Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Fishing Report 04.26.18
Coeur d'Alene River
Flow at Cataldo 7,250 cfs and dropping. This week there was a short window before the warm weather hit. It is still pretty high for great wading but if you know where to look you can do a touch of wading. Had some great reports from last weekend. Lots of folks were catching fish nymphing and streamer fishing. There are plenty of March browns around midday and some blue-winged olives, too. The nymph fishing will be your go-to for the high water, so patterns like Pat's Rubber Legs, San Juan Worms, big stonefly patterns, Woolly Buggers, Twenty-Inchers, Prince Nymphs, are all good choices. A large Chubby Chernobly with a big beadhead dropper will be a great all-around rig. Streamer fishing is still solid too, with black and olive Sculpins, JJ Specials, Congas, Sculpzillas, and Zonkers all getting looks. The weather is supposed to cool tomorrow and through the weekend with possibility of snow in the high country. So, keep an eye on the river gauge and if it drops you might have a shot. Call us if you have questions.
St. Joe River
Flow at Calder early this week was 5,740 cfs and dropping. Had a killer day in those conditions. The river was running a bit high, but clarity was incredible and the fishing was off the charts good. Again, like the Coeur d’Alene, all of our rivers will be on the climb soon with the warm weather and rain. The tandem nymph rig, if the water is fishable, is a great start and your choice of larger bead head nymphs and a San Juan worm will do great, too. Whatever rig you run, you’ll want to have plenty of split-shot to get you down. Look for soft pockets along the banks and inside bends. There is plenty of water and daylight to do a long float now, if the water is safe. Please be cautious on the rivers now—if you are a new drift-boater or pontoon-boater please be careful out there as the rivers are very cold and quick and mistakes now can be costly. Be safe and have fun.
Clark Fork River (MT)
Flow at St. Regis, Montana 16,800 cfs and climbing. Not a great choice now guys. Running very off color and high and probably not coming down anytime soon.
Local Lakes
Fishing great and getting better with each day of warm weather. Most lakes you can do great with the crappie now. Small Mohair Leeches in black or wine will do great; medium size beadhead nymphs, Woolly Buggers in white, black and olive work well, too. Fishing two flies under an indicator for them is a great way to go, or you can find structure like a downed tree or a dock and cast your fly to them and strip away or let it fall right in front of them and they should respond. The smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing is picking up too. Bigger Woolly Buggers and articulated streamers, like Congas, are good too. Start looking for spawning beds in close to the banks and you may be able to do some sight casting to some bass. Lots of pike on the prowl right now too. Large pike bunny flies in white and red are great patterns, Decievers, large Clouser Minnows, Dahlberg Divers—all should work great. Some of the smaller lakes, like Round and Cocolalla are doing well with the trout as well. Try an intermediate sinking line with a black or olive Woolly Bugger and look for cover or structure on the banks.