Tucannon River Washington Hatch Chart

Southeastern Washington, rising in the Blue Mountains of Columbia County and flowing northwest to its confluence with the Snake River near Starbuck. The Tucannon is one of Washington's most underappreciated wild trout streams - a small, clear, freestone river flowing through ponderosa pine forest and sage canyon country with a surprisingly robust population of wild rainbow and brown trout. The river also supports a native summer steelhead run, making it one of the few streams in eastern Washington where a dry-fly angler can encounter both resident trout and anadromous fish in the same day.

Check current Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations before you go. The Tucannon has special regulations that vary significantly by section and season, including catch-and-release requirements, artificial lures and flies only sections, and seasonal closures related to steelhead. Regulations on the Tucannon can change annually - verify current rules before every trip.

Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.

The river

The Tucannon flows through two distinct environments. The upper river above Tucannon Campground runs through ponderosa pine and mixed forest in the Blue Mountains - cooler, shaded, and more productive for resident trout through the summer months. The lower river below the hatchery transitions to open sage and grassland canyon as it descends toward the Snake River valley - warmer in summer but excellent steelhead water in the fall and spring windows.

This is small-stream fishing. The Tucannon averages 20-40 feet wide through most of its fishable length - intimate water that rewards careful wading, short accurate casts, and a stealthy approach. Fish are wild, alert, and unforgiving of sloppy presentations. The reward is genuine small-stream dry-fly fishing for wild fish in beautiful country with very little competition from other anglers.

The hatchery at Tucannon Campground divides the river into upper and lower management zones with different regulations. The upper river above the hatchery is the primary resident trout fishery. The lower river below the hatchery is steelhead and lower-elevation trout water. Know which section you are fishing and confirm current rules for that section before wading in.

Year at a glance - resident trout (upper river)

Month Primary hatches Also carry Typical sizes
Jan Midges Small nymphs 20-26
Feb Midges, BWO Small nymphs 18-24
Mar BWO, early stonefly Midges, early caddis BWO 16-20, stonefly 12-14
Apr BWO, caddis March Brown, stonefly nymphs BWO 16-20, caddis 14-16
May Caddis, PMD, BWO Golden stone, yellow sally Caddis 14-16, PMD 16-18
Jun Caddis, PMD, golden stone Yellow sally, hoppers start Caddis 14-16, PMD 16-18
Jul Caddis, hoppers, PMD Yellow sally, ants Hopper 8-12, caddis 14-16
Aug Hoppers, caddis, ants Beetles, trico Hopper 8-12, caddis 14-16
Sep BWO, hoppers, caddis Mahogany dun, ants BWO 16-20, hopper 8-12
Oct BWO, midges October caddis, streamers BWO 16-20, midge 20-24
Nov Midges, BWO Small nymphs 18-24
Dec Midges Small nymphs 20-26

January - February

The upper Tucannon fishes slowly in the depths of winter but holds fish year-round. Midges are the primary food source - fish hold in the deeper pools and slower runs, feeding subsurface on midge larvae and pupae. BWO begin on overcast afternoons in February. This is quiet, meditative fishing with no other anglers and beautiful Blue Mountain winter scenery. Access roads in the upper drainage can be snow-covered - check conditions before making the drive.

March

March opens the dry-fly season on the Tucannon with early stonefly activity and strengthening BWO hatches. Small dark stoneflies begin hatching on warm afternoons - not the dramatic salmonfly event of larger rivers, but enough to trigger surface feeding on the right day. BWO on overcast days. Early caddis begin by late month. March is an excellent time to fish the upper river before spring pressure arrives.

  • BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
  • Early stonefly - 12-14 on warm afternoons. See dry flies.
  • Stonefly nymphs subsurface from nymphs.

April

Caddis begin in earnest through April and quickly become the dominant evening hatch. BWO continue on overcast days. March Browns appear on the broader lower sections. Spring runoff can affect the Tucannon in April - the upper river clears faster than the lower reaches. April evening caddis on the upper Tucannon with rising wild rainbows and no other anglers is what small-stream dry-fly fishing is all about.

  • BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO on overcast days.
  • Caddis - 14-16. Elk hair caddis evenings.
  • Stonefly nymphs subsurface through the month. Nymphs.

