frameless boat on the Missouri all the time. It weighs 28# without the oars. It is more than enough boat for the Missouri. It is very copmfortable and I sit quite high. I indicator fished out of it with no problem. Sometimes I just stand up and stay inside it and cast dry flies to rising fish.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
TroutnutMarch 4th, 2020, 10:42 pm
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737		Louis, I'm not really familiar with the smaller boats.

Thanks Jason, I knew about Flycrafts anchor and I guess was wondering if that's what you have. I'm guessing you are happy with it.


Yes, very happy with it! Although I've only used it on the one trip so far. My winter use of the boat has been on lakes or Puget Sound, where the anchor wouldn't have been especially useful for me in 50+ feet of water.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Mgbenjamin5February 23rd, 2020, 3:24 pm
Posts: 2Thanks Jason, I knew about Flycrafts anchor and I guess was wondering if that's what you have. I'm guessing you are happy with it. I'm about to pull the trigger on the 3 man Flycraft and was glad to see a positive post about the Stealth on the Yakima.

Any opinions on the 3 Man Flycraft would be welcome.
MartinlfFebruary 22nd, 2020, 8:44 pm
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3233		Jason, I have a 16' Lincoln vacuum bag spectra canoe that weighs 40 pounds. It's set up with oars and fishes well, but I'd like a lighter one person boat that can be packed. I've looked at the Watermaster and various frameless pontoons. Are you aware of any smaller ultra light rafts like the Stealth? I'd like something I can stand in, but that may be out of the question.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
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