Sandpoint Idaho Fishing Report 08.29.19
The days will be in the mid to upper 80s this week… so, fishing early and late will be the best game-plan. Local lakes and timberline lakes offer some relief from the super-hot weather. Fun hikes and fishing abound for mountain lake brookies and cutthroat. Local streams are skinny and on the warm side, but deeper holes offer some great dry fly fishing for smaller trout. Larger rivers are the best bet right now for trout and smallmouth. The big lake is a playground, and lake traffic has decreased as the kiddos get ready to go back to school. The time to start thinking fall is now, so gear up!
Current Conditions
Lake Pend Oreille - The dog days of summer persist. Bass fishing is persisting and you can find fish at most depths. Craw patterns like a sweet baby cray or RJ’s jiggy worm will get the best looks. Check out Denton Slough for largemouth bass and pike. Topwater can be effective early and late and on shaded weed edges and dropoffs. Early and late fishing are best for the topwater. Poppers and deer hair bugs are my favorites to use.
Clark Fork River below Cabinet Gorge Dam - The lows will still be stressing some fish. Exercise caution while wading as much as possible. Flows can go from low to high in a hurry. Water speed and volume is what traps you at the start, not just height. We are seeing lots of tricos and caddis, so think small. Hoppers will also produce. Early evening and late evening are the best times, but with the constantly changing flows, the river can turn on and off like a light-switch.
Kootenai River at Leonia, ID - The water temperatures have decreased slightly this past weekend, which lines up great opportunities. Fishing on the Kootenai on the Idaho side has been good and consistent this past week. The upcoming, warm weather should offer great fishing early and late in the day. Midday lulls are normal in the clear water, being able to extend your presentation away from the boat will help your success rates. Tricos and pmds are good in the morning throughout the midday. Fish to heads rising in calm pockets and riffles. Plopping a hopper or big tan or yellow chubby right on top of the head of a trout will get a rise out of them. Fish sink tips and streamers for a chance at some big fish – just don’t expect quantity.
Thompson River near Thompson Falls, MT - Most of the fishing will remain in the middle section of the river where the mid-range tributaries initially come in. Small nymphs will get you going under dry attractors like stimulators and chubbies. Lightning bugs and rainbow warriors are good options for droppers, and you have the chance at a few really big whitefish this time of year. Caddis emergers will move smaller and more aggressive fish. Try using small streamers like she demons, sparkle minnows, and Clousers by swinging them across deeper cuts and ledges. Fight and release them quickly to avoid stressing them too much.
Local Lakes - Trout fishing has slowed down on local lakes with the increased temperatures. Cocolalla has been producing good smallmouth fishing. If you want trout action, using 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, hares ears, or wooly buggers – plus the hikes are beautiful!
Match The Hatch
Lake Pend Oreille – Hexagenia – Foam Hex #6-8, Mohican Mayfly #10, May’s Identity Crisis #6, Zirdle (Tan) #8. Dragonflies and Damsels – Lake Dragon, Rowley’s Grizzly Dragon, or Chan’s BMW, assorted sizes. Crawfish – Sweet Baby Cray, RJ’s Jiggy Worm, 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. Light Cahills - #10-12 Light Cahill, #12-14 Usual, Rocky Mountain Mint #12 – PMD. Tricos – Trico Spinner #18-22, Stanton’s Cut Foam Midge, Trico #18-22. 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 #14-18, Terrestrials – Donkey Kong Hopper #6-8, Beefcake Hopper #10, Hi-Vis Para Ant- Cinnamon #12, Hamburgler #12, Triple Double- Amber #14. HOPPERS! – Donkey Kong Hopper #8 Yellow, Morrish Hopper #8-10 Gold, Pink, Tan.
Kootenai River – Caddis – Tan Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, CDC Bubbleback Emerger #14-16, Party On Top Caddis #14-16. Tricos – Trico Spinner #18-22, Stanton’s Cut Foam Midge, Trico #18-22. PMD – Parachute PMD #14-16, Rocky Mountain Mint – PMD #14-16, PMD Spinner #14-16, Rusty Spinner #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. Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Chubby Chernobyl Purple, Pink, Red #8-10, Chartreuse or Red Humpy #14, Crystal Stimulator Yellow #10-12. HOPPERS! – Donkey Kong Hopper #8 Yellow, Morrish Hopper #8-10 Gold, Pink, Tan.
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. HOPPERS! – Donkey Kong Hopper #8 Yellow, Morrish Hopper #8-10 Gold, Pink, Tan.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
Hopper season is here. When you see fish feeding hard on the surface near vegetation and grass banks, toss a hopper! The best way to get their attention is to put a little extra to the cast so that the bug plops onto the water, coaxing a nice take up top. Check out the banks before you step in the water, try to match the size and color of the hoppers as best as possible for best results.
See past reports from the Sandpoint area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.