How to use our fishing calendar
Planning your next fishing trip in Ellensburg, United States ? Today is a average day for fishing. Our comprehensive fishing almanac combines our popular solunar tables, moon times, sunrise and sunset times, and a 7-day fishing calendar so you always know the best fishing times in your area. We analyse major and minor solunar bite times, rate each day on a five-star scale, and pair it with localized weather forecasts so you can quickly tell whether today is a good day to fish without juggling multiple tabs. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a bite. view bite times...
- Check our unique Solunar Clock for precise solunar tables and the best moon phases.
- Use the forecast calendar section to sync bite times with major weather changes.
- Analyze the forecasted weather conditions, such as wind, barometric pressure and rain to plan your fishing session.
- Jump to the 7-Day Fishing Calendar for an extended fishing forecast, then explore nearby fishing spots on the interactive map.
Ellensburg, Washington is a premier fly fishing destination on the legendary Yakima River, offering year-round trout action in classic western riffles, runs, and pocket water. Surrounded by open sagebrush country and basalt canyons, Ellensburg gives anglers easy access to wild rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish in Central Washington’s only Blue Ribbon trout stream. read more...
Sun and Moon Times
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Nautical Twilight begins:Sunrise:
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Sunset:Nautical Twilight ends:
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Moonrise:
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Visibility:4%
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Waning Crescent
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Distance to earth:379,928 kmProximity:60.5 %
Moon Phases for Ellensburg
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average Day
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minor Time:03:58 am - 05:58 am
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major Time:10:14 am - 12:14 pm
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minor Time:04:30 pm - 06:30 pm
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major Time:10:51 pm - 12:51 am
Current Fishing Weather
Wind Speed and Direction
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Wind Direction and Speed are one of the most important aspects for choosing a fishing spot. An offshore wind can help land-based anglers with longer casting distances, while an onshore wind will make kayak fishing safer. Often fish will also move to certain feeding areas depending on the wind direction. Check out the long term wind forecast at the charts below.
Fishing Barometer
Atmospheric Pressure:
Change since midnight:
Trend for next 6 hours:
Atmospheric or Barometric Pressure affects fish activity. The best fishing can be had on a rising barometer and also the time just before it is falling. A steady barometer in the higher ranges can also mean good fishing. A falling or low barometer reading without much change is usually not a very good time for fishing.
UV Effect on Fishing
As a rule of thumb, the higher the UV index, the deeper fish will move. Shallow water fishing is best done at times with a low UV index. When the UV is high, stick to early mornings, late evenings and shaded areas. The effect is less noticable in deeper water, but often a higher UV index can produce good results in the deep.
7 Day Fishing Weather
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Fishing Overview Ellensburg
The Ellensburg reach of the Yakima River is the heart of Central Washington trout fishing, with broad riffles, deep seams, and long gravel bars that are tailor‑made for fly anglers. From spring through late fall, this stretch produces consistent action for strong, wild rainbows and cutthroat in the 10–18 inch class, with larger fish possible for anglers who read the water well and match the hatch.
Seasonal patterns drive how you should approach the Yakima near Ellensburg. In late winter and early spring, water is low and clear; mid‑day is usually best as the sun warms the river. Nymphing with small stoneflies, mayfly nymphs, and midge patterns under an indicator is the mainstay, with subtle presentations in softer seams and tailouts. As runoff builds in late spring, target inside bends, slower edges, and flooded side channels where trout shelter from heavy flows, often with bigger stonefly nymphs and attractor patterns that stand out in slightly stained water.
Summer on the Ellensburg Yakima is defined by caddis, terrestrials, and pocket water. Early and late in the day, work dry‑dropper rigs through riffles, boulder gardens, and shallow heads of pools. A buoyant attractor dry with a small bead‑head dropper covers a lot of situations efficiently. Mid‑summer afternoons bring strong caddis and terrestrial activity; fish foam lines tight to grassy banks with hoppers, ants, and beetles, twitching the fly just enough to trigger opportunistic strikes. As flows gradually drop, trout spread out, so cover water methodically rather than camping on a single spot.
