Yale Reservoir

splaterwin · Since 17 Nov 2005 165 Posts Vancouver Stoked

I’ve talked about Yale Reservoir long ago but I think it deservers a look. On drive to Mnt Saint Helens wind was north ~ 20 to 30 with laminar clean air, at least from what I could tell from shore. Water was white capping in morning, pics attached were taken at end of day. They tend to drop water level at Yale to keep Merwin Reservoir toped off, so plenty of shore line. Clean but cold mountain water, could be good.

-pat

FlyDunes · Since 09 Oct 2007 1034 Posts Aloha XTreme Poster

Brad and Maren do maneuvers clinics at Yale all the time in the Summer. They might want to comment on water levels and available shoreline. I think it's pretty good, but rocky, most of the summer.

Parapontificator · Since 09 Feb 2009 11 Posts North Coast Oregon New Member

Yale is where we go to do most all of our over the water towing, so we have actually spent a good deal of time there. The first pic that Pat shows is actually our launch/landing area. Checking with the Yale Lake automated reporting page (http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?YALW1?1?1?0?0?0), I see that today the lake is just 5 feet below full pool. You will find that a lot of the beach will dissappear as the levels move up. Not a big problem, as the whole, currently dry area will only be around 1 foot underwater. Enough to keep us from towing, but probably not enough to keep you from having a great launch area in the summer.

If you keep an eye on the above link, you might notice that the lake levels should be creeping down as we get closer to the spring thaw. They lower the level to use the lake as a 'catch basin' for flood control. As the melt season subsides, usually around Memorial Day, the lake levels will begin creeping up towards full pool, where they will stay until around the Labor Day weekend. First worry is flood control, second worry is having enough water for electricity production.

The lake is very prone to setting up it's own weather patterns too. In the morning, it's down lake and can be white cap strong, especially if it's a cold morning with a NE wind. By the afternoon, the winds start to shift to up lake (right to left from the shoreline), and tend to get equally as strong, but the effect is enhanced on warm/hot days with a west wind, and not so much on cold east days. Evenings are usually short wind windows, as the wind begins to blow offshore near sunset. Tends to be very turbulent when blowing offshore.

Barely visible here, but only about 1.5 miles down lake in the first picture is a small flat sandy/muddy/pebbly island that would be a great place to set up and play, if you have a boat. It's abruptly deep water on the North side, and shallow on the south side. Stay away from the SE side, as it's full of stumps! (Almost ripped of the outdrive there one rather expensive day Sad

) Also, don't drive the boat between the island and the shore unless you have a thick hulled jet boat.

Now I am sitting here thinking that it's looking like pretty good conditions to get out there and do some 'fun' stuff over the water! Wink

Brad

Parapontificator · Since 09 Feb 2009 11 Posts North Coast Oregon New Member

I just had another thought. For down wind runs there two other drive up parks and boat launches at both ends of the lake. There is a bit of a curve in the lake at the last bit, so making it to the actual park by the dam might be in question, (again better to have a boat, just in case).

Also, thought I might share some pics of us having some fun out there!

Brad

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

I wish Yale blew harder it is a gorgeous place, with super clear water. Nice shots of the lake and Saint Helens. Brings back memories of May 18th, I was at a Hobie regatta at Yale then. Amazing lighting show inside the flume.

eli_anderson · Since 04 Jun 2007 507 Posts Addicted

amazing pics brad. I have to make it a priority to make my way there this summer.