Coeur d’Alene Fishing Report 05.16.18
Coeur d' Alene River
Flow at Cataldo is 8,750 cfs and climbing. That means the river is still pretty big guys and gals. Looks like we will be getting another push of water with the really warm temps and this just means we are getting closer to the good stuff. For now though it's still a bit too big. I like to see flows on the drop and around 5,000 cfs at Cataldo for good floating and decent wading options. So stay tuned because we are in for a great summer with nice cool water for our fish.
St. Joe
Flowing 12,900 at Calder and climbing. Seems to be hanging above the fishable flows for now. Same thing here— we need to see flows around 5,000 cfs for comfortable floating and wading. It shouldn't be too long guys. Just hang in there and know that the fishing will be off the hook good this summer.
Clark Fork (MT)
Flow at St. Regis is 45,600 and dropping. Just a teaser here guys because it looks like in a few days it will be on the rise again and from the looks of it we may be knocking on a record high flow this year. Hard to say though, as the temps and the rain will have a lot to do with that. Your patience will be greatly rewarded here folks; with higher spring flows, mid summer means all sorts of goodness. Hopefully no “hoot owl” restrictions and lots of happy and playful fish.
Local Lakes
Hayden has been stellar as of late with the crappie, bass and pike. Actually had a decent day on the lake yesterday and caught some monster crappie, a few bass, and a couple of pike. Mostly gear fished yesterday, but did throw the fly rod a bit too. The crappie will take a small black Woolly Bugger like nobody's business though. But the plastics worked well too. Caught a few smallies stripping the same black Woolly Bugger and a larger black rabbit leech. The pike were taken on a medium-size Rapala jerkbait, I did throw the big pike fly for a good two hours in the morning with no luck, I'm sure if I would have stuck to it I would have seen a few at hand. The weather looks promising for this weekend and should be great fishing, whether you are on Hayden, the Chain Lakes, Coeur d’Alene, or farther north.