Fall may be the most consistent time to fish around Ellensburg. Cool nights and stable flows push trout into obvious feeding lanes. Blue‑winged olive and Mahogany dun mayflies can create long, technical dry‑fly sessions over soft seams and inside edges. Use long leaders, light tippet, and reach casts to reduce drag on these slower surfaces. Streamer fishing also shines in fall—swing or strip small sculpin and baitfish patterns through deeper slots, logjams, and ledge drop‑offs to target larger, more aggressive fish.
The primary habitat types around Ellensburg include broad riffles, cobble-bottom runs, side channels, and man‑made structure such as bridge abutments and irrigation diversions. Riffle‑run transitions are high‑percentage spots—start at the head of a riffle and work down into the deeper stride where fish stack up on current seams. In side channels, focus on the first obvious drop, inside corners, and any cover created by root wads or cutbanks. On windy days, banks with overhanging grass and brush often fish best as they collect blown‑in terrestrials.
Common techniques here are indicator nymphing, Euro‑style tight‑line nymphing in pocket water, classic dry‑fly presentations, and light streamer fishing. Nymph anglers do well by adjusting depth frequently—trout often sit within a foot of the bottom. Move your indicator or add split shot until the rig occasionally ticks bottom, then back off slightly. Dry‑fly anglers should prioritize drift over pattern; even generic attractor dries will produce if they float naturally through the prime lane. For streamers, use modest patterns on light sink tips or weighted flies, making short, accurate casts to structure rather than long blind bombs.
Ellensburg’s Yakima corridor is easily accessed from road pull‑outs and boat launches, and the river is well suited to both wade and float fishing. Focus on reading seams, staying mobile, and matching your tactics to the season and flow conditions, and you’ll find consistent action on one of Washington’s most productive trout rivers.
Interactive Fishing Map for the greater Ellensburg area
We found a total of 40 potential fishing spots nearby Ellensburg. Below you can find them organized on a map. Points, Headlands, Reefs, Islands, Channels, etc can all be productive fishing spots. As these are user submitted spots, there might be some errors in the exact location. You also need to cross check local fishing regulations. Some of the spots might be in or around marine reserves or other locations that cannot be fished. If you click on a location marker it will bring up some details and a quick link to google search, satellite maps and fishing times. Tip: Click/Tap on a new area to load more fishing spots.
Mercer Creek - 1.24088713881km , Reecer Creek - 1.95322216216km , Manastash Creek - 2.50877822307km , Currier Creek - 2.86506734469km , Tjossem Pond Dam - 4.30778352007km , Coleman Creek - 6.57590428035km , Naneum Creek - 7.14515099647km , Cooke Creek - 8.41106406177km , Schnebly Creek - 8.5911039351km , Badger Creek - 8.6440268739km , Caribou Creek - 8.83766318524km , South Fork Manastash Creek - 14.72022416964km , North Fork Manastash Creek - 14.72022416964km , Reimer Pond Dam - 15.36945514129km , Taneum Creek - 16.17391704412km , Umtanum Creek - 16.34631442944km , Wippel Creek - 16.93677732454km , Little Caribou Creek - 18.5534695076km , Whiskey Jim Creek - 18.56043760694km , Knudson Dam - 20.18253937769km , Swauk Creek - 20.3760361958km , Scorpion Coulee Creek - 20.70480155411km , Lmuma Creek - 21.5693422206km , Wenas Dam - 22.40215272552km , North Fork Wenas Creek - 22.72165582114km , South Fork Wenas Creek - 22.72165582114km , High Creek - 22.78728609533km , Hudson Creek - 23.37897669586km , Childress-Winegar Dam - 23.4323114993km , Roza Creek - 25.04366518309km , Yellow Jacket Creek - 25.73695362403km , North Fork Lmuma Creek - 25.83795579192km , Swift Creek - 26.23415200051km , Burbank Creek - 26.43084206536km , Shadow Creek - 26.54096698707km , Little Lake - 27.03801897644km , Dot Creek - 27.2652959972km , Ross Dam - 28.25330745803km , Roza Diversion Dam - 28.47991416935km , Mack Creek - 28.53650997499km
Harbours and
Marinas
Beaches
Bays
Wharfs
Points,Reefs,etc
Latest Catches
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