Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 05.16.19
Lake Pend Orielle
The lake has been fishing well, and the smallmouth are on fire! Pre-spawn is here and fish are moving up. Check out rocky flats that are in 10-15 feet of water, perfect for targeting fish with a fly. As the month continues, we will see the fish move even shallower and it will be perfect for both top-water and subsurface action. Baitfish patterns, as well as crawfish patterns on intermediate tips (1.5 – 2 ips), will catch fish. Swim flies like a drunk & disorderly or swingin’ d will crush with a sink tip setup (Type III to V, or 3-6 ips), causing the flies to dive and swim sporadically. Sunnyside, Oden Bay, Fisherman’s Island, and the Pend Orielle Bay Trail are great places for smallmouth action. Pike are still being caught in sloughs, as well as largemouth. Pitter patter!
Clark Fork River (ID)
Not much happening up the Clark Fork these days. The flows are high from the draining of the Montana runoff. Few spots can be accessed via boat. Walleye, smallmouth, and pike can be found out in the mouth of the river. Most of the fishing will be towards the lake. Your best bet is to just search and explore the water when it’s up like this. Stop in the shop for some coffee and trade stories.
Kootenai River
Big flows up north, it’s running between 18 cfs. This is when things get a little too high for quality fishing. The flows out of Koocanusa help flush the river in the spring for runoff and in benefit of white sturgeon within the system. Expect flows to bump down in the future. It’s definitely a float only game for the foreseeable future.
Lake Cocolalla
Coco fishes great for trout, bass, and crappie this time of year. Expect to find groups of trout rising and moving in multiple directions. Find a group on concentrated rises and shadow them on your approach. Land a dry like an Adams, caddis, or ant pattern in the middle of the fish and wait. If you can’t get fish on top, strip streamers. Smaller patterns like thin mints, buggers, and damsel buggers on an intermediate tip (1.5 – 2 ips) striped through groups of fish will produce. Pulling chironomids on lake lines, intermediates through a 3 – 5 ips tips, from a kick tube, kayak, or boat will work extremely well too. Locate structure for largemouth and crappie. Crappie will suspend high on structure, especially early and late in the day. Toss jig style flies and mop fly-like patterns. Bass will be occupying rocky or submerged structure. Don’t overlook poppers on the warmer days.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.