Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 11.08.18
Clark Fork River (ID)
Flows out of Cabinet Gorge Dam have been between 4,000- 27,000 cfs during the daily releases. Clarity is around 10 feet, and water temperatures are in the low-mid 50s. Hatches have been slower through the warm of the day. Sun on the water will bring a few remaining mahogany duns, bwos, tricos, caddis, and midges out. My best luck has been subsurface. Swing soft hackles or emergers if you want to fish close to the surface. Streamers like Galloup’s dungeon or a cheech leech are effective right now. Temperatures aren’t low enough yet to make fish lethargic, so they will chase a large meal to prep for the cold of winter. Look for cutties and rainbows in the riffles below the dam. A few browns have been caught as well. Nymphing through runs with baetis, midge, and caddis imitations will produce fish. Micro-Spey enthusiasts: get out and swing those soft hackles and mini-intruders!
Lake Pend Oreille
The big lake has pretty much bottomed out. The lake has to be below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the water clarity is at least 10 feet. Fly fishing LPO in the winter months is a tough go. From now until March, there won’t be much to report on. On warmer days, look for bass and pike to follow bait up the water column along shelves. Larger swim fly patterns and dredgers fished on or near the bottom will turn fish. Sinking lines are a must this time of the year. Locating trout can be done by drifting chironomids on a sink tip behind a kayak or boat. Fishing won’t be super-duper, but if you find a break in the weather and can mark fish, stay patient and you’ll connect. There’s also a ton of ducks on the lake, so a cast and blast trip on the lake could be fun!
Lake Cocolalla
Coco is cooling off and throughout the month will trend with the impending freezing temperatures. The trout will continue to cruise the shoreline in about 5 to 12 feet of water. Sinking lines and tips, along with larger streamers, ranging from a complex twist bugger to an articulated sparkle minnow can produce fish. Using flies that move water are crucial in the 1 to 2 feet clarity. Browns can be caught along the north side of the lake as well as rainbows and cutthroat. Drifting/pulling chironomids behind a float tube, kayak, or boat will produce as cruising trout feed on these larger midges.
Kootenai River
Flows out of Libby Dam are still hovering around 4,050 cfs, and clarity is 60 inches. Folks are still reporting a lot of fish caught on floats. You can still catch fish on top, however, look subsurface for the bulk of your fish. The colder air temperatures will affect the hatches dramatically over the next couple of weeks. Dead drifting streamers like a zirdle this time of year can pay off big. Look for small hatches of mahogany duns, bwos, and midges on warmer sunny days. Nymphing will be effective from here on out. Getting down midges, Pat’s rubber legs, psycho princes, and a North Fork special will move fish. Swing small streamers like a mini Montana intruder and a stinger smolt, because big fish have the feed bags on! Floating and wading are both effective this time of the year, so get out there while the weather permits!
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.