Winter Wading with a New Zealand Style Rig on the Yakima River I 4K

Join Joe Rotter @ Red's for a short wade fishing trip near Ellensburg, Washington on the Yakima River. Joe utilizes the highway along the river to efficiently move between spots. Warm winter days can be good fishing, especially since the water is low and the trout are holding in fairly distinct holes.
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00:05 - Introduction
1:27 - My Rig and Fly Selection
3:27 - 1st Spot Sucked
3:47 - New Wade Fishing Hole
5:30 - Fly Change to TJ Hooker and Midge Pattern
6:50 - Trout, Trout, Trout
18:40 - Whitefish
20:10 - Final Drift

[@rcvflyfisher]

Brrrr but productive! Such a mild, low snow winter is opening my eyes to the prospect of getting out there earlier this year, although it appears that real winter is about to descend on us this weekend. Thanks for taking us along, Joe!

[@rcvflyfisher]

Thanks for the explanation of the indicator set-up! What rod did you use now that you're a enuronymphing aficionado? 😆

[@Riverbugger]

Another great video Joe! Love using TJ Hooker Stones! Need to get some of the hares ear stones soon from Red’s and some Meat Sweats! Thanks for sharing and taking us along on another productive day!!

[@redsflyshop]

You bet riverbugger - thanks! Good luck this year!

[@outdoorsamerica5367]

You do a really good job at teaching people! Keep up the good work

[@redsflyshop]

Thank you! Will do!

[@jb5-pct]

Keeping that back cast safe technique is brilliant. Thanks for the tip! Oh, and good to know even the experts will lose a fly now and then. Appreciate all your work.

[@redsflyshop]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@johnyorchak5162]

Enjoyed this one a lot. Glad you resisted the urge to quit early. We’ve all been there.

[@JohnShelton-mh9ns]

Joe it’s been over two years ago when I watched your video: “Best Strike Indicator Setup // Hinged New Zealand Style Indicator” That system is money! I’ve been a fly fisherman for more than 45 years and that system is a winner. If your viewers follow your advice exactly as you suggest, as I did a few years ago, it will change their catch rate considerably! It’s a solid rig that just makes common sense once you understand what it’s doing. Thank you (two years late) but I’ve been so busy catching trout!!!

[@tyrellosterud7788]

Couldn’t agree more!!! It really is the best indicator rig out there.

[@pmdun45698]

I also took Joe's advice back then and wished I would of done it earlier. It definetly increases the catch rate. Just proves that no matter how many decades we've fly fished, having the ability to learn new ways is key.

[@Equipubest]

Thanks for a great video Joe! Great time watching it here in the warmth of home after we got about 8" of snow yesterday. Can't wait to get back out on the Yak and will stop in to see all of you at Red's as always. Appreciate you sharing the specifics on your setup..it's a little different than my usual and I am looking forward to trying yours' out! Keep up the good work!

[@Toddcm]

Another nice video Joe. Any chance you could do a short video on how to use a half hitch to make your dropper come off at a 90 degree angle?

[@redsflyshop]

Great suggestion!

[@dankochanek8056]

I really do like the Dorsey indicator setup. Works really well. Unless of course its a hurricane out.

[@redsflyshop]

I'll have to check that out, thank you! Sounds like a winner.

[@Scarbis93]

I like the reasoning behind the yarn indicator. Makes sense

[@redsflyshop]

It's a bit of a learning curve on cutting them to size, combing them, dressing them but in the log run it's an advantage. Give 'er a shot.

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, New Zealand style rig? As a Kiwi angler whose been fishing here for the past fifty years, that expression is a new one on me! I change my rig all the time and each day the river and even a well known pool will change and we have to adapt our rig accordingly. It also depends what fish species you are hunting. Interesting, but do go on! The only part of the rig we have influenced is the indicator that we make up from sheep wool we find on fences and add a thin plastic tube from the fish aquarium air pumps to keep it on the line. Still, live and learn. Cheers mate. Harera

[@redsflyshop]

Great feedback thank you! I tie in my strand of yarn with an overhand knot and when I try to explain it to people they often say "oh.. like a New Zealand Style Indicator" so I try to keep it simple and just call it that right or wrong. I sometimes move it by loosening the knot, or I'll occasionally use plastic tubing and a darning needle to make an indicator but more often I tie in a strand with an overhand knot. I do love being able to scale it, with a tiny nymph it might be a 1/8 strand of my yarn which is micro, or for a winter day with a weighted nymph a full strand. Varies all the time.

[@jlawrence10]

Thanks to you and Hayden for the great videos. Enjoyable watching. My home river is the lower Deschutes, and I also mostly nymph it in the winter. Might be difficult or impossible to generalize, but can you comment on a few main differences between what you do on the Yak and what I should be doing on the D? I have never streamer fished, but most everything else seems pretty similar. Nobody is really doing videos like this on the D (which maybe I’m ok with 😆😬) so a few thoughts could be helpful. Thanks!

[@redsflyshop]

Same. Deschutes in the lower end is the only place I have experience, with the exception of a slightly larger channel the hatches are fairly similar. Thanks for the laugh, if someone is in my spot with a fish on I'll simply smile and be happy for them haha! Good comment, I appreciate the good vibes.

[@jacobzirkle9153]

I love to swing that second spot

[@EnriqueGonzalez-vf8pz]

Aye that new fishpond net though!

[@redsflyshop]

It's a nice size, a bit small for our biggest trout but those aren't an "every day" thing so its a quick handling net and convenient to pack around.

