Sandpoint Idaho Fishing Report 06.20.19
The weather throughout the weekend looks like a toss-up, but trust me, it can potentially make things great. Cooler temperatures and precipitation will help a lot of bugs pop on local waters. Hatches of bwos, pmds, and caddis before and after each passing front should be happening this week and weekend. The cool weather will stall the water temperatures from rising too quickly as well, so we can expect a small extension of the cooler flows. When it comes to the lakes in the region, the overcast days ahead will improve activity around structure as fish loosen their grip on shaded areas. Bass are locked in spawn, but you can pull lots of smallmouth off the docks and structure on the shorelines of Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River. Pike and largies are in the bays and sloughs. There are options everywhere right now.
Current Conditions
Lake Pend Oreille - Lake Pend Oreille is full and fishing well. Stable levels help the fishing stay a little more consistent instead of chasing fish up into the sloughs during their transitions. Largemouth and Pike are up in the sloughs, so focus on structure and weeds, especially on high sunny days. For largemouth, try some weedless worm flies or weedless deer hair bugs. Drag them over pads and weeds and wait for the explosion. Some pike can get picked up with this technique as well. However, most pike will be caught by stripping large flashy flies over weed beds and woody structure. A strip, strip, pause sequence will do the trick. In some areas, you may even be able to sight fish them. Smallmouth will be taken on structure, still shallow, and almost right on the shore. Plus, hit the boat docks scattered across the lake and you’ll find fish. The water is warming up, so trout fishing is becoming extremely slow near the surface, making it harder with a fly.
Clark Fork River below Cabinet Gorge Dam - The water release out of Cabinet Gorge Dam is still pumping solid flows throughout the days, and we aren’t seeing many access opportunities available at the moment. If you have a boat, you can jet up and try a few spots. We are seeing lots of caddis and baetis popping right now and the water color has improved dramatically. Still a bit out of shape but may be worth an hour or two after work.
Kootenai River below Libby Dam - The Kootenai is a gem that should be explored. The fishing only gets better from here on out. We are seeing a tapering off of the salmonflies but there are goldens still kicking around, so gold/olive chubbies will still play. Caddis are getting thicker than before, offering an easier dry fly opportunity than the tiny baetis and midges from earlier in the season. Parachute Adams or a purple haze in a #12-16 will do wonders, but bwos, pmds, and elk hair caddis in #12-16 will work well too. A dry dropper is a favorite right now too, so stick them to the banks. My favorite is a Pat’s rubber legs under a chubby while searching for trout. Streamers will require a sinking line to get and stay down. At 20,100 cfs, it’s still pumping fast cold water, but that is fine, because the fishing has been great, and clarity is not bad at all. It’s pretty much float only, so let us help you plan your float!
Thompson River near Thompson Falls, MT - The Thompson is a fun river in Montana that sees moderate pressure at times, but continuously kicks out fish, even during some instances of unfavorable water. The fishing has been good to great on most days over the past month. Caddis, golden stones, and a few straggling salmonflies will get some fish to rise, but don’t be afraid to through bwo or pmd patterns to rise up some good fish. Small streamers like a sculpzilla or slumpbuster are great here. Remember, if they are too big, you might just spook the trout. Nymphing is deadly here. A Pat’s rubberlegs in #8-10 works great. Some other bugs that work well are pheasant tails and lightning bugs. Dry droppers will most likely rule the day here. I always start with a chubby and a pheasant tail or Pat’s rubberlegs dropper. There is good access and good water most of the year, and plenty of space to spread out.
Local Lakes - Lake Cocolalla will be an awesome opportunity to get out and catch trout, bass, or crappie on the fly. My favorite technique for lake fishing is simply stripping small flies like wooly buggers, thin mints, or slumpbusters. A lot of different fish can be caught on these flies. I almost always use a sink tip or intermediate tip. Most of your other local small lakes will fish really well with chironomids like jumbo juju’s or ice cream cones. Plus, having a good lake line or sinking line is crucial. Expect to see lots of spruce moths and other terrestrials as well, so in the evenings, try some dries if you find rising fish. High elevation lakes will start to become fishable, making a day hike in fun and worth it.
Match The Hatch
Pmds are popping right now, and there are lots of great flies for imitating them. The spotlight may and hi-viz spinner are my favorites. I like the spotlight may and hi-viz spinner due to the high-viz post and materials, because some small imitations are hard to see. The hi-viz spinner also has a very realistic look to the body, a fine split fibbet tail and dark oviposit spot on the rump, imitating a female pmd on the water.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
Don’t grow roots! Staying in one spot too long won’t do you any good. Cover water and don’t be afraid to switch up often. Sometimes, I will get to a hole and if I don’t get anything in the first 10 casts or so, I might change, especially if I see fish rising all around. If you find a lull after catching a handful of fish, I suggest moving on and finding more aggressive fish. Some accuse me of being a gazelle on the river because of how fast I work through water, but I am confident I pass over fresh fish on almost every drift.
See past reports from the Sandpoint area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.