Omak Lake (WA)  When I have been able to get a little of time, when the wind is not howling like a freight train, the fishing hasn’t been too bad. I have found that a little wind blowing into shore, i.e. my face, seems to produce a little better right now than when the lake is dead calm.  I have found that a 7 or 8-weight rod will give you the power to cast a little better into the wind. And a type-3 sink tip or a full-intermediate are the two lines I would recommend. I’m still casting small to medium streamers most of the time. I have also done pretty well on balanced leeches under an indicator when there is a little chop on the water. You may have to switch flies until you find what is working for that day. So, make sure you have a variety in your box. Finally, dress warmly as morning temperatures right now are ...

Coeur d'Alene River Well, with the big bump in the rivers last week and the colder weather, the CdA has been kind of rough.  This week should be good though as the rivers are dropping back to normal and we are supposed to have sunny weather.  The sun is now welcome as the water temperatures have dropped substantially and this will help get the bugs more active.  Your window of goodness will be from noon into the afternoon when the water has had a chance to warm up.  However, this is diminishing.  The nights are getting much colder and it takes that much longer the next day to warm things up enough to get the bugs out.  If you are not seeing much surface activity, throw some smaller tandem nymph rigs or slow pulling a streamer should get some eats.  Small copper johns, pheasant tails, bead head soft hackles, red brassies are...

Clark Fork River (ID) Flows out of Cabinet Gorge Dam have been between 4,000- 27,000 cfs during the daily releases. Clarity is around 10 feet, and water temperatures are in the low-mid 50s. Hatches have been slower through the warm of the day. Sun on the water will bring a few remaining mahogany duns, bwos, tricos, caddis, and midges out. My best luck has been subsurface. Swing soft hackles or emergers if you want to fish close to the surface. Streamers like Galloup’s dungeon or a cheech leech are effective right now. Temperatures aren’t low enough yet to make fish lethargic, so they will chase a large meal to prep for the cold of winter. Look for cutties and rainbows in the riffles below the dam. A few browns have been caught as well. Nymphing through runs with baetis, midge, and caddis imitations will produce fish. Micro-Spey enthu...

Clearwater River (ID) The current flow is 10,300 cfs at Spaulding. The Clearwater is up and off color. It hasn’t been fishing that well for fly anglers. Will it come back into shape? We’re not sure. Rain is predicted for Kooskia for the next two days, so I would imagine that it won’t drop into shape by the weekend. Go slow and deep if you plan on fishing. Snake River (WA) The current flow is 16,500 cfs at Anatone. Fishing the Snake has been great for anglers. It has the best clarity right now, and the water has been the most consistent around the area. As far as catching, I have not heard of anyone catching any fish. With its water temperatures and consistent flows, that’s where we would focus our fishing time. Slow moving flies will work well. Make sure you’re consistent with your casting and focus on water that has structure....

Missouri River We recently had a dose of winter.  Our first major cold snap with several inches of snow.  Don’t be alarmed.  Fall will return, and the fishing should remain be pretty darn good.  Just be prepared for chilly conditions.  Get your hats, gloves, and warm weather gear organized and ready to roll.  If you need anything, we got you covered at North 40 Fly Shop. We’ve even have heated socks and heated gloves to make your cold weather fishing super enjoyable. Nymphs As the water cools and natural food choices are reduced, your nymphs become high probability targets.  Natural colored scuds and sows paired with mayfly nymphs and the ever-effective zebra and tufted zebra are the primary players. Dry Flies Last week in mild weather, and despite strong winds most of the time, the dry fly fishing was stellar.  Fish were str...

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As fly anglers, we’d generally prefer to be fly fishing, but when winter rolls around, we shift into fly tying and fly fishing social mode. This tying season, North 40 Fly Shop Great Falls is hosting five fly tying nights in the banquet room @ The Do.  If you’ve attended any of the Missouri River Fly Fishers events recently, you know the place.  We have chosen the venue for several reasons.  Firstly, the folks at The Do have always been gracious hosts.  Secondly, the Banquet Hall offers ample space for fly tying and has multiple screens to show fly fishing films during our tying nights.  Thirdly, inside The Do, you can pick up a pizza and soft drinks at Godfather’s or choose from plenty of great beers and a full bar. Watch Spectators are welcome, and we appreciate the support!  We will have fly fishing videos rolling on the p...

Lake Closures in the areas: Just a reminder that several area lakes close today, so be sure to check the Rules Pamphlet for what lakes are affected. Campbell Lake (WA) Campbell lake out of Winthrop is still fishing good. The catching might not be fast but what you do catch will be worth it. Rainbows in the 16 to 18-inch range are showing up for those willing to put the time in. The weather is changing, and we are getting some rain so be sure to dress for it. A #14 black and red chironomids are always a safe bet for this time of year. Also, using #8 and #10 black leeches and buggers are a good choice right now. The bows are on the feed to fatten up before winter sets in. For the shallower water down to 5 feet I would use an intermediate line, and, for anything deeper, a type-3 full sinking will handle it. Green Lake (WA) Green...