May

The prime season opens in May. Caddis hatches build to peak intensity and PMDs begin on the flatter upper sections. Golden stones appear in the faster riffles. Yellow sallies by mid-month. May is the best all-around month on the upper Tucannon - full hatch activity, good water temperatures, and the ponderosa forest at its most vibrant. Fish the upper river above the hatchery for the best resident trout fishing.

  • Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
  • PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun mornings on the flatter sections.
  • Golden stone - 6-10 in the faster riffles.
  • Yellow sally - 14-16 on warm afternoons.

June

Peak dry-fly season on the upper Tucannon. Caddis evenings remain strong. PMDs continue through the month. Golden stones in the riffles. Hoppers begin along the grassy and sage margins by late June as the lower canyon warms. The upper river stays cooler under the pine canopy - fish here through the heat of early summer for the best dry-fly action and most comfortable conditions.

  • Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
  • PMD - 16-18. Pale Morning Dun mornings.
  • Golden stone - 6-10 in the riffles.
  • Yellow sally - 14-16 on warm afternoons.
  • Late June: first hoppers - hoppers and terrestrials along the lower canyon margins.

July

Hopper season arrives and the Tucannon is exceptional terrestrial water - the combination of sage flats, grassy margins, and wild fish that rarely see a fly makes for outstanding hopper fishing. Fish hoppers tight to the undercut banks and grassy edges with confidence. Caddis evenings continue. PMDs linger on the shaded upper sections. Ants and beetles through the midday hours. Monitor water temperatures in the lower canyon in July - the upper ponderosa sections stay cooler and fish better through summer heat.

  • Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the banks. Hopper-dropper with a small nymph dropper.
  • Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
  • PMD - 16-18 on shaded upper sections. Pale Morning Dun.
  • Ants and beetles midday from hoppers and terrestrials.

August

Hopper fishing peaks in August and the Tucannon is at its best for terrestrial dry-fly fishing. The wild rainbows and browns of the upper river respond aggressively to hoppers, ants, and beetles along the bank. Caddis evenings continue. Keep presentations short and accurate on this small water - a good drift of 3-5 feet in the right lane produces far more fish than long casts across currents. Focus on the upper shaded sections for the best August temperatures and most active fish.

  • Hoppers - 8-12. Hoppers and terrestrials along the banks and undercuts.
  • Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair.
  • Ants and beetles midday. Hoppers and terrestrials.
  • Trico - 20-24 early morning on the flatter upper sections.

September

September is the finest month on the Tucannon. Hoppers continue through mid-month, BWO return with the cooling temperatures, and the Blue Mountain forest begins to turn. Very few anglers after Labor Day. The fall BWO hatch on the upper river produces excellent afternoon dry-fly fishing. Mahogany duns add variety on overcast days. The lower river below the hatchery comes into its own in September as steelhead begin entering the system - check current regulations carefully for the lower section.

  • Hoppers through mid-September. Hoppers and terrestrials.
  • BWO - 16-20. Parachute BWO and CDC Baetis emerger on overcast afternoons.
  • Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast afternoons.
  • Caddis evenings through mid-September. Elk hair.

October

BWO and midges dominate in October on the upper river. October caddis add a large dry-fly option on warmer afternoons. Streamers produce the largest resident browns of the year as pre-spawn aggression peaks. The lower river steelhead fishery is at its most accessible in October for anglers holding the appropriate license and endorsement - confirm current regulations before targeting steelhead on the lower Tucannon.

  • BWO - 16-20. The dominant hatch. Parachute BWO.
  • October caddis - 8-10 on warmer afternoons. See dry flies.
  • Midges - 20-24 picking back up. Red zebra midge.
  • Streamers for pre-spawn browns - streamers in the deeper pools.

November - December

Midges and BWO as the season closes down. The upper river becomes inaccessible in heavy snow years - check road conditions before making the drive into the Blue Mountains. The lower river may hold steelhead through the fall and winter depending on run timing and regulations. The Tucannon is a summer and fall fishery at its best - plan visits for May through October for the full hatch experience.

  • Midges - 20-26. Red zebra midge and small nymphs subsurface.
  • BWO on overcast afternoons. Parachute BWO.

A western dry and nymph assortment covers the core season. Add a hopper box for July through September and a streamer selection for October browns. The Tucannon rewards anglers who slow down, approach carefully, and make precise short casts - this is not a river where distance fishing or sloppy presentations produce results. Wild fish in beautiful country with almost no competition is the Tucannon's greatest asset.