Brazda’s Fly Fishing has offered guided fly fishing trips throughout Washington State since 1998, run by owner Jeff Brazda and based out of Ellensburg, specializing in trout, salmon, and steelhead. The business operates year-round, following the state’s best fisheries through the seasons rather than sticking to a single river or species.
Winter through early spring brings trophy winter steelhead on the famed rivers of the Olympic Peninsula, while spring and summer shift focus to the Yakima River, Washington’s only Blue Ribbon trout fishery and one of the most accessible fly fishing destinations in the state, located less than two hours from Seattle. Late summer through fall turns attention to Klickitat River steelhead, considered by many to be the hardest-fighting steelhead in Washington, with fish up to 20 pounds possible. Depending on conditions, Brazda’s also guides the Naches and Methow Rivers for cutthroat and rainbow trout.
On the Yakima, wild westslope cutthroat, rainbow trout, and cutt-bow hybrids populate 70 miles of diverse water above Roza Dam and near Cle Elum, with summer stonefly hatches from July through September driving big dry fly fishing, spring bringing hatch-matching with drakes and caddis, and fall low water conditions triggering the well-known “egg drop” bite as trout fatten up for winter. The Yakima is a year-round catch-and-release fishery under selective gear rules requiring single, barbless hooks with no bait.
Yakima River day trips run $575 for two anglers in one boat or $475 for a single angler, including a guide, flies, and all terminal tackle, with Washington state sales tax and fishing license purchased separately. A typical guide day runs from an early morning meetup through a full day floating and fishing, wrapping up around 4:30 to 5pm. Beyond Washington’s rivers, Brazda’s Fly Fishing also runs hosted trips to destinations like Florida for tarpon, the Yucatan Peninsula for permit, and Montana/Wyoming for brown trout, with fully arranged lodging and local guides included.
For anglers looking for an experienced, dedicated Washington fly fishing guide service covering trout, salmon, and steelhead across the state’s best rivers, Brazda’s Fly Fishing offers a well-established, conservation-minded operation out of Ellensburg with more than 25 years in the business.
