Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 06.28.18
Clark Fork River (ID)
Flows are currently 47,000 cubic feet per second, and the river is running tan. (Imagine coffee with lots of creamer tan.) Looks like it is going to be another couple of weeks.
Lake Pend Oreille
As summer wears on, the lake is clearing up more and more each day. Surface water temps are ranging from 63-68°F. The week of the 4th is always one of the lake’s busiest weeks, so be careful while boating. Stick to mornings and evenings, if you are looking to avoid the recreational boaters.
Pike fishing has been hit or miss, depending on where you are going. Some bays and sloughs are being choked out by weeds. However, big northerns will still linger in the same bays, or shorelines adjacent to their spring spawning grounds. You’ll want to fish; weedlines, boulders, fallen trees, stumps, and depressions. Pike will cling to structure when they are on the hunt. Now is the time of year when I always have two rods rigged -one with floating line, and one with fast sinking line. Throw flies like Flaming Lamborghini or chartreuse Pike Slider.
Bass fishing has also been good. Early mornings and late evenings have been key for catching multiple big smallies. However, anglers have been hooking into 3+lb smallmouth every day in the middle of the day. What I’m saying is, get out when you can. Bass are still very willing to eat the fly. Use a 6-weight rigged with fast sinking line as your primary rod, just be sure to have a floating line ready to be thrown at a moment’s notice. Use flies like; a #6 chartreuse Clouser, a #4 Creek Crawler, or a #2 Dorado Popper.
Lake Cocolalla
Fishing has been good on this lake for bass and trout. Trout fishing has been best in the mornings and the evenings. On the right night, the lake will come alive with rising trout, bass, and catfish. In my opinion, this lake fishes best with a slow sinking fly line, but I always keep a fast sinking line rigged by my side. Sometimes, the trout do not want to cooperate, so I must strip flies like a #6 rust Slump Buster in deeper water. For shallow trout, I use a #6 olive Woolly Bugger, or a #8 brown Woolly Bugger.
If you are aiming to target bass, fish the docks with floating line. Poppers work great in the evenings along lily pads as well. A chartreuse Bushwacker is my go-to bass fly in weedy shallow water.
Kootenai River
Yesterday flows out of Libby dam stepped down to 12,100cfs. This is a very fishable level. If you haven’t taken the trusty drift boat out yet, this would be an excellent river to do it on. Water clarity is stained but very fishable. Hatches consist of PMDs and Caddis. Throw flies like #16 PMD Comparadun, #16 EZ Caddis, #14 brown Elk Hair Caddis, #14 Rocky Mountain Mint, or #10 pink Hippie Stomper. When the trout aren’t looking up, run a double nymph rig. Nymphs like #6 BH Giant Stone, #8 Kaufman’s Stone, Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear #14, or Flashy Stone #16 work. Never leave your streamer rod or trout spey at home when fishing this river. There are trout in this river that can ruin cheap gear. When I want to throw meat, I use flies like a #2 white Home Invader or a #6 orange Mini Dungeon.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.