Coeur d’Alene Fishing Report 04.19.18
Coeur d'Alene River
Flowing 12,500 cubic feet per second at Cataldo and climbing. This is big water guys, probably not the best choice now. Looks like it is going to warm up and this should melt more snow. The Coeur d' Alene may be a gonner for a while. If that’s the case, check out the local lakes report (see below).
St. Joe River
Flowing 7,370 cfs at Calder and dropping. This has been a rollercoaster lately with brief windows of opportunity between highs and lows. Actually had some decent reports from folks who floated the Joe last weekend. It was running high but clear and there was sone good streamer fishing and decent dry-fly activity. I don't foresee the Joe holding shape with the warm weather that is coming. This will be a welcome change as the weather as we all know has been depressing to say the least. Old Ma Nature just can't seem to make her mind up this spring. In due time we’ll get back on the rivers, including the Joe. Keep tying bugs and thinking of killer summer hatches and maybe getting out on the lakes in the meantime.
Clark Fork River (MT)
Flowing 12,300 cfs and climbing. The Clark Fork has been steadily climbing for the last two weeks and from the looks of it, it is not slowing down. Now, if it levels off or decides to drop (not likely) and is in the 12,000 to 15,000 cfs range it will be incredible fishing over there. There are still plenty of bugs coming off, but when the Fork is on the rise it seldom provides great fishing. So hopefully we will see a window before the "big" blow out, but hard to say as there is still a ton of snow in the hills and we are in for a killer summer with all the water to carry us through. Stay tuned guys and if you have Saturday the 28th off come see me for a nymphing and streamer fishing seminar here at the shop at 10:30 a.m.
Local Lakes
If we could get some consistent weather, things would be killer on our lakes. There have been some decent reports of crappie on Fernan, Coeur d' Alene, Hayden and the Chain lakes. It still has been hit or miss with the smallmouth and largemouth bass. The gear guys are doing decent as they can fish the deeper water where the fish are hanging, but us fly guys will start getting more of them once the water warms up just a touch and the fish start moving into the shallows. The pike fishing has been steady, which I have been out doing a bit of with decent luck. Getting a few to chase the fly and quite a few more to commit on the big spoons. Same here with the pike—as the water warms it will pick up and be killer. Large white and red Pike Bunny, red and black Predator Pounder, Rabbit Strip Diver in red/white, and Dougie's Perch are all great patterns. For the crappie I'd try black, maroon or tan Mohair Leeches, Balanced Leeches, and beadhead nymphs, like Princes, Tung Jig Pheasant tails, Tung Jig Yellow Spots. It is going to get really good here in the next week, so keep your rods at the ready.