Sandpoint/Ponderay Report 11.22.17
Clark Fork River (ID)
Flows have been anywhere from 6,000 to 28,000 cubic feet per second. Normally the flows hold at 6,000 cfs over the weekend. However, that wasn’t the case this past weekend. The river continued to jump up and down six feet on Saturday and Sunday. So, if you are heading to the river, keep an eye on the water level. I always like to pick out a rock along the river, and repeatedly check on it to see if the flows have changed. Fishing has been fair. There haven’t been notable hatches other than the occasional midge. A few locals are still hammering cutthroat on the swing, but most fisherman are leaving the river with a giant goose egg. Olive has been a great color to swing, so flies like the #6 Sculpzilla and #8 olive Slump Buster are good choices. As far as nymphs, a #4 Hot DB Stonefly followed by a #18 Crust Nymph BWO should do the trick. We are forecasted to have rain all week, so pack rain gear, and pray you don’t have a leak in your waders.
Lake Cocolalla
I haven’t heard much from good ’ol Coco recently. I suspect fishing is fair, with most trout caught just below the surface in the afternoon. The trick this time of year is to cover water quickly, and find where the trout are staging. Strip flies like a #6 olive Woolly Bugger, or a rust Baby Gonga with an intermediate fly line. These trout will search for an easy snack before the cold snap hits. Get out there and fish this lake while the surface is still liquid.
Kootenai River
The flows jumped up from 4,000 to 8,800 cfs on Monday this week. I like to give the river a day to settle down after the flows drastically change, especially if the flows have increased. When the flows drop, fishing can be lights out. Just know you have to hit the river the day or the day after the flows drop. A few midges have been the only bug hatching. Recently, streamers and nymphs have been the name of the game. Strip flies like a white Circus Peanut or a white Complex Twist. The big trout love white in this river because of an abundance of juvenile trout and kokanee. As for nymphs, a #8 Large Black Stone, a #16 purple Lightning Bug, and a #18 UV2 Nymph should find trout. This river fishes all winter, but fishing slows as water temperatures drop.
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