Coeur d'Alene Fishing Report 06.20.19
This is really some of the best fishing of the year folks. All of the rivers are now in shape and some still have a little ways to go for better wading, but all are fishable now. The Clark Fork is now good to go for floating. The St. Joe is much better for wading but a touch high still for all spots to wade. It is perfect for floating, however. The Coeur d'Alene is now into summer mode with the entire river wadeable. The mid-river is floatable but fairly bony in spots. The lower river is still good to go through the fall.
Hatches are great right now too with many different bugs being players. With the warmer weather, it is time to start thinking about terrestrials. Beetles, ants, and hoppers will all get attention now. Looks like we will be getting a cool front moving in this week. This is great news as the cooler weather this time of year is welcomed. The fish like cooler water temperatures and the overcast conditions should encourage the fish to look up better as well. So far, this season has been fantastic with good water and hungry fish.
Current Conditions
Coeur d'Alene River - The fishing here has been dreamy. Fish are eating big golden stones with reckless abandon. You may want to consider staying late and picking up fish on caddis in the riffles. The size of the fish this year seem to be a touch bigger than normal. We are seeing lots of 18 to 19-inch fish being caught throughout the system. Floating on the middle river is getting pretty boney. From Steamboat to Alberts is doable but getting thin in spots. The lower river from Alberts down is still good to go. Wading is perfect throughout the system. As the water continues to drop the deeper runs will hold more fish. Start looking for shady or riffled water to find bigger concentrations of fish.
Nymphing and streamer fishing is still good. Downsize your streamers a touch and your nymphs too. There are more mayfly and caddis fly nymphs available for the fish right now. The stoneflies are still around but won’t be for long. The afternoon caddis hatches have been solid. Swinging soft hackles during this event and even midday has been fantastic. If you have a small lightweight switch rod, this is perfect for this. We have a couple Echo TR 3 to 4-weights 11' in stock and are such a perfect tool for this kind of fishing. It is a deadly technique throughout the year.
St. Joe River - Man, what a perfect time to be on the Joe. It is still a little high in spots for wading. But, it is far better than last week and improving daily. The floating now is absolutely perfect! From Avery down the river, is good to go. The section from Avery to Marble Creek is starting to get skinny as well but you should have a week or two before it gets too thin.
A big attractor with a dropper is a great way to start the day before the hatches get going. There are lots of caddis out, even residual ones in the mornings. Pale morning duns are out in force along with yellow sallies throughout the day. Also, there are still quite a few golden stones. So, keep rocking the chubby chernobyls. Beetles and ants are out too, so you’ll want to consider using a foam beetle dropper off of your chubby or stimulator. You’ll want to think of every larger exposed rock as a holding spot for trout now. Plus, those spots with just a bit of cover and oxygenated water will hold trout now too. Using a tandem bead head nymph rig in the faster riffles will increase your numbers greatly now during the middle part of the day. You’ll want to stay late for the caddis and pale evening duns.
Clark Fork River (MT) - This is my favorite time to be on the Clark Fork River. You can do a longer float and not worry about time. The flows are up and will push you along at a good rate. The big golden stones are out and some salmon flies too -plenty of pmd's, yellow sallies, some green drakes as well. The caddis hatches should be good in the evenings too. Starting the day with a shorter nymph rig with a big double bead stonefly with a San Juan worm dropper works or using a big rubber leg woolly bugger with a bead head prince or optic nerve jig works well too. The old standby, a chubby with a long dropper of a bead head, will work also. Remember, keep your offerings close to the banks now. The flows are still up, and the fish will hold tight. Get ready for a great season on the Fork. You’ll get to play with some really nice fish.
Match the Hatch
1) Pale morning duns: comparadun, cripple, hackle stacker, thorax
2) Yellow sallies: Yellow stimulators, #14, parachute yellow sallies
3) Golden stones: Golden chubby chernobyl, yellow stimulator #8, morning wood, flush floater
4) Caddis: Corn-fed, cdc caddis, elk hair, x-caddis
5) Salmonfly: Royal chubby chernobyl #6, royal stimmie, morning wood, thing from uranus
6) Green drakes: Cdc green drake, green drake wulff, turducken green drake, Quigley cripple
8) Beetles: Loco beetle, hippie stomper, basic black foam beetle
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
As the water is dropping on our local streams, the fish will move out of runs that may have done well in the last month. Instead, start looking for faster water with shade, bigger rocks, and depth. Flat non-descript water will likely hold fewer fish now. Shade is good too. Even on windy days, don't let that keep you at bay. The warmer weather means beetles and maybe a hopper or two will be out. (The wind knocks them into the water.) So, overhanging trees or dry grassy banks are great spots to fish near or below in the wind.
We are expecting some cooler weather and rain. Don't fret! Put your Gore-Tex on and get out there. This can be a very good thing. Blue-winged olives and green drakes love to come out in droves in the rain and overcast conditions this time of year. Pack your waders and rain gear and get out there. Streamer fishing can be good during these days too.
If we get the warm weather back soon, go early and stay late. The midday action will start to slow down with the heat. You’ll want to look for more oxygenated water and riffles and go deep. Smaller tandem bead head nymph rigs with smaller San Juan worms work well here. Also, there are lots of caddis and mayflies out now. So, if you aren't seeing heads up, go deep, and swing your nymphs out at the end of your drifts. (You'll thank me later.) Stay late and catch the killer caddis hatches in the late afternoon to dark. Swinging soft hackles at these times can produce some big fish. Try stripping the soft hackles too. This will imitate a fast emerging caddis coming to the surface. The next couple of weeks should be fantastic fishing, guys. If you are seeing lots of crowds on the CdA, try a float on the Clark Fork now. It will be some of the best of the year. Good luck and tight lines out there!
See past reports from the CDA region here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.