Don't Forget to send us your fish pictures for our new Photo Gallery, which is growing by the day! Take a look at some shots from Isaak's Ranch by clicking Here

Yakima: The fishing has been good, in spite of some more water being released from the reservoir, which is at about 95% capacity. Canyon flows are around 3500cfs, which will make wading a challenge, but some caddis are starting to show up, and will continue to proliferate and become a greater factor in the trout's menu in coming weeks. For the time being, attractor nymphs have been the most productive, with any surface activity happening in the early to mid afternoon. Fish your favorite bead head attractor (prince, pheasant tail, zug, lightning bug, copper john, bloody mary...), perhaps below a larger stonefly nymph imitation, as the giant salmonfly nymphs will be increasingly on the move in coming days and weeks. Caddis should have eclipsed most other bugs for surface fare in the next week or so, assuming the weather continues to improve. Floating lines, 9-10' 5x leaders, maybe a strike indicator will be in order until you see bugs and fish up top. If you're bank-bound, the upper river will be a better bet, but the window of productive fishing is still narrower than in the warmer canyonlands due to cooler air and water temps. Go Fish! More exciting than the prospect of NBA playoffs, the Yak is putting up triple double numbers of late and it’s closer than Oklahoma City. The flows are as low as they’ve been since the ice chunks abound in February. Skwalas are still kicking and fluttering and perishing in the mouths of hungry rainbows. March Browns are blanketing the river in the early afternoon. BWO’s are always around and Mother’s Day caddis is closer than you think! It’s a veritable bug rodeo out there. If you haven’t erased all of our incriminating emails from this spring you’ll know that now is the best it’s been all year. We have seen some mammoth fish taken out of there this spring and surely more to come. Wading is still going to be better up around Cle Elum but it’s manageable down in the canyon and the fish and bug numbers are higher. If you are a nymph maniac (notice no “o” in the previous word) then you’ll have a heyday with all your favorite patterns. For the dryfly nut double dribble with a bushy Skwala dry and your favorite mayfly nymph underneath. The March Browns have been popping anytime between 1-4 and usually lasting around an hour and a half or so. You may think that’s a bit short but trust us, you’ll need a break afterward. Nymphing with #12-14 Pheasant Tails and Brownish Soft Hackles before the hatch can be stellar. All Star patterns include Flick’s March Brown, Split Wing Skwala, Pink Soft Hackle Worm, Snowshoe BWO, D&D March Brown Cripple, Pat’s Rubberlegs, Mega Prince and off the bench to save the game the Stinger Stone and Gummy Stone. Stop by the shop for a pre game pep talk.

Lakes in Eastern WA have been basically off the hook for the most part. Many stories of large fish eating flies in an arid setting which includes some sunshine and wind. Nunnally, Beda, Quail...to drop a few names, have had mostly favorable reports. The biggest obstacle to a super fun day has been the wind, with 'too many fishermen' a close second on the weekends. The fish don't really care, and there's plenty of water for everyone. We're still in sinking line mode, mostly with buggers, streamers and chironomidae filling the appetizer, entree and dessert sections of the menu. We should get into the wine list shortly, however, as warmer temperatures of air and water inspire hatches from the likes of the damselfly, the callibaetis mayfly, and turbo charge the midge hatches. This will lead directly to more better fishing action all around. Isaak's Ranch is a killer private trophy trout fishery near Coulee City in Eastern Washington that we like to fish...and we're hosting a trip on May 15th (Tuesday), among others, and would like to invite you to take the day off from work and accompany us and have shots at some of the best lake fishing in the west. The Ranch has been fully rehabilitated and if fishing better than ever. The cost is $185/rod and is well worth the stories, never mind the pictures. Keep your eyes on the site this week as we add our little Isaak's Ranch pages and photogallery...there are also some past Isaak's shots in the current fishing pics gallery. (click here) Give us a call in Issaquah or drop an email if you would like to register for this trip or have questions!

Puget Sound: fishing has been pretty good, depending on who you talk to (believe)...resident Coho are about, and like to eat candlefish and small herring, and there are huge numbers of chum fry in the north end. Clouser minnows, needlefish, candlefish flies will all be effective. Try to avoid the extreme tides. The Hood Canal in particular, has been excellent.

Upcoming Classes You Want to Take:

Intermediate Spey Casting with Brian Styskal, Sat. May 12th, 8:00-12:00+. So you can get it out there and you've caught a couple hatchery brats but you want more. More distance, more line control, more casts and more fish. This is the class for you. Brian Styskal is an excellent caster and fisherman and he will help you fine tune your stroke just in time for summer steelhead season. Cost is $95 and space is limited, gear will be provided or you can bring your own. There will be an afternoon session too as needed.

Beginning Spey Casting with Charles St. Pierre, Sat. May 26th, 8:00-12:00+. So you have never thrown a two-handed rod. You're wondering why it takes 14' of rod to do it and why you need a reel the size of a car wheel but you're keen on finding out what the craze is all about. Charles St. Pierre, proprietor of Northwest Spey Casting and all around good guy, is here to teach you all the basics of spey casting with a two-handed rod and why it's more effective and cooler than your single hander. Cost is $95 and space is limited, gear will be provided. There will be an afternoon session as needed.

Intro Flyfishing Crash Course with Creekside's own Brett Wedeking, Thurs. May 31st, 7-9pm & Sun. June 3rd 9-11am. A quick and dirty, two session class designed to give you the info and skills you need to get on the water and start catching fish. First session is held at the Issaquah shop and the second session on the water. Knots, bugs, gear, casting, and a plethora of other subjects will be covered to fill your brain to the euphoric brim. Cost is $65 and space is limited to 5 students, all gear is provided as well.

More intro classes will be scheduled shortly for June. If none of these classes work with your schedule, or if you're just anti social, private on the water instruction is available at any time. Call us for for more information or to sign up 425-392-3800

Local Fishing Scene Pages have been added to the site...and will continue to grow! Have A Look. Click Here.

We've finally got some pictures up on our Photo Gallery page. Check them out and send us your hero shot with a general description and we'll fire it up on the site!

Spey Classes are on the books! Bryan Styskal is holding class Saturday May 12th from 8-12+ at mouth of the raging in fall city, and Charles St. Pierre's class is on Sat. May 29th at the same place...
Please click here for more info

What? You haven't taken advantage of the wonderful Creekside Trade In Trade Up Program yet? Dust off those old rods and reels and bring 'em in and trade them for new stuff! Click here for more information.