Sandpoint/Ponderay, Idaho Fishing Report 09.20.18
Clark Fork River (ID)
The flows out of Cabinet Gorge Dam have been between 4,000 and 18,000 cubic feet per second, and the clarity is around 10 feet. The fishing is good for the most part. Hatches of caddis, western yellow mayflies, midges, and occasional October caddis periodically take flight throughout the day. If the trout aren’t eating a correctly matched fly, try throwing some stimulators. Flies like a #10 orange stimulator, a #16 purple rooster, or a #12 H&L variant will work well when nothing else does. This is also an excellent river to swing and strip streamers. You’ll want to try flies like a #6 Montana intruder, or a #8 olive balanced leech.
Lake Pend Oreille
The lake is very slowly beginning to drop. The water temperatures are in the low to mid 60s, and clarity is around 10 feet. The member’s only LPOIC derby ended last Sunday, so the lake is pretty quiet right now. Pike fishing has been fair for the people that know where to look. Use flies like a red jackknife or a chartreuse pike slider.
Bass fishing is starting to slow down too. You can still find them off points, but they are really starting to move to deeper depressions in the lake. Use fast sinking fly line, and flies like a bushwacker, a deceiver, or a clouser.
Lake Cocolalla
Water temperatures are in the 60s, and clarity is around 2-3 feet. The fishing should pick up a little more each day as temperatures cool down. A 6-weight rigged with intermediate line works best for this lake. Try using flies like a #8 brown woolly bugger, a #8 rust lump buster, or a #8 olive balanced leech.
Also, bass fishing will start slowing down here too. The largemouth and smallmouth will begin to move to structure along drop-offs and in the depressions. Using flies like a jiggy worm and a clouser should do the trick.
Kootenai River
The flows out of Libby Dam are currently 6,010 cfs, and the clarity is as good as it gets. September fishing on the Kootenai can be epic -nobody on the river, prolific hatches, and the trout are actively feeding throughout the day. This river is best accessed from a drift boat, but there is a little wadable water in Montana. You’ll want to look for caddis, mahogany duns, October caddis, midges, and baetis. Stimulators like a #10 pink j-slam, a #10 purple chubby chernobyl, and a #10 red hippie stomper also work well. Streamers are always a must. Try using an olive dolly llama or an articulated sparkle minnow.
See past reports from the Sandpoint/Ponderay area here, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.