Coeur d’Alene Fishing Report 04.04.18
Coeur d'Alene River
Flow is 3,640 cfs at Cataldo and with the recent cold weather this has helped the river drop, which is a good thing. But the colder weather also meant slower hatches. Right now we are looking at rain and more rain over the next week. That means the river should rise. The temperature is supposed to climb as well, so this may spell much bigger rivers by next week. I'd suggest getting out this week if you have a chance. If we get any hatches they will be short-lived and midday to later in the day as this is when it will be the warmest out. There are a few skwalas out as well as Nemouras. March brown mayflies and blue-winged olives too. The grey drakes should be showing up as well. Nymphing and streamer fishing will most likely be better than the dry-fly activity but you never know. The flows are still pretty big for wading in most spots so floating will be much better now. There are still may spots you can wade but will be diminished with the high flows. Stonefly nymphs with plenty of split-shot and maybe a smaller bead head or soft-hackle for your dropper will produce just fine. Bigger streamers and again plenty of weight to get you down and keep you down in the high flows with get attention as well. If we can get a shot of sun and mid 50's to 60 with moderate flows on the river, look out it will be killer.
St. Joe River
Flow 2,290 cfs at Calder and dropping. Fishing has been decent and will be good this week but be prepared for a big jump in the flows if we get rained on. It is usually a touch colder up on the Joe compared to the Coeur d'Alene so this can influence the hatches. Be prepared to do more nymphing and streamer fishing to find fish with the colder weather. Again like in the Coeur d'Alene report we are looking at more rain and higher daytime temps so I think your window for good fishing may be shot by the weekend. Skwalas are around but not in big numbers but I think the fish may be looking for one so it would be prudent to have a dry rod rigged up with a skwala dry and a mid-size beadhead stonefly for a dropper rigged up just incase. There are March browns around, midges, possibly a grey drake or two, but again I'd stay in the nymphing and streamer frame of mind and you will do fine.
Clark Fork River (MT)
Flow 6,590 cfs at St. Regis. The Clark fork has been fishing well. Had some buddies on the river last weekend and did well. Fish are looking for the skwalas and plenty of midges, blue-wing olives and March browns. The Grey drakes are starting to show up as well, but not many yet. A Chubby Chernobly with a Twenty Incher for a dropper would be a great searching rig out of the driftboat, but early on I'd still be running a double stonefly nymph rig or throwing a streamer at the banks. Midday when things warm up is when you'll start to see the skwalas and nemouras. The Clark fork can handle a 1,000-2,000 cfs increase in the next week and the fishing should be fine. I actually enjoy the Clark fork this time of year when it is up in the willows and running 8,000-10,000 cfs. It can be some of the best fishing of the year. But to really get things going over on the Fork we will need some warmer weather and hopefully no rain and it will be incredible. But, word is, we got some rain and the river is off-color. Inquire locally before making that drive. In the meantime stick with the nymph rigs in the mornings and then look for rising fish in the flat water and back eddies and don't forget your emergers now guys. Soft-hackles behind your favorite skwala or March brown pattern will always pick up a lot of fish.