Coeur d'Alene Fishing Report 11.15.18

Coeur d'Alene River

Well, it's been a heck of a season guys!  Things are winding down on the CdA and this week the cold temperatures are going to mean tougher fishing.  You may still find a few fish up at the warmest time of the day, but it is going to be a small window at best.  Nymphing and slow pulled streamers are going to be a better bet though, and honestly more of a nymph game from here on out as it gets colder. If you do find fish up, small offerings are going to be the go-to.  You’ll want to use blue-winged olives in #18-20s and try dropping a small non-bead head, flash-back pheasant tail in the same size behind your dry.  This is a good option if the fish are very wary.  Your casts will need to be spot on now as any rising fish now will be pretty lethargic due to the water temperatures. They will not be too willing to move very far to eat a dry fly.  Fishing smaller tandem nymph rigs should find you fish. Also, really trust your indicator now too.  The takes are going to be subtle, so try some smaller yarn indicators and any twitch it makes -set the hook.  A slow pulled streamer or dead drifted streamer can do well too.  Again, make sure to get the fly down to the bottom and any tug you get on the line set it, as the takes will not be very aggressive.

St. Joe River

Some goodness left, but not for long. The Joe fished so good this year. We had tons of water early and this helped prolong our summer during the heat and into the fall.  Remember guys, that the more snowpack the better. It helps us through the heat in the summer.  With high snowpack years, the spring fishing can be tough due to the bigger runoffs, but it is a give and take.  It helps reduce the chances of fires and is so good for the rivers. It keeps them cold and oxygenated in the hot summer heat.  So, with that being said, we are coming into the last few weeks of the season as bitterly cold temperatures and snow are sure to come soon.  There is still some opportunity left on the Joe, and hopefully, you can get out on a sunny day. We need it to warm up the water just enough to get the fish active on what few bugs are left.  The streamer fishing should be decent but keep them slow and on the bottom.  Keep tension on the line as the takes are not strong and can feel just like a tick in the line, or the line may tighten up for just a split second.  You don't need big streamers now. I like using simple black or olive bunny leeches or use smaller sculpin patterns with cone heads or dumbbell eyes to get them down quickly.  I would consider staying on the pavement from here on out on your drive there. The passes from Wallace and St. Regis can have issues with snow now.  Be safe, as the river road can be icy too in the shady corners in the mornings.  Good luck and get out for what few days are left on the Joe!

Clark Fork River (MT)

Fishing is still decent, and the Clark Fork may give it up a bit longer than the Coeur d'Alene or St. Joe this fall.  The reason being is that it is bigger and more exposed to the sun.  The CdA and Joe are smaller, and many parts of these rivers are in canyons. And with the shorter days, they may not even see sunlight in the day.  There is no reason to get on the Clark Fork early though.  Eat a good breakfast, have some coffee, and hit it at noon to evening.  This will be the warmest part of the day and give you the best opportunity at some decent dry fly fishing.  The fish will be podded up and, in the flats, sipping small blue-winged olives and maybe a mahogany dun, probably some midges too.  Longer leaders and good presentations are now key in picking off the big boys on the Fork eating the little bugs.  If you are on the water early, using tandem small nymph rigs will be good and, again, pull a streamer slowly in the riffles and foam lines.  There are some really big browns on the Clark Fork and you just never know when you will come across one here.  However, you are probably not going to get them on the little stuff.  Streamers are where it's at, and if you dedicate your efforts this time of year to the streamer, you will be rewarded.

See past reports from the CDA region here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.