Coeur d'Alene Fishing Report 11.29.18
Words By: North 40 Outfitters
Posted: November 30, 2018

Coeur d Alene Fishing Report

Coeur d'Alene River

Bundle up, kids!  Later this week looks very cold.  Daytime highs will be in the mid-30s, barely over freezing.  This is not ideal Coeur d'Alene river conditions.  I'd consider taking some time to fill your fly boxes or taking the kids to see the new Grinch movie.  If you decide to brave the weather and go fishing up the CdA, use tandem small nymph rigs in the slower pools and tailouts.  A streamer near the bottom at near dead drift will possibly get a look or two.  Take some hand warmers and good gloves with you, you’re going to need them.

St. Joe River

Burrrrrrr! This is a big maybe here folks.  It will be slow at best.  Nymphing with small bead heads or San Juan worms will find a fish or two but it will be very slow.  The St. Joe was so great this year, now’s the time when we dream of those killer, 80-degree days, throwing big golden stones to 18-inch slab cutties on the Joe!

Clark Fork River (MT)

Well, if you can make it over the pass safely, it might fish okay.  Again, nymphing is going to be the go-to method now.  You might find a riser here or there but with no real consistency.  I like red bodied tungsten bead brassies this time of year. Chironomids and small nymphs become a big part of a fish’s diet on the Clark Fork.  Keep a super close eye on your indicator when fishing these little guys as the takes are subtle.  Also, you’ll want to pick your battles here. If it is sunny and in the 40s, it can be decent. However, if the temperature is in the 30s, and you have freezing guides, and it’s a super treacherous drive over for only a couple of fish, then meh....

If fishing in the cold isn’t for you, then consider our fly tying classes and multiple sales we have going on.  We are doing our Saturday and Wednesday free fly tying classes now.  They are at 10:30, everything is provided, we even have free coffee and donuts too.   Come, take advantage of the last few days of our Simms sale.  Lots of cool items still available, shirts, sling packs, luggage etc.  Killer deals too!  Still have quite a few Loop multi reels here that are on sale and Loop lines at a huge discount, a perfect pairing with a new rod for Christmas.

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