Sandpoint/Ponderay Fishing Report 11.9.2017
Clark Fork River (ID)
It definitely feels like winter is upon us here in northern Idaho. The time for frozen guides and numb fingers has arrived. Currently we have under a foot of snow stacked on the ground, so dress warm and be careful wading out there. Although we just received our first “real” snow for the year, weather conditions aren’t looking too bad leading up to the weekend. By that I mean above freezing temperatures. This might just be a great weekend to get on the water. The CF is crystal clear, and water temperatures are very cold.
Flows are rising and dropping from 6,000 to 26,000 cubic feet per second once or twice a day. There hasn’t been much in terms of hatches, so I would concentrate on nymphing and swinging. A couple nymphs to try include #12 red Copper John, #18 Crust Nymph BWO, #18 olive Military Mayfly, #18 Zebra Midge, or #20 red Disco Midge. I like to use 4X tippet when nymphing on this river.
I have seen a couple beautiful cutthroat caught this week on the swing, so don’t rule out the big bug. Try a #6 Polar Minnow, #6 Montana Mini Intruder, #2 olive Zoo Cougar, or a tan Silk Kitty. Just be sure to have at least a five feet of fast sinking trout sink tip in front of those streamers, and swing them slowly. The trout in the Clark Fork don’t seem to shy away from heavy tippet when it comes to swinging. I tend to swing with 0X or 1X tippet.
Lake Cocolalla
Now that we have reached below freezing temperatures, ice fisherman are licking their chops, anxiously waiting to get on this lake. However, it isn’t time yet. The lake is still wide open, and fishing has been good. I wouldn’t expect to have a double digit fish day, a handful of good ones is more likely. The trout are very plump and healthy this time of year, and are still looking to tack on a couple extra lbs before everything ices over.
I recommend streamers like #2 olive Zoo Cougar, #6 rust Slump Buster, or #6 olive Woolly Bugger on this lake. I typically use 0X or 1X tippet depending on water clarity. Lately, the lake has been a dirty greenish color. Like I have mentioned in past reports, a fast sinking line and a slow sinking intermediate line are going to get you in the right spot. Most of the trout are between two to 10 feet of water, or cruising through the lake just under the surface. The best way to find the trout is to start on one side of the lake, and quietly work the shoreline 30-50 yards from shore. Fishing from shore is nearly impossible, so bring a boat, canoe, kayak, or float tube.
Kootenai River
As of today, the discharge coming out of Libby dam is 14,500 cfs. It has been stepping up a few thousand over the past couple days. It wouldn’t hurt to let this river level out before fishing it. This weekend is calling for temperatures above 40 degrees near Troy, Montana. This could result in a decent BWO or midge hatch. If your weekend is wide open, I would look into fishing the Koot. Just dress warm and expect to get snowed on a bit.
Personally, I would swing streamers like, an #2 olive Complex Twist, #2 C.R.E.A.M., #2 white Home Invader, or a #6 silver Sparkle Minnow until the hatch starts.
Not into swinging? That’s fine. Nymphing can also be very productive. Setup a double nymph rig with a couple flies like #8 purple Pat’s Rubber Legs, #8 Large Black Stone, #14 tan 20-Incher, #18 olive UV2 Mayfly, #18 Zebra Midge, or a #20 red Disco Midge. Once the hatch starts, use 5X tippet, and throw flies like #12 purple Chubby Chernobyl, #12 orange Stimulator, #18 BWO Ext. Body, #18 BWO Film Critic, #20 Hatching Midge, or a #18 Griffiths Gnat. This river will fish year around, so don’t hang up the fly rods…ever.