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First trout of 2021!

By Troutnut on April 9th, 2021
Friday I drove from the Seattle area out to Yakima, Washington, where a FEMA-run Covid vaccination clinic has so many extra doses and appointments that they're eagerly offering them to people who aren't yet officially eligible. (Washington is one of the last states to open the vaccine to everybody.) I'm looking forward to being able to safely travel on airplanes again and have at least a couple exciting fishing trips planned for this summer.

For now, I just wanted to catch the first fish of the year on my drive home via the Yakima Canyon.



Action on the Yakima was slow, and I'm consistently frustrated there by the difficult access to good spots from the road-side bank. But I did see one single rise, then caught the fish on a nymph.



It's a start!

I also collected quite a few nymphs as an excuse to have some fun with the new microscope I got last fall. The highlight was probably finding a specimen of Heptagenia pulla, which isn't known from Washington or neighboring states.

Photos by Troutnut from the Yakima River in Washington

From the Yakima River in Washington. These bighorn ewes were watching over the Yakima as I fished. From the Yakima River in Washington. My first trout of 2021! Not a big one, but a start. From the Yakima River in Washington. My 7-month-old fishing buddy. From the Yakima River in Washington.

Closeup insects by Troutnut from the Yakima River in Washington

Heptagenia pulla (Golden Dun) Mayfly Nymph Heptagenia pulla (Golden Dun) Mayfly Nymph
View 11 Pictures
Isoperla fusca (Yellow Sally) Stonefly Nymph Isoperla fusca (Yellow Sally) Stonefly Nymph
View 12 Pictures
Male Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph Male Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph
View 14 Pictures
Female Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph Female Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Nymph
View 13 Pictures
Female Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun Female Baetis tricaudatus (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun
View 9 Pictures
Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph
View 10 Pictures
Helicopsyche borealis (Speckled Peter) Caddisfly Pupa Helicopsyche borealis (Speckled Peter) Caddisfly Pupa
View 13 Pictures
Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph Ephemerella excrucians (Pale Morning Dun) Mayfly Nymph
View 9 Pictures
Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Nymph
View 5 Pictures
Ameletus vernalis (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph Ameletus vernalis (Brown Dun) Mayfly Nymph
View 9 Pictures
View 14 larger pictures»

Comments / replies

WbranchApril 12th, 2021, 6:15 am
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2733		That Yakima River looks awesome but it surely doesn't look very safe to wade.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
TroutnutApril 12th, 2021, 8:49 am
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737		Yeah, I've always been disappointed when I try to wade the Yakima, except in the far upper headwaters where the fish are small. It's just a bit too fast and deep to cross in most places, and I haven't found much good water accessible from castable spots of the road-side bank.

Last year on a float I found and remembered one really good spot to walk in and safely wade some nice water, and right now it's off-limits due to some construction.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
MillcreekApril 12th, 2021, 11:27 am
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 356		Enjoying your photos, especially of the insects. Photos of identifying characteristics are quite interesting.
WbranchApril 12th, 2021, 3:58 pm
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2733		I wouldn't wade it without a PFD collar.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
PartsmanApril 13th, 2021, 3:03 am
bancroft michigan

Posts: 420		Beautiful pictures as usual.
Mike.
MartinlfApril 13th, 2021, 11:41 am
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3233		Nice photos. Glad to hear you got your vaccination. My second dose of the Moderna vaccine comes Monday. Getting ready to travel and fish! Fishing has been good in Pennsylvania, with olives and grannoms, but we just had some storms that blew everything out locally. Waiting for levels to drop.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
AdirmanApril 14th, 2021, 11:27 am
Monticello, NY

Posts: 505		Sorry No pics to share as I don’t carry my phone into the water , but I got my first of the season today as well: a nice 12” Brown! Caught him Czech Nymphing on the point fly , a # 6 stone fly 😊

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