Sandpoint Idaho Fishing Report 07.18.19

We are expecting a big warm-up here this weekend and early next week. Expect hoppers to arrive in force throughout this week. Lake fishing will remain consistent for bass, pike, and walleye. Trout fishing on lakes will be almost all subsurface and down deep, so pack some sink tips. Local streams and rivers will be warming, so focus your efforts in the early morning and late evening to hit the hatches. Higher elevation lakes are in play, so hiking up to one is a great way to beat the intense heat and wet a line in a timberline lake. North Idaho is a playground, so pick your poison.

Current Conditions

Lake Pend Oreille - Boat traffic is increasing and will continue through the hot days upcoming. Early morning and evening bass fishing has been good. Check out the evening and nighttime hex hatch. Smallmouth will chase hex nymphs to the surface and then feed on them at night. For pike, Denton Slough is the best bet. Focus on weed lines and deeper slots. Chartreuse and red are a good go-to color. Largies can be caught around woody structure, reeds, and back bays.

Clark Fork River below Cabinet Gorge Dam - Here, the fishing changes daily and so do the flows. The daily rise and drop will get you maybe a few-hour window of fishing in. Caddis are still hatching in force around the river. I’ve been seeing more smallmouth than trout recently, so you can probably throw some crawfish streamer patterns with some success.

Kootenai River at Leonia, ID - The Kootenai is still fishing well. Dry fly action is good in the morning hours still, so drop the boat in early if possible. Caddis and assorted mayflies are the predominant hatches at the moment. Try dry-droppers with caddis emergers or pmd emergers. Small streamers can pull fish off the upper water column. With sink-tips and larger streamers, you always have a chance at a larger trout but don’t expect numbers.

Thompson River near Thompson Falls, MT - The river has dropped dramatically, and the fishing has slowed a bit. Focus your efforts on the upper runs and riffles where there’s plenty of oxygen. Try some smaller dries like parachutes and caddis patterns. There are intermittent hatches of golden stones still happening too. Dry droppers are still the way to go. Indicators will spook fish in most runs and holes. Occasionally throw a small streamer to draw out your most aggressive trout.

Local Lakes - Trout fishing has slowed down on local lakes in the increased temperatures. Cocolalla has been producing some good smallmouth fishing. If you want some trout action, full sink lines and unweighted or booby style flies will produce. Your high mountain lakes above the timberline will produce fun trout opportunities for cutties and brookies willing to take most dry fly patterns, pheasant tails, or wooly buggers.

Match The Hatch

Lake Pend Oreille – Hexagenia – Foam Hex #6-8, Mohican Mayfly #10, May’s Identity Crisis #6, Zirdle (Tan) #8. Dragonflies & Damsels –Lake Dragon, Rowley’s Grizzly Dragon, or Chan’s BMW, assorted sizes. Crawfish – Sweet Baby Cray, Bassmasters, and the Grim Reaper. Forage Fish – Lowfat Minnow-Bluegill 1/0, Hud’s Bushwhacker 2/0 in assorted colors, Murdich Minnow- Baby Rainbow #4.

Clark Fork River – Caddis – Elk Hair Caddis Tan #12-16. BWO – Challenged Baetis #16-18, Spotlight May BWO #14-18. Midges – Hanging Midge #20-22, Griffith’s Gnat #18-22. Stoneflies – Chubby Chernobyl- Gold #10-12, Stimulator- Yellow #12. Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Parachute Adams #12-16, Hippie Stomper Pink, Purple, Red #12-14.

Kootenai River – Caddis – Tan Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, CDC Bubbleback Emerger #14-16, Party On Top Caddis #14-16. Stoneflies – Chubby Chernobyl Pink, Gold, Purple, Red #10-12, Stimulator- Yellow #12, Pat’s Rubber Legs Coffee/Black #8-10 Tan/Brown #8-10. PMDs – Parachute PMD #14-16, Hi Vis Spinner PMD #14. Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Chubby Chernobyl Purple, Pink, Red #8-10, Chartreuse or Red Humpy #14, Crystal Stimulator Yellow #10-12.

Thompson River – Caddis – Tan Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, LaFontaine’s Emerger #14-16, Corn Fed Caddis #14-16. Stoneflies - Chubby Chernobyl Gold #10-12 Olive #10-12, Stimulator- Yellow #12 Olive #12, Lime Trude #14-16, Snowshoe Sally #14-16, Pat’s Rubber Legs Coffee/Black #8-10 Tan/Brown #8-10. PMDs – Parachute PMD #14-16, Hi Vis Spinner PMD #14. Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Chubby Chernobyl Purple, Pink, Red #8-10, Chartreuse or Red Humpy #14, Crystal Stimulator Yellow or Orange #10-12.

Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.

Tips & Techniques

During high sunny days, focus your efforts in the early morning and late evening. During the day, look for shaded riffles and current breaks where fish feel most comfortable mid-day. Hatches will be most productive from sun up to mid-morning and then again in the late evening as the intense light fades.

See past reports from the Sandpoint area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.