Fishing is staying awesome on the lakes in our area. The warmup coming shouldn’t change too much moving forward. Rivers like the Kootenai are up but fishing great if you’re up for a good float. Rivers like the Clark Fork will recover in time, but for now, focus on bass fishing Lake Pend Oreille or hitting up the Coeur d’Alene or Kootenai. Current Conditions Lake Pend Oreille - We are just about full on the lake level -may be a week or so out. This means most of your sloughs and bays will have fish in them. Smallmouth are up and spawning, so cover water to find your most aggressive fish. Post-spawn fish take topwater pretty well, but focus your flies in a baitfish or crawdad pattern until a majority of the fish are post-spawn. Find shoreline and rocky structure and you’ll connect. Locate weeds and sloughs for largemouth bass and...

From floating to full sinking, sink tips, lines specifically for bonefish or tarpon and on and on, there have been many major advances to fly lines in the last 20 years.  This has really been driven by the many different types of fly rods and new materials that are being used and different species of fish being targeted.  I almost think it might have been a simpler time when choices were less.  However, I am reminded that those thoughts are not valid especially when I cast a line that has a lubricant and ridges built into it.  The performance of modern fly lines has not only made fly casting more enjoyable but also allows anglers to be more effective. Why Pay the Big Bucks? When I say big bucks, a top end line can run over a $100.00. However, seeing a new angler struggle with their cast is sometimes heartbreaking -...

Origin Story I’ve had an issue with bass since I was a little kid.  When I first saw one swimming by, I wanted to get my hands on one.  When I finally did, it almost killed me. My bass fishing origin story occurred at Camp Warren on Half Moon Lake near Virginia Minnesota. Every afternoon before dinner, we had some free time.  I always used that time to go fishing.  I’d dash down to the dock at the end of camp.  The dock extended out into a bed of reeds.  I’d spotted bass in those reeds and I really wanted to catch one.  One day, I flung out a hula popper on my Zebco 202 and the biggest bass I’d ever seen exploded on it.  The struggle was on. There was lots of plastic drag screeching, splashing, and fiberglass rod bending, but somehow the line held, and I got the fish up to the edge of the dock.  Unfortunately, I could not...

As spring breaks into summer and things dry up in the west, we begin to see a multitude of strange bugs appear on the banks of the river. By late spring or mid-summer, fish are looking up, waiting for their next snack floating helplessly downriver. We often overlook a lot of the insects we see creeping around logs, in trees, and between the rocks. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite terrestrial insects and the flies that imitate them. Have to stock up before you hit the water? Order online here. Ants Ants are by far my favorite terrestrial that is commonly found on the streambanks nationwide. East coast to the west coast, ant fly patterns work on practically every trout fishery in the summer. I wouldn’t call it a guaranteed go-to, but let me tell you, I’m pretty confident with an ant fly during mid-summer and the fall. Many fi...

Well, to say fishing has been good would be an understatement.  It's been incredible on most of our local waters.  The weather has improved, and we are seeing consistent mid-70 degree days.  The next few days we are expecting some weather to come in -cloudy, cooler in the 60s with rain and maybe a thunderstorm.  This is not a bad thing.  From here on out throughout the summer, an occasional storm is welcome.  This helps drop the water temperatures and keeps the fish active.  As the flows drop and the water warms up, the fishing will change -not for the worse but you will have to adjust the times you hit the water.  Most drainages east of CdA, like the St. Joe and Clark Fork or Clearwater region, still have a lot of snow to melt.  Specifically, the CdA River drainage is pretty much done with runoff and is shaping up nicely.  Th...

Current Conditions Lake Pend Oreille - We are just about full on the lake level -may be a week or so out. This means most of your sloughs and bays will have fish in them. Smallmouth are up and spawning. It’s not an overnight and done thing, there will be fish up shallow for a while, so get on it while it’s good. Post-spawn fish take topwater pretty well but focus your flies in a baitfish or a crawdad pattern until a majority of the fish are post-spawn. Find shoreline and rocky structure and you’ll connect. Locate weeds and sloughs for largemouth bass and pike. Largies will take poppers, divers, and wormy patterns. It’s important to fish slower with your wormy patterns to allow the flies to sink. For pike, check out some weed beds and throw deerhair bugs and streamers over the top of them. Pike will lay in wait and ambush a pass...

Any day is a good day to be on the water doing what we love to do. Our rivers are on a steady downward slide in flows and are coming into shape day by day. The spring winds have calmed down making for a little easier time on the lakes. Most importantly, the fishing has been good. Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - It’s damselfly time. Once the day warms a bit, the nymphs will start their march toward the shoreline, climbing out onto whatever is close and start the hatching process. This week's weather may be a mix of sun, clouds, and little rain so come prepared for what mother nature might throw at you. Temperatures are starting to edge up a little during the day so keep track of the temperatures in that top 10 feet of the water column. Omak Lake - With the spawning urge pretty much over for the Lahontan cutthroats, they are looking...

Some days the fishing and the opportunities have been great and some days we scratch our heads and wonder what’s up with the weather and water conditions. Now that June has arrived, we can predict that we are going to be in for some really great days ahead.  Not every day, but as waters come down and warm into summer, things get interesting. Pmds and caddis hatches are on the horizon and we like them. Current Conditions Missouri River below Holter Dam - The flows have been reduced.  Little Prickly Pear and the Dearborn are putting in some color, but they are coming down again. Opportunities below the Dearborn should be back on the table and everyone is happy about that.  There is a lot of river out there to fish.  Morning sessions with a nymphing rig are strong.  Also, streamer fishing is a good option if you want to cast while ...

Occasionally, I like to catch big fish that pull hard and that I can pull back hard against.  I’m talking about fish that demand a 7 or 8-weight rod and #15 tippet.  Since moving to Montana, I’ve discovered that carp are my best bet when I want to tussle with some big heavy fish.  That’s one of the reasons I fly fish for carp.  When the water is warm and the carp are feeding in the shallows, it’s pretty uncommon not to have them take you into the backing, often times, more than once. Need a great rod before you hit the water? Order online here. Another reason I like to fly fish for carp is they are available during runoff season and during the dog days of summer when the creeks and rivers are not ideal for trout fishing. Carp also provide ample opportunities for sight fishing and in some situations, can be extremely challengin...