Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 04.26.18
Clark Fork River (ID)
The river is running at 54,600 cubic feet per second, and well-stained. As the weather warms up, the river will only grow. We are officially seeing the effects of run-off on our big rivers. Because of this, fishing has been tough. Few are finding cutthroat swinging streamers like #6 rust Slump Buster, but even that isn’t a guarantee. Now is a great time to check out some of our smaller lakes.
Lake Pend Oreille
The lake is predicted to start slowly rising this week. We are still roughly 10 feet from normal pool, but it is exciting to think of a full lake. Most of the lake is slightly off-color with six to eight feet of visibility, and very dirty with only two to three feet of visibility near river inlets. Surface water temps are ranging from 45-55°F. The pike should be spawning in shallow sloughs, bays, and flats. This is your best bet of hooking into a 20-plus pound northern. Just keep the boat moving, fish your intermediate line slowly, and use flies like a Jackknife or Dougie’s Perch. Bass are currently in pre-spawn, and staging in three to 10 feet of water. Flies imitating perch or kokanee work well this time of year. I have great success fishing a Hud’s Bushwacker, Clouser and a Deceiver this time of year with intermediate or fast-sinking fly lines. Who knows, you might even hook into a big walleye.
Lake Cocolalla
Water clarity is roughly two feet, and the fishing has been fair. Trout are cruising for juvenile perch a couple feet below the surface, in three to 10 feet of water. Use an intermediate fly line, like Rio Camolux, and strip a #6 olive Woolly Bugger or rust Baby Gonga. I have only heard of a few largemouth being caught, but I know that will soon change with the warm weather.
Kootenai River
Flows are at 9,900 cfs and running a little stained. Best access will be from a driftboat, but there are a few pull-outs in Montana that are adjacent to killer runs. The fishing has been very hit-or-miss. One day I will hear a report of 25 fish landed in a few hours, and then two fish caught in four hours the next. March browns, BWOs, and midges are what’s hatching. If the March browns really take off for a few hours, then you have the chance of an epic day. From what I hear, if the March browns aren’t going heavy, then the fish aren’t looking up. If that is the case, nymphs, like #8 purple Pat’s Rubberleg, a #12 Mop Fly, a #14 red Copper John, or a #16 purple Lightning Bug would be the ticket. I will never leave my streamers at home when fishing this river. There is always the chance of a giant. For them, I like to break out the spey and swing a Dirty Hippie (rainbow) or a white Complex Twist.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.