Sandpoint/Ponderay Fishing Report 04.12.18
Clark Fork (ID)
Flows can be anywhere from 4,000 to 35,000 cubic feet per second. Lately, the river has been topping out its flows pre-sunrise, and staying up until post-sunset. Weekends are anyone’s guess. I swear there is a monkey running the dam that turns up flows whenever he is in a good mood. These are not optimal wading conditions. The best time to fish this river from shore is once flows have bottomed out, and the cutthroat are exposed. If your cabin fever is too brutal to sit another day at home, run a double nymph rig of flies like a #8 DB Stone, #14 red Copper John, #12 pink Squirmie Wormie, or a #18 Crust Nymph BWO. Swinging streamers can be extremely effective this time of year, just don’t forget your sink-tips. Try swinging a #8 rust Slump Buster, #6 olive Conehead Krystal Bugger, or #8 Sculpzilla.
Lake Pend Oreille
The lake rose roughly six inches within the past week. This doesn’t mean the lake is starting to fill up. Instead, that changes just tells us the Cabinet Gorge Dam is simply preparing for spring runoff. Last I heard, surface water temperature is around 38-degrees Fahrenheit When the water temp hits 40 degrees the big northern pike will move into the shallows, like Denton Slough. I have only heard of a couple pike being caught, however they were 20-plus pounds. So if you are a trophy pike fisherman, get out there before the crowds do. The bass are still deep, sluggish, and barely willing to eat a well presented night crawler. Fly fishing for bass this time of year can be extremely tough.
Lake Cocolalla
The lake has roughly four feet of clarity, and I consider that to be good for this lake. As the year goes on and water temperatures rise, this lake will constrict to one or two feet of visibility. Currently the fishing is good, but not great. Most fisherman are finding trout. If I had to guess the catch ratio based off of what I have heard, I would say 1.5 fish per hour. Bring a slow sinking line, tie on a #6 olive Woolly Bugger, a #6 rust Slump Buster, or a #4 olive Baby Gonga, and fish over 3-to 8 feet of water.
Kootenai River
Flows have held steady at 4,050 cfs over the past six days. These are optimal flows for wade fishing. More rocks and runs are exposed making reading the trout water a little easier. Water clarity is a light tea color, but still very fishable. The best time to fish the river is in the afternoon when water temperatures are at their highest. Baetis and midges may hatch when conditions are right giving you the opportunity to throw dries. But nymphs and streamers will be your best bet. For dries, tie on a #18 CDC Comparadun BWO, #18 Purple Haze, #10 olive Chubby Chernobyl, or #18 Griffith’s Gnat. For nymphs, a #8 purple Pat’s Rubberlegs, a #16 Lightning Bug, and a #18 Crust Nymph BWO will do the trick. If you feel like throwing meat, chuck an articulated Sparkle Minnow, #2 white Home Invader, or #2 Fall Complex Twist.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.