Sandpoint Idaho Fishing Report 08.01.19

Fishing is steady and we are holding in our summertime lull. Flows on most rivers have just about bottomed out or will be in the next few weeks. Days are getting shorter again, and hopefully, some cool nights here and there will keep trout fishing alive. Bass fishing in the area still remains great, along with the Hexagenia mayfly hatch on Lake Pend Oreille. Pike reports are still coming through out of LPO in the sloughs and bays. Fun abounds in the Sandpoint/Panhandle Area.

Current Conditions

Lake Pend Oreille - Boat traffic is still here and will continue throughout the hot days coming. Early morning and evening bass fishing has been good to moderate, but if you try deeper, you may be surprised. Check out the evening and nighttime Hex hatch. Smallmouth will chase Hex nymphs to the surface and then feed on them at night. For pike, Denton Slough is the best bet. Focus on weed lines and deeper slots. Chartreuse and Red are a good go-to color. Largies can be caught around woody structure, reeds, and back bays.

Clark Fork River below Cabinet Gorge Dam - The lows will still be stressing some fish. Exercise caution while wading as much as possible. Flows can go from low to high in a hurry, and water speed and volume is what traps you, not height. Bugs around are pmds, bwos, midges, caddis, hoppers, and cahill like mayflies. It’s best to have a selection of flies if possible. Find rising fish, and fish to them on top, then work down through the water column to find what they want. It can turn on and off like a light switch.

Kootenai River at Leonia, ID - The Kootenai has been fishing well. The hot days have caused some minor changes to fish behavior, but for the most part, fishing is still great. Caddis emergers, pmds, blue quills, and baetis are the go-to flies the trout are munching on. Most of your fish are in the 14-inch range, with some 16-plus caught. Some streamer action can be had, so bring a few sculpin patterns. Streamers can produce nicer fish, but don’t expect numbers.

Thompson River near Thompson Falls, MT - This is still dropping. Most of the fishing will remain in the middle section of the river where the mid-range tributaries come in. Small nymphs will get you going under dry attractors like stimulators and chubbies. Lightning bugs and rainbow warriors are good options for droppers, and you have the chance at a few really big whitefish. Caddis emergers will move small and your most aggressive fish. Try some small streamers like she demons, sparkle minnows, and Clousers by swinging them across deeper cuts and ledges. Fight and release them quickly. It’s hot out there during the day.

Local Lakes - Trout fishing has slowed down on local lakes with the increased temperatures. Cocolalla has been producing some good smallmouth fishing. If you want some trout action, full sink lines and unweighted or booby style flies will produce. Your high mountain lakes above the timberline will produce fun trout opportunities for cutties and brookies willing to take most dry fly patterns, pheasant tails, hares ears, or wooly buggers.

Match The Hatch

Lake Pend Oreille – Hexagenia – Foam Hex #6-8, Mohican Mayfly #10, May’s Identity Crisis #6, Zirdle (Tan) #8. Dragonflies and Damsels – Lake Dragon, Rowley’s Grizzly Dragon, or Chan’s BMW, assorted sizes. Crawfish – Sweet Baby Cray, Bassmasters, and the Grim Reaper. Forage Fish – Lowfat Minnow-Bluegill 1/0, Hud’s Bushwhacker 2/0 in assorted colors, Murdich Minnow- Baby Rainbow #4.

Clark Fork River – Caddis – Elk Hair Caddis Tan #12-16. BWO – Challenged Baetis #16-18, Spotlight May BWO #14-18. Light Cahills - #10-12 Light Cahill, #12-14 Usual, Rocky Mountain Mint #12 – PMD. Midges – Hanging Midge #20-22, Griffith’s Gnat #18-22. Stoneflies – Chubby Chernobyl - Gold #10-12, Stimulator- Yellow #12. Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Parachute Adams #12-16, Hippie Stomper Pink, Purple, Red #12-14.

Kootenai River – Caddis – Tan Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, CDC Bubbleback Emerger #14-16, Party On Top Caddis #14-16. Stoneflies – Chubby Chernobyl Pink, Gold, Purple, Red #10-12, Stimulator- Yellow #12, Pat’s Rubber Legs Coffee/Black #8-10 Tan/Brown #8-10. PMDs – Parachute PMD #14-16, Hi Vis Spinner PMD #14. Blue Quills – Parachute Adams #12-14, Rocky Mt. Mint #12 Adams, Adams Superfly #12-14.  Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Chubby Chernobyl Purple, Pink, Red #8-10, Chartreuse or Red Humpy #14, Crystal Stimulator Yellow #10-12.

Thompson River – Caddis – Tan Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, LaFontaine’s Emerger #14-16, Corn Fed Caddis #14-16. Stoneflies - Chubby Chernobyl Gold #10-12 Olive #10-12, Stimulator- Yellow #12 Olive #12, Lime Trude #14-16, Snowshoe Sally #14-16, Pat’s Rubber Legs Coffee/Black #8-10 Tan/Brown #8-10. PMDs – Parachute PMD #14-16, Hi Vis Spinner PMD #14. Attractors – Purple Haze #12-16, Chubby Chernobyl Purple, Pink, Red #8-10, Chartreuse or Red Humpy #14, Crystal Stimulator Yellow or Orange #10-12.

Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.

Tips & Techniques

Drowning ants can be fun – artificial ants, that is. Don’t be afraid to fish an ant as a dropper. Ants get submerged more often than you think. Fur ants and CDC ants sit just below the surface film, but the beaded ants will get you down just a bit more. Give it a try.

See past reports from the Sandpoint area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.