Hint of spring bring’s skwallas to surface for fly fishers

FLY FISHING —  “We’ve seen a significant amount of Skawala stonefly nymph activity throughout the day,” Jim Gallagher reports this morning from the Yakima River.

“In the afternoon, with a little warming, there have been adult skawalas on the water surface.  Most success has been using a dropper system with a skawala stone as the lead fly and a San Juan worm or beadhead as the dropper fly,” said the owner of Troutwater Fly Shops and Guide Services in Cle Elum  and Ellensburg.”

“The river has been flowing at a good level for wading or floating.  A little snow run-off has caused the river below Cle Elum to be a green/grey color, but is still very fishable.  Cool temperature are predicted for the week, setting the stage for a slow snow melt and good river conditions.”