Coeur d’Alene Fishing Report 03.08.18
Coeur d'Alene River
The river is flowing at 1,220 cubic feet a second at Cataldo and should be a good option through the weekend. The weather has warmed and could be in the 50's and even 60's by next week. This will really get the fish going. We will see a bump in the water with a touch of rain in the next couple days, but the fishing should be good. The streamer game should be on fire, so your favorite sculpin pattern in olive or black, large Woolly Buggers, and big bunny flies, should draw attention. Nymphing, of course, will be a good option as well. Bigger stonefly patterns trailed with a smaller beadhead nymph will be a good rig as the stoneflies are starting to move around. I have seen some smaller Nemouras lately and blue-winged olives, and plenty of midges, too. March browns shouldn't be too far off, along with our first look at Skwalas. This is what we’ve waited for. It should be a good week guys.
St. Joe River
Flowing 1,190 cfs at Calder. This will be just as good as the Coeur d'Alene guys. Same rigs here as the CDA—streamers off the banks and tandem nymph rigs as well. The flows are perfect and not high yet. It should bump up with the warmer temps later this week and next week. But water quality shouldn't get too bad, as the nights are still cold enough to keep things in check. So, unless we get a ton of warm weather and rain at the same time I think we will be ok for the next week or so. Now, you probably won't get any further up the river than Avery as the road isn’t plowed any farther up. Fortunately, the lower stuff will be great and sounds like the boat launches are pretty good as well.
Clark Fork River (MT)
Flowing 3,910 cfs at St. Regis. Had some buddies over there last weekend and they did pretty good pulling streamers. They said it wasn't hot and heavy, but good fishing. Now with the warmer weather it should be pretty darn good over there. I hear the Missoula folks are already seeing the mighty Skwala on the Bitterroot. So we will start seeing them soon down by St. Regis. Size 6-4 black Sculpzillas, Zonkers , Yuk Bugs, Galloup's Dungeons are all good choices. Also try bigger Prince Nymphs, double-bead stonefly nymphs, bigger Copper Johns, and size 10-8 Pheasant Tails. You may have a chance at some dry-fly activity in the back eddies and foam lines. Midges will be out and possibly some blue-wing olives, too. Griffiths Gnats in 14-16's, blue-wings in 18-20’s and, small soft-hackles will work well to in the foam lines.
Read past reports from the CDA region here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.