Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 07.26.18
Clark Fork River (ID)
Flows are bouncing from 4,000 to 35,000 cubic feet per second daily. The river has roughly 5 feet of visibility. Water temperatures are around the upper 60s, and wet wading has never felt so good. Fishing has been good. There are plenty of caddis, PMDs, and western yellow mayflies in the mornings and evenings to keep the trout looking up. Try using dry flies like a #12 light cahill, #16 PMD comparadun, a #14 foam caddis, a #16 brown elk hair caddis, or a #14 purple parachute. If your only window of opportunity is midday, use nymphs like a #14 red three dollar dip, a #14 Taylor’s gut instinct, a #12 hares ear, or a #12 dirty bird. Swinging an olive baby gonga might hook you into something larger than you were expecting.
Lake Pend Oreille
Water clarity is between 7 to 8-feet, and surface temperatures are around 71-75° Fahrenheit. Lots of jet skis and ski boats are on the water, so get on the water early and late to avoid the waves. Pike are still hunting along weed lines in anywhere from 4-15 feet. Perch-like fly patterns will work very well. I have great success throwing flies like a red jackife or Dougie’s perch with fast-sinking line. Poppers also work this time of year, so don’t leave your floating line at home.
It has been a weird week for bass fishing. With the hexagenia hatch finishing up, warm water species like smallmouth and largemouth seem to be fairly stuffed. It seems like largemouth have been easier to find than smallies. Fast-sinking line is a must this time of year. Flies like a #2 chartreuse Clouser, a #2 blue deceiver, or Rich’s ultimate worm are all great options. The topwater bite in the evenings have been epic! White and chartreuse poppers have been working like a charm.
Lake Cocolalla
Water clarity is between 4-5 feet. This lake still sees its share of recreational boaters and water skiers, so get on the water early or late. Fishing is better in the mornings and in the evenings anyway. Intermediate line on a 6-weight rod is the optimal combination. Use flies like a #8 olive balanced leech, a #12 hare’s ear, a rust baby gonga, or a #10 black woolly bugger. The largemouth will be under lily pads and near docks. Poppers, jiggy worms, and Rich’s ultimate worm will do the trick.
Kootenai River
The discharge out of Libby Dam has been just under 9,000 cfs for a couple weeks now. Water clarity is excellent, and temperatures are in the mid-50s. Fishing has been good for the most part. Expect to see caddis, PMDs, craneflies, and hoppers. The hoppers are not actively flying around looking for mates yet, but they will in a few weeks. A few hot dry fly patterns to use have been a #14 party on top caddis, a #16 PMD comparadun, a #16 PMD cripple, a #10 true crane, a #14 streambank hopper, a #10 purple chubby chernobyl, and a #10 pink j slam. Nymphs are always a great option midday too. You’ll want to drag a #8 Pat’s rubber legs, a #12 red copper john, a #12 tung. jig assassin, a #16 purple lightning bug, or a #16 crust nymph PMD. Plus, various colors of sparkle minnows work well for the bigger trout.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.