If you’ve been waiting for the waters to drop, wait no more.  All local streams and rivers are fishable, and the Missouri River is in great shape. Happy 4th of July! Current Conditions Missouri River below Holter Dam - The Missouri River is below 5K cfs and lots of wading opportunities are available.  Pmds and caddis are hatching daily along with yellow sally’s, callibaetis, and a few brown drakes.  Nymphing remains best in the morning.  Pmd spinner falls also bring fish to the top in the morning.  Afternoons are generally best with dries or dry dropper rigs.  If you fish to rising fish, respect their wary natures.  They will not suffer poor casts or splashing anchors and oars. Creeks and Smaller Rivers, Belt Creek near Monarch, MT - The hardest thing about the current con...

We have had a few thunderstorms move through the area on and off along with some light rains so look at the sky now and then. That being said, the weather has actually been quite pleasant for this time of year.   Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - The water temperatures are still okay in the morning but, by mid-day, they may be a little too warm. There is not much by way of fish catching that is happening at the south end of the lake. The north end is a little cooler and deeper and is where the best fishing is right now. Leech patterns in the #12 and #10 range are having the best results. With this being technically the 4th of July weekend, camping spots will be hit and miss.  Blackpine Lake - With the lake being at a little higher elevation water temperatures should be okay. Pumpkin and re...

Nothing short of greatness in our area!  There are so many good reports from all of our fisheries of late.  Now is really a tough time to decide where to go.  Everything is in shape and good to go. Whether wading or floating is your gig, there are tons of options right now.  It’s looking like warmer temperatures are coming up this week in the high 70s and low 80s. This is perfect weather for the week of the 4th!  Our town is bustling with energy and people looking to go fishing.  The shop has been very busy with lots of happy fishermen and women.  Hope you guys and gals have a great week on the river with your families and enjoy the 4th! Current Conditions Coeur d'Alene River  - The fishing here has been solid.  Big fish are still being caught but you'll need to bring your A...

Not much has changed, but the fishing is staying consistent out on the big lake and a few streams in the area. The July 4th week and weekend will bring some pressure to the area and the weather will be prime to get out and explore some lesser-known waters. Current Conditions Lake Pend Oreille - The big lake is steadily fishing for quite a few species. Bass are an easy target on the fly. Backwaters off sloughs and bays can produce some great largemouth bass action, especially on topwater. Deer hair bass bugs and poppers will do the trick. Stay weedless if possible, it makes things less frustrating.  Sink tips are something good to have now. As for flies, sticking to your baitfish patterns like Clouser Minnows, Murdich Minnows, and Lowfat Minnows and craw patterns like Creek Crawlers, Bassmasters, and Grim Reapers will do the...

Dirty Monkey The Dirty Monkey is a carp or bass fly. It can replicate grub or some bigger aquatic insects. With it having rubber legs and marabou as a tail, it has ample movement. The rubber legs will get the mud moving, acting as a bug coming out to see the light. Carp like when the bug is in the mud moving around. Bass will like this fly being stripped or dead drifted through their column. Material List Hook: Gamakatsu SL11-3H #8 Thread: UTC Ultra Thread 210 Black Tail: MFC Marabou Olive/Bared Black Body: Cascade Crest New Age Chenille Fools Gold Rubberlegs: Hareline Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs Medium Yellow Throat: MFC Marabou Olive/Bared Black (see above) Eyes: Hareline Brass Eyes Medium, Gold Video Transcription Intro to the Pale Morning Dun Bunny Dun Fly Hello everybody. Dylan here at the North 40 Fly Shop and ...

Smallmouth will eat a wide variety of forage and their diet is normally dictated by what is available in each fishery. From crawfish, shad, smelt, kokanee, and a variety of perch and panfish fry, smallies will eat virtually anything. Luckily smallmouth are not nearly as picky and snooty as a trout, but there are a handful of great patterns that I will fish for smallies with. Here’s my breakdown: #10 - The Jawbreaker Once I have fish dialed in and I have found a good consistent group to fish, I go with this smaller curly tail streamer. The fly tail on the rear creates a great action on the fly, similar to a curly tailed grub that you would fish on conventional gear. Fished in white and olive, you can key in the shade to a darker forage or a light colored forage fish. Lastly, the jig platform allows you to fish it off the bottom e...

Anyone can cook on a pellet grill. And, anything can be cooked on a pellet grill. From grilling roasts to smoking BBQ, pellet grills are really easy to use and really easy to maintain. In our How to Pellet Grill Guide, you’ll learn how a pellet grill works and how to keep it clean. You’ll also learn what foods are great for cooking on a pellet grill and understand if it’s hard to clean up afterward. It’s easier than you think. Get ready to pick out your favorite pellets and get started. Easy to clean and maintain, pellet grills are very efficient and burn pellets down to fine ash. Any leftover ash can be vacuumed out with a shop vac a couple of times a year, depending on how often you use your grill. Plus, most grills have a collection “cup” that gathers most of the ash and can be emptied without taking the grill apart. And, ...

Some people view fishing as just throwing something out in the water and waiting for a fish to bite.  These people probably only go fishing a few times a year or maybe only a few times in their life.  If the action is not steady, they get bored.  If they don’t catch any fish, they think fishing is lame.  I understand that.  I don’t like boring or lame fishing either.  That’s why I like to hunt for fish.  Not only is hunting for fish an interesting activity in itself but the ability to sight fish before casting gives you a distinctive edge when it comes to catching fish. In topwater situations, it’s pretty easy to find the fish.  You simply need to seek out the locations where they are rising to insects, tailing, pushing water, or crashing bait.  When they are not rising...

Time to shed the waders and soak in the long-awaited vitamin D of summer.  What a great feeling of the cool river on a hot July day, nothing better.  There are some clothing options that can make this a better experience.  Now that you have your waders and felt bottom boots, it’s time to think about how to dress for the elements of summer and wading the streams.  I get a kick out of the New Zealand folks on some of the videos I watch.  Wool calf high socks, polypropylene long underwear, and quick dry pants.  No fashion contest winners there.  But, I tell you they are on to something, having quick drying layers is super smart for wet wading. A darker color is good too for your shorts, pants, or polypro. Once out of the water the drying time will be accelerated.  However, for your shi...