[@nathanleeper4519]

I’m jealous of the open water you were able to fish. Everything is completely frozen over where I live.

[@redsflyshop]

Ha ours is today. Crazy how fast things change. 0 degrees here now.

[@mstaples7411]

How will you decide if you are fishing an indicator nymph rig or another style such as euro? Just depending on what you want to do or more about conditions and time of year? Great video…. Camera guy is a champ to watch you catch all those fish and still have a camera instead of a rod!

[@redsflyshop]

Conditions will dictate this a bit yes. If the water is rising, suspended nymphs typically fish better IMO so an indicator rig on a short drop is great. Mid column drift. In the winter when the fish are holding in long slow seams and indicator is a slight advantage on big rivers, once the fish are in pocket water, swirls, and complex currents...... tight line is a tremendous advantage. Not even close.

[@zoezoego]

Joe another cool video of open and honest talk. Loved the part of you getting whiny and wanting to go back to the shop, but persevered and pushed forward. I have your indicator setup on a few of my leaders in my leader wallet with different colored yarn. Do you use a certain colored yarn for type of day, sunny vs overcast? or just what your eyes will see no matter what.

[@drdwork]

Can you spell out the specifics of the leader setup - interested in length from fly line to indicator, indicator to tippet ring, tippet ring to fly? And how that will vary based on depth and speed?

[@squatchy69]

I think if you use the black yarn for your indicator, you’ll find that you’ll be able to see that thing in any kind of glare situation, any kind of light colorations in the sky. It just sticks out like a sore thumb every day in and day out for years, no trouble finding it whatsoever

[@jackbuckner3914]

I like that rig, but have gotten into using sigter material for the leader which I like beause its eacy for me to see when the leader starts skinking behing the indicator.

[@jdigioia1130]

Thanks for sharing this video. Given how cold it’s been lately here in CO there hasn’t been much opportunity to get out on the water so this video got me hopeful for next time out. I tied up a couple of the Kesler’s HE but I didn’t tie the legs as long as the one you showed. Might need to switch that up!? Interesting rod choice - any particular reason for this rod in this situation? Also, what line did you pair with it? For a minute there I thought it might be a Cortland line?! Tight lines… 🎣

[@redsflyshop]

It's a 9' 6 weight Sage R8 - it tosses and indicator rig really well. No particular reason that I grabbed it. A #5 or even a fast action #4 can handle this rig and these scrappy fish.

[@williamstull1471]

Hey Joe, I’m somewhat new to winter fly fishing, and I’ve had great luck with stoneflys up until it got real cold here in Roslyn. Although I did see it is going to get back up to 40 degrees soon. Do you think the fish will start eating again once it gets warmer, or will the water still be too cold for the fish? Love your videos! They’ve helped me get into fly fishing the last few years.

[@redsflyshop]

The bite will pick up, probably sooner up there than down here as it's often a bit warmer in Roslyn due to the inversion we get in the lower end of the valley here in the winter. We are under MAJOR ice flow here. It will take a while to clear up.

[@hmann18]

Have you come to NZ before? A yellowtail kingfish on the fly rod is great fun

[@redsflyshop]

Not yet! Someday.

[@VTBullitt]

How do you like those sunglasses? What lens color is that and what do you think is best for fishing rivers and streams for trout

[@redsflyshop]

Love 'em. I've got the purple'ish mirror. Can't remember the lens name but it's the Stiltsville Frame.

[@hunterbemboom318]

Are you wearing Bajio sunglasses??? I switched to them this year, man do I love them

[@redsflyshop]

Yea testing them out. Love my Costas but I sure like the fact that Bajio is "fly fishing". Nice to support a company making purpose built products and supporting fly.

[@hunterbemboom318]

@@redsflyshop For sure! I haven’t had any warranty issues at all but I spoke to a lady at there factory and got to meet the Midwest rep there customer service and passion for their product is pretty impressive as well

[@patshozo9158]

Wow. such nice weather in January! I'd like to fish the Yakima with my trout spey using soft hackles and fall caddis flies.... Swinging flies work during the winter ?

[@devinshook3289]

It can work during warm days but nymphing is a lot more productive due to water temps

[@tvenheyer8633]

Hey Joe, noticed that you’re using the Speedster. (?) What’s your view vs. the Litespeed? Cheers from South Africa.

[@michaelz2269]

What model frame bajios are those

[@stringtwister7654]

Next time try EP fibers instead of the wool. It will fish all day without getting wet, plus it's lighter. I use 5/16 rubber bands. Just like a Dorsey. But EP fibers are SO much better

[@ryantherock7664]

Where do you get your EP fibres?

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks for the tip! This is actually a poly yarn, not much different. The NZ brand yarn works pretty well for light setups. For heavier flies the synthetic wicks better just as you suggested here. If I get my hands on some EP I'll give it a shot.

[@TooFastNate]

which rods are good for this kind??

[@redsflyshop]

A 9' 5 weight or 6 weight would be ideal. Nothing fancy required if you are just getting started. Use a floating line and get out there. No fear!

[@cachi-7878]

@19:36, are these a protected species? I used to toss them out of the stream. 😂 ( a former Red’s guide showed me that)

[@GameStrata]

What glasses are those?

[@hunterbemboom318]

I 90% sure those are Bajio sunglasses, I just bought 2 pair, they are great

[@GameStrata]

@@hunterbemboom318 Thanks!

[@ryantherock7664]

How can you leave the poor dog in the car…can’t you take him fishing?

[@redsflyshop]

haha yea, he's a big running English Setter. Can't let him out near the highway. That's my Chukar dog.