Idaho Fishing Report
Coeur d'Alene River: So great news, the rain we received in the last couple of days has made tremendous improvements for the CDA. Cooler water temps and higher flows mean good things this time of year. The CDA is at 457 cubic feet per today. If you have the next few days off, by all means get out there.This will be banner fishing. Bwo's, mahogany's, October caddis will be the players. Streamer fishing will be good too. The hopper and terrestrial fishing will slow down with the cooler temps. Small x-caddis trailed with a small flying ant will be a great rig, think 16-20 on the caddis and 18-20 on the ant.
St. Joe River: Man, what a god send! The St. Joe went from a trickle at 350 cfs up to 726 cfs in two days. This is awesome stuff here guys. You will see best fishing mid-day now with the cooler nights and mornings, the bugs really won’t start popping off until mid-day to late afternoon. Streamer and nymphing will be good things in the morning and then the BWO's, mahogany's and Octobers will start mid-day and taper off after it cools down late in the evening. Small, soft hackles behind your mayfly will get lots of eats as well.
Clark Fork River: Kid in a candy store, Christmas morning, bull elk broad side at 15 yards all are synonymous with overcast and rain in September on the Clark Fork. If I could wave the magic wand, I wouldn't be sitting here writing this, I'd be floating down the Clark Fork right now casting to sipping 20" rainbows and cutties in the flats on the Clark Fork. Same bug profiles as the CDA and Joe, Bwo's, Mahogaony's , still a few Pmd's , October caddis. Might get some looks still with a small Chernobyl or stimmie, too. A big pheasant tail nymph behind a large October is a killer searching pattern this time of year. Have fun with this change in the weather guys, it's what the doctor ordered!
Clearwater River: Overcast and 50's? Well this is steelhead weather guys. Have actually had a couple reports of guys getting a couple here and there, which is great news considering the overall forecast for these far swimmers. Dry lines and a hair wing fly of your choice, freight train, green butt skunk, purple peril #2's-8's will all be great searching flies. Nothing wrong with something big too, an articulated leech or prom dress have been known to get the grab as well this time of year. Again, if you are lucky enough to catch a fish this year guys, be proud but conscious of them and keep them in the water and gills moving. Good luck!