Clark Fork River (MT) Current flow 3,710 cubic feet per second at St. Regis and leveling out. No recent reports here, but might be worth a look in the next few days. The weather is shaping up this week to be warmer and partly sunny and high 30's and low 40's in St. Regis. The flows will be dropping and, if the sun pokes out, I think you could have some good fishing here. The bump in the flows will have pushed a lot of the slush ice out. Nymphing will be the gig, and tandem rigs with your favorite bead heads or Pat's Rubber Legs will get the job done. Keep the bugs at the bottom. Takes can be subtle this time of year so pay attention to your indicator. St. Joe River Reading ice on the USGS graph. We'll need more warmer weather and rain to push the ice out, so stay tuned. Coeur d'Alene River 2,580 CFS at Cataldo and starting to level out.�...

The Clearwater (ID) Blown out, the water went big on the ninth of January. All the way up to 17,400 cubic feet per second. Grande Ronde River (WA) Blown out: the water raised 1,000 CFS overnight just like the Clearwater. It sits at 2,950 CFS as I write this report. Snake River (WA) The Snake is still very high as it was last week. It sits at a rate of 31,400 CFS. We haven’t had any reports stating if the river has blown yet. If you’re eager to get out to cast and potentially catch, the Snake will be your best bet. Most of the fish will be tucked in tight to the bank, holding in water that provides them safety. Fishing a sink tip can be an option, yet I believe a floating line will be the best option as of now.  Fishing a fly with lots of movement can get the job done. Stay confident. Read past reports from the Lewiston region here,...

Ice fishing at Lake Frances can be productive for pike (shown here) and yellow perch. Photo courtesy Valier Area Development Corp. A fearless crew from North 40 will venture onto the ice this Saturday, January 13, for the Valier Area Development Corp’s 2018 Ice Fishing Derby at Lake Frances It looks like a cold front is coming in this week and the projected highs for Saturday are in the single digits. We expect good ice conditions. The derby runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a $15 per person registration fee. Registration on Saturday begins at 6 a.m. at the Fireman’s Pavilion and the One Stop Cenex in Valier. Pike and perch are the targets with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place cash payouts for the biggest fish. Last year the pike and perch winners each netted $1,035.  Setting Up for Ice-Fishing Success With single digit temperatures, we will op...

Missouri River, Montana If you managed to get out last weekend or early this week, you were likely met with some very hungry fish.  There were definitely a few trout spey anglers with big smiles trolling through the shop.  Nymphing reports were strong as well. It looks like a quick cold snap is rolling in, but temps are mild enough for weekend fishing and next week looks great again.  If you can pick your days, you should find some great fishing out there. Winter on the Missouri River Not much will change over the next few months in terms of the fishing conditions. In the coldest weather, fish within a mile or two of Holter Dam.  After a few milder days, you can venture beyond Craig.  Always be aware of drifting shelf ice, especially after sustained cold weather. Fish will be stationed near drop offs and shelves or cruising the deep...

An array of rods may look intimidating, but it shouldn’t. In fact, this is a great time to buy a rod as affordable fly rod options have never been greater. Visit a fly shop and cast a few rods to feel the difference in lengths, weights and actions. An easy way to take the mystery out of fly-fishing is to select the correct fly rod for the type of fishing you plan to do. Fortunately, getting the right rod in your hands is easy, especially if you visit a fly shop and explain what you want out of a rod, and how much you can spend on it. This article should take a lot of the mystery out of buying a rod, whether purchasing for yourself or someone who’s interested in the sport. Here’s more good news: A quality fly rod does not have to cost a fortune and, if carefully selected, can be used while pursuing a variety of fish species, ranging...

If you’ve considered building a small-scale farm and embracing the homesteading mindset—whether that means a few cows on an acre, or merely a couple chicken coops in the backyard—North 40 Outfitters’ Farmstock 2018 is the place to be. That’s because, on March 10, we’re inviting local breeders, ranchers and farmers in to showcase their livestock and offer knowledge and suggestions at every North 40 Outfitters location in Montana, Idaho and Washington. Vendors may advertise their trades or sell their livestock while they teach people how to get started on their new adventure. For those who may have attended previous Farmstock events, this version will set itself apart—we aim to educate and impassion our communities on the homesteading lifestyle, a way to be self-sufficient and actively engaged in raising and growing their own...

Missouri River The New Year dawned in Great Falls, Montana with a deeply frosty temperature of -27 F. Not ideal for open-water fly-fishing, but in Montana temperatures go up and down. Fortunately for the angling obsessed, temps are back into the fishable range this week with some highs topping the freezing mark. Winter on the Missouri River Not much will change over the next few months in terms of the fishing conditions. In the coldest weather, fish within a mile or two of Holter Dam. After a few milder days, you can venture beyond Craig. Fish should be stationed near drop-offs and shelves or cruising the deeper, slower flows. Most days, the action will pick up around 11 a.m. and fall off by 3 or so. Trout Spey Always a great activity during the winter months. Scandi or integrated floating lines and long leaders work great in the slower ...

Clearwater River If you’re like me, and live a few hours away from the river, you’ve probably asked yourself several times this season, Is it worth it for me to travel and fish the Clearwater? I’m asking the same question today because I have an open weekend (never happens!) and am toying with the idea of driving Friday night, fishing all day Saturday, and driving back on Saturday night. Crazy, right? Crazier when I look at the forecast and see, like, a 90 percent chance of rain for Friday and a 100 chance (if that is the correct word) for Saturday. I can stand in the rain, all day, shivering if needed, and not complain. But I don’t want to arrive to a river that’s blow to bits. So, what to do? On Wednesday afternoon I called Jamie Robertson, a fisheries technician for Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Lewiston. She’s the...

Omak Lake Wish I could tell you Omak Lake is doing great, good, ok or even so-so. Alas, I can’t. I haven't been able to get out to the lake lately and I have had no reports from anyone. My guess would be the cold, windy days are keeping most people at home, close to the wood stove. I'm hoping to get out to the lake, possibly this coming weekend. Rufus Woods Lake The good thing about Rufus Woods is I don’t think I have ever been skunked here. Not saying you'll be catching anything real big, but at least you'll be catching some nice fish. I talked to a couple of gentlemen who came in recently and they said they had a nice day on Rufus. Between the two of them they hooked into about a dozen fish, landing five. The largest fish they estimated at about 5 pounds. Balanced Leeches and white bugger patterns seem to be doing the trick. A good...