Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 09.13.18
Clark Fork River (ID)
Flows out of Cabinet Gorge Dam over the past week have been between 4,000 and 25,000 cubic feet per second. The water temperatures are in the low to mid 60’s and clarity is 9 to 10-feet. The best time to fish the river has been when flows are at their lowest. When flows are down, the trout are more prone to sip dry flies in the riffles. Bug life includes; caddis, western yellow mayflies, craneflies, hoppers, and ants. If the trout aren’t falling for the “match the hatch” technique, toss a #16 purple rocky mountain mint, a #16 twinkling gulper, or a #10 moodah poodah. The Idaho side of the Clark Fork isn’t known for a prolific October caddis hatch, but we do get a few. I haven’t heard of any sightings yet, but they are coming soon.
This is also an excellent river to nymph and swing. A few nymphs to try are; a #12 dirty bird, a #14 lightning bug, a #16 red copper john, and a #16 red headed step child. A few key streamer patterns are the #6 Montana mini intruder, the #8 olive balanced leech, and the #4 Halloween Cheech leech.
Lake Pend Oreille
Water temperatures are between 63-72°F and clarity is approximately 10-feet. The lake isn’t nearly as busy as it was three weeks ago. I love it. The pike fishing is slowly turning back on. You’ll want to concentrate your time fishing weed lines, flats, and structure. Big northerns are still on the prowl, searching for anything that moves. Plus, flies like a red jackknife and chartreuse pike slider will work well for pike. Floating and fast sinking line can both be used this time of year, it all depends on where you are fishing.
Currently, the bass fishing has been hit or miss. It appears that the smallmouth are now in the very beginning stages of schooling up and preparing for the long winter ahead. A lot of smallmouth can still be found off points and under docks. You’ll want to use fast sinking line, and flies like; a #6 clouser, a #6 deceiver, a 2/0 bushwacker, or a #4 creek crawler.
Lake Cocolalla
Water temperatures are between 63-72°F and clarity is roughly 2 to 3-feet. As the weather cools down, the trout should return to the surface of the lake. This transition marks the beginning of excellent fly fishing for the lake. Fast sinking and intermediate line are needed to really figure these fish out. Flies like a #6 tungsten thinmint, a #8 olive woolly bugger, a #4 rust baby gonga, and a #10 simi leech are excellent patterns to use this time of year.
The bass are still currently under docks and lily pads, but not for long. As the temperatures drop, they will migrate to their winter holding areas. For now, you can still find them using a bushwacker, a jiggy worm, and a diver.
Kootenai River
Flows out of Libby dam are 6,010 cfs. Water clarity is as good as it gets, and temperatures are around 54°F. Now is an excellent time of year to fish this river from a drift boat and from shore. The flows are low enough to wade the shorelines and access some incredible runs full of boulders. Keep an eye out for bugs like pmds, caddis, hoppers, ants, and craneflies.
A few hot attractor patterns have been a #10 pink j-slam, a #10 purple chubby chernobyl, and a #6 foam henry’s fork salmonfly -oddly enough. This is an excellent river to nymph year around. Personally, I prefer to have one rod rigged with a tandem nymph rig, and another rigged with two dries. A few key nymph patterns include a #8 Pat’s rubber legs, a #16 UV2 nymph, a #16 lightning bug, and a #14 purple prince. I also recommend using two size BB split shots 10 to 12-inches above the first nymph to really drive the flies down.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.