Coeur d’Alene Fishing Report 11.30.17

Coeur d'Alene River

Fishing has been pretty steady despite the varied weather. We got a good bump in flows with the rain last week, and that will move the fish around a bit. Streamer fishing has been productive as water temp rose and the fish became more active. Your favorite black leech or olive sculpin should do the trick. Concentrate on the slower water and keep your fly low and slow—no need to rip the fly through the water. The fish are still fairly lethargic and slow even with the temperature bump. Tandem nymph rigs work well under an indicator. Pheasant-Tails, Prince Nymphs, red Brassies or Chironomids, San Juan Worms, and small egg patterns are productive under the indicator. Forecast is for a cooler temp late this week, so the flows will come down and the fish may be a bit more sluggish. But hey, no snow and temps in the mid-40’s should tell you to pick up the rod and get out there.

St. Joe River

We’ve had some good reports here. Again, like the Coeur d'Alene, the flows are up so this will push the fish into slower water. Tailouts and inside bends in slower water are good spots to swing a streamer or a nymph rig. You may even see a fish or two up on blue-winged olives or midges. If you are a drift-boater or pontoon-boater, the flows are perfect right now. Ramps at Calder, Marble and Huckleberry are still open and good to go. Get it while it's good, as snow is sure to come soon. Mild temps later this week should provide perfect conditions for a float or a wade day. No need to venture up high on the river, but I'm sure there are a fish or two to be caught above Avery, if you choose to do so. The passes out Wallace and St. Regis are still suspect with snow, so play it safe and come in through St. Maries.

Clark Fork River (MT)

Fishing will be good this week. The river came up a bit with the rain, but this is a good thing on the Clark Fork this time of year. It will warm the water up a bit and get the fish looking up as well. These mid-40 to 50-degree days are perfect and with the overcast, too, you are sure to find fish up in the flats and backeddies chomping on blue winged olives, and maybe a mahogany or a midge. Nymphing could be very productive as well, if fish aren't looking up. A tandem nymph rig, with a stonefly nymph or larger bead-headed nymph as your lead fly, and then a smaller offering as a trailer, should work fine. Streamer fishing should produce a fish or two. Keep those big nasties close to the bank with a slow-to dead-drift retrieve. Keep sneaking in a trip or two here, guys, as it won't be long until we get the big dump of snow. Then will have to catch big steelhead down south, if you are not already doing so. Good luck.