Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 05.23.19
Things are warming up, and runoff will be winding down very soon in the Panhandle area. Things are looking good moving forward. The local lakes and Lake Pend Oreille are alive and rich with many opportunities for quality fly fishing – here’s what you need to know.
Current Conditions
Lake Pend Oreille - The big lake is great right now for bass fishing. Smallmouth on the shoreline make it easy for a fly to be presented to an aggressive fish. The water temperature varies where you are on the lake, but look for water above 55 degrees and you’ll find smallmouth near shoreline structure. Crawfish style flies like a creek crawler or RJ’s jiggy worm will land you fish. Also, try Murdich minnows and Kreelex’s as well, close to structure. Look for pike and largemouth hanging around weedy areas and sloughs. For largies, throw some jig style flies such as a grim reaper or worm patterns like gulley worms. Pike love flash, red, and/or chartreuse. Get an annoying fly and get it in front of their face and hang on.
Clark Fork River - The Clark Fork is virtually out of commission for the time being. Cabinet Gorge Dam is pumping a lot of water down river and caution should be taken. I’d play it safe and just hang out fishing local small streams or out on the lake.
Kootenai River below Libby Dam - A little high for most to spend time shuttling a boat, but you can find fish tucked in soft water. It’s a float only game, and you’ll find plenty of caddis, drakes, and stoneflies around. Nymphing under an indicator fly is still a good idea. Don’t overlook streamer fishing either. A lot of fish in big water will eat meat flies as they lie in heavy flows waiting to ambush flies. A good selection of Kreelexs, home invaders, and dungeons will give you a shot at some quality fish.
Local Lakes - Lake Cocolalla will be an awesome opportunity to get out and catch trout, bass, or crappie on the fly. My favorite technique for lake fishing is simply stripping small flies like woolly buggers, thin mints, or slump busters. A lot of different fish can be caught on these flies. I almost always use a sink tip or an intermediate tip. Most of your other local small lakes will fish really well with chironomids like jumbo jujus or ice cream cones. Having a good lake line or sinking line is crucial. Expect to see lots of spruce moths and other terrestrials as well. So, in the evenings, try some dries if you find rising fish.
Match The Hatch
We will start seeing a lot of large mayflies in our area starting soon. Green drakes and grey drakes are starting to pop on a few rivers in the panhandle. Flies like Quigley’s film critic are a must have. Extended body drakes are great flies to have as well. On another note, don’t forget to have a good selection of chubby chernobyls in purple, red, tan, and orange. Cutthroat love purple and mayflies… get stocked up on purple haze and purple parachutes, some of the best all-around cutthroat dry flies. Pmds are also on the rise, so bring a few of those in your box as well.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Techniques & Tips
When fishing lakes, the wind-blown shore will be off color. Don’t let the chop and stained water fool you. Bass, trout, and pike will hunt along murky water lines as food gets washed into the shallows. Some of the best fishing can be off of wind-blown shores. Another fact, murky sediment-filled waters will hold heat a bit better than clear waters will.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.