Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 07.19.18

Clark Fork River (ID)

The flows out of Cabinet Gorge dam have been bouncing up and down from 3,000 to 40,000 cubic feet per second daily. For those who enjoy fishing the Clark Fork from shore, your best bet at fishing the river is when flows are below 10,000 cfs. As the river nears 30,000 cfs, it is best accessible from a jet boat.

Fishing has been good throughout the day, mornings and evenings being the best time. Caddis, western yellow mayflies, pmds, and midges have all been hatching. Use dries like; a #16 party on top caddis, a #12 light cahill, a #16 pmd extended body, a #16 pmd cripple, a #16 rusty spinner, a #14 purple rocky mountain mint, or a #10 purple chubby Chernobyl will be your best bet. Nymphs are always a great choice for this river as well. You’ll want to use bugs like; a #14 red copper john, a #12 dirty bird, or a #14 tungsten assassin. Swing a #6 olive CH crystal bugger, or a Montana mini Intruder for the meat eaters.

Lake Pend Oreille

Fishing the lake has been a pleasure. Warm weather, active fish, and the occasional swim has kept fishing the lake interesting. Water clarity is roughly 6-8 feet, and surface temperatures are between 69-76°F. There is still a little debris in the water, so be careful while boating.

Pike fishing has been hit or miss. Concentrate your time fishing for northerns along weed lines with flies like a Red Jackknife, Dougies Perch, or a Flaming Lamborghini. Floating line and a fast-sinking line will both work depending on where you are fishing. Most bays and sloughs on the north side of the lake hold pike.

Bass fishing has been great. Structure is the name of the game. Smallies mid-day are clinging to structure like large boulders, sharp drop-offs, docks, and bridges. Don’t assume that the bass are only holding onto the shady side of the dock. The smallies have been feeding in anything from 8-30 feet. Fast-sinking line is the best option for getting your fly to the strike zone. As far as flies go; a #4 Clouser, a Bushwacker, a Jiggy Worm, and an ultimate worm have all been producing hearty bass. Topwater is definitely an option. Evenings with little wind have been an excellent time to throw poppers over weedy flats.

Lake Cocolalla

Water clarity is between 4-5 feet. Fishing is been best in the mornings and in the evenings. An intermediate line with flies like a #10 olive woolly bugger, a #8 balanced leech, or a #12 BH hares ear will do the trick. If you wish to chase rising fish with dry flies, try a #14 Royal Wulff, a #16 Parachute Adams, a #16 olive Rocky Mountain Mint, or a #18 Griffiths Gnat.

Largemouth will be holding under lily pads and docks. Floating line with a deceiver, jiggy worm, or an ultimate worm will hunt fat largies. Plus, poppers and divers are fair game that bass cannot resist.

Kootenai River

Flows out of Libby dam is 9,040 cfs, and the water clarity is excellent. I have been hearing great reports coming out of the Libby Stretch, as well as the Troy to Yak stretch. Caddis, pmds, craneflies, and midges have all been on the menu. The best way to fish this river is to have a nymphing and dry fly rod both rigged and ready for action. Nymphing the river between pods of rising fish will find you trout.

For dry flies; a #16 brown elk hair caddis, a #16 pmd comparadun, a #16 pmd film critic, a #10 true crane, a #18 hatching midge, a #10 pink j-slam, a #10 purple Chubby Chernobyl, and a #12 H&L variant have all been great options. Nymphs like a #8 Pat’s Rubber Legs, a #16 red copper john, a #16 Purple Lightning Bug, and a #14 tungsten hares ear will also work. Never, ever leave your streamers at home! There are once-in-a-lifetime trout in this river that do not bother eating insects. Swing a #4 silver sparkle minnow or a #2 rainbow dirty hippie to search for the big boys.

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