The total distance the river covers from start to finish is about 215 miles, with roughly 75 miles being prime trout water. During high water months of summer the river is a torrent here, an unmerciful flow created for distant farmlands. With banks brimming it rushes through log jams and sweepers and it's a very dangerious section of river. This area receives little angling attention during the high flow period for obvious reasons. By mid-September when the irrigation flows of the Yakima have ended this upper section takes on a whole new look . .
Trout tend to be on the smallish size but often come easily to any dry fly passed their way.
Most trout are rainbows but the occasional cutthroat or brook trout will be landed also. Fishing the river in the Cle Elum area is very popular. Wading fishermen have no problem finding a spot on the water and although the gentle flows of fall make for easier wading, this area is also good for the boatless angler during the higher flows of summer. There is a dike road with public access on the south side of town and good river access to the east of town. Cle Elum to Ellensburg Highway 10 was the main road between Ellensburg and Seattle before Interstate 90 was built.