Late Jan River Options

jaredoconnor · Jan 10, 2025

My dad is visiting us and I’m thinking about taking a couple of days off, to take him on a long weekend fishing trip. However, I’m not sure where to go. My dad is only interested in fishing for trout, in rivers. We’re in the Seattle area and our radius is probably limited to around 5 hours. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I’m currently looking at Suncadia, to fish Cle Elum or the Yak. However, I’m not very familiar with the area, particularly at this time of the year.

Does the Deachutes, Naches or Metolius fish well this time of year? They’re the only other places I can think of.

Coach Potter · Jan 11, 2025

I have only fished the upper Yakima once in late January but it was one of the best days of streamer fishing I’ve ever had. It was a while back and the details are fuzzy. I remember it was cold as hell and there was quite a bit of snow. We put it in somewhere just below the Cle Elum and floated til dark. It wasn’t my plan or I would remember more of the details. I met a buddy who lives over there and jumped in with him.

troutstalker · Jan 11, 2025

Maybe look into a half day or full day guided float on the Yakima.

jaredoconnor · Jan 11, 2025

Sorry one detail I left out - my dad is allergic to anything that floats. We’ll be exclusively fishing on foot.

Mossback · Jan 11, 2025

Gonna be a cold and slippery trip on the Yak...
Consider a trip to the Skagit perhaps, where while a Steelhead might be a trout, the Bull Trout are a more likely encounter.

Evan B · Jan 11, 2025

jaredoconnor said:
My dad is visiting us and I’m thinking about taking a couple of days off, to take him on a long weekend fishing trip. However, I’m not sure where to go. My dad is only interested in fishing for trout, in rivers. We’re in the Seattle area and our radius is probably limited to around 5 hours. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I’m currently looking at Suncadia, to fish Cle Elum or the Yak. However, I’m not very familiar with the area, particularly at this time of the year.

Does the Deachutes, Naches or Metolius fish well this time of year? They’re the only other places I can think of.

Call Crow Creek fly shop. The upper yak is their bread and butter. I know the people there and can vouch that they'd be a great resource, especially if you hire one of the guides from there (they do very reasonable walk n wade trips).

Deschutes fishes year round, but those fish get absolutely hammered. More so than the Yak fish I think. But if a DIY trip without a boat is your jam, head to the stretch around Maupin and try to find your rock.