Aug 25, 2017 River Report NF Coeur d Alene, St Joe River and the Clark Fork River in St Regis8/25/2017 Just in time for the weekend! With the cooler air temps and slightly shorter days the water temp has gone down and the fishing has taken off. I was on the NF CDA the other morning and the water temp was 58 degrees. I saw stronger hatches and more risers. I've been re-reading Neele Streeks, "Small Fly Adventures in the West, Angling for Larger Trout" and decided to go small with my flies. In the morning on the NF CDA I've been using size #16-18 flies. Kicking Klinks, Greased Lightnings, Humpys, Royal Wullfs, PMX, and Grumpy Frumpys have done very well for me. Most of my success has been in the seams along long pools and around island. Riffles have also been producing as well. If your interested in fishing smaller flies stop by the shop.
North Fork of the Coeur d Alene Flows; 87 CFS Prichard, 394 CFS Cataldo 58 degree water temp The water is getting a little skinny in the upper reaches and is concentrating the fish and making it easier to cross the river and fish some islands. Overall the river is fishing well but we do need some rain to get the flows up. Riffles have been doing well as have the deeper runs. With the water this low you need to be a little stealthier. Hatches; Hoppers, Ants, Caddis in the evening, small tricos in the morning Suggested Flies More or Less Hopper #10-12 Tan or Gray Osteens Hopper #12 Yeti Hopper PMX Sedgehammer Caddis Green Ovulating Caddis We have too many Caddis to mention Greased Lightning Kicking Klink St. Joe River, Avery Report have been very positive from my customers fishing the St. Joe. I'll be fishing it next week. There have been some large caddis hatches coming off in the evening in the upper reach above Avery. During the day hopper in tan and gray, size #10-12 have done well. This is probably one of the best times of the year to fish The Joe and it will only get better as September approaches. Flows; 446 CFS Calder, 56 degree water temp Hatches; Hoppers, Ants, evening Caddis Suggested Flies Para Cinnamon Ant Foam Black Ant Henryville Caddis Ballon Hammer Caddis Yeti Hopper BLT Struggling Green Caddis Black High Rider Championship Caddis PMX Grumpy Frumpy St. Joe Special, tied by Shauna Hillman, she's been tying this pattern for 30 years! Clark Fork, St Regis MT Flows; 2,450 CFS 62 degree water temp Hatches: Hoppers and Caddis I floated the Forest Grove section to Superior with my daughter and her boyfriend during the eclipse on Monday. The forested upper section fished really well in the morning. I tied on a #8 Krueger Cicada (I know we don't have cicadas here!) to my daughter line and 3 casts later we had a nice rainbow in the net. So we each tied one on and got a few more. Hoppers and PMX's were also working well. The Riffles before and after some of the long flat water fished well. I usually push through some of the long flat water but we were seeing the occasional risers in the middle of the river so we targeted them. Steve, my outfitter at Clark Fork Trout has been having good success on small flies in the AM and hoppers during the day on the St. Regis to 14 Mile Bridge section. I have some days open in September if you are interested in a guided trip. Suggested Flies #8 Krueger Cicada (go Figure?) Chernobyl Ant South Fork Chernobyl Ant PMX #10-#16 Hoppers #10-12 Cooper Haze BWO Parachute Kicking Klink Greased Lightning Grumpy Frumpy Thanks for reading my report. If you find it helpful support our shop! We appreciate your business.
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Lets start with the weather because that is the biggest influence on our fishing right now. I don't have to tell you it has been hot and dry. Spokane is about to break the record for most consecutive days at 90 degrees or above and consecutive days without significant rain fall. This has brought the rivers temperature up, hatches down and limited our time to fish to either the early morning or early evening. But all that is about to change next week. A strong low pressure is moving in and pushing this stagnant high out of here. Starting Sunday, temps will drop into the 80's and then high 70's with possible unsettled weather for the foreseeable future. Lows at night will be in the 50's. Yesterday my car showed 49 degrees along the Beaver River by the NF of the CDA. This new weather pattern will bring the water temps down, and this will make the fish more active.
North Fork of the Coeur d Alene River I've been fishing the NF CDA the last few mornings, usually 6:00 - 8:30 AM. I'd would like to stay until 10:00, but someone has to open the shop. Fishing has been good for me this time of day. It seems that when the sun hit a section of water the fish become real active. I've had good success on small attractors, Klinkhammers and PMD's (#16-18). Try working the gravel bars, islands, tight to the shore and riffles. At this time of day I did find some fish in the shallows. If you can only fish mid day tie on some hoppers or ants. I've also had good reports on the evening caddis hatch. The lower, fuller and slower water around the Steamboat section has done well. The dog days of summer may be coming to an end. Flows - 100 Cubic Feet per Second (CFS), 464 CFS Cataldo Water Temp 64-68 Hatches - Hoppers, Caddis in the evening, Ants, PMD in the AM Suggested Flies Kicking Klink #14 - we have a good selection of Klinkhammers Pink Greased Lightning Hoppers Tan and Gray #12-#10 we also have a good selection of hoppers Ants, black and cinnamon Small Humpy's Caddis - We have over 3 dozen differ patterns and sizes - I love caddis! Royal Wulff Grumpy Frumpy St. Joe River Reports on The Joe is that it is fishing good right now, in the high river and just below Avery. Like the NF CDA there are a lot of rafters after 11:00 AM below Avery. The early AM and later PM time slots is when the best fishing will occur. Hoppers are out in force, not just on The Joe but everywhere. We are still seeing some Yellow Sallies. The upper canyon of The Joe is narrower so the water does stay cooler. Flows - 549 CFS Calder Hatches - Hoppers, Ants, Yellow Sallies, PMD (AM) Suggested Flies Caddis - We have over 3 dozen different patterns and sizes #12-#18 Hoppers - Tan or gray #10-#12 Ants - Flying, Black and Cinnamon Small Humpies Gallop Tilt Wing PMD Special Klink Kicking Klink Greased Lightning Carlson Copper Haze SF Chernobyl #12 Pink Lady Clark Fork, St Regis MT It has been a little hotter on the other side of the Bitterroot Mountains, but also cooler at night. This has kept the water temps in a manageble level. If you are floating the morning and evenings will be best. Reports from my guide outfitter, Clark Fork Trout, is that the hopper action has picked up over the last week. Gray, tan and purple have been bringing them up. If you fish midday Try a hopper dropper. The dropper should be at least 3' or more to get the fly down to the zone. Of the 3 rivers reported the Clark will probably have the most positive impact when the weather shifts late this weekend. If you are interested in a guided trip down the Clark Fork give me a call at the shop, 208-556-1857. Flows - 2,600 CFS Water Temp 64-67 degrees Hatches - Caddis, Hoppers, Ants, Tricos early AM Suggested Flies More or Less Hoppers, Parachute Hopper Tan Osteens Hopper Yeti Hoppers SF Chernobyl Evan's Foam Baby Red Trigger Bellies Flying Ant Cinnamon Sedge Hammer Caddis Ballon Hammer Caddis Special Klink Droppers Pat's Stone Brassies Copper John's Fly Formely Known as Prince Ovulating Caddis Thanks for reading The River Reports. We post these weekly from April - October. If you find these reports useful, informative or just entertaining support our shop! Well summer is peaking. Traditionally this is the hottest part of summer and this year does not disappoint. It has been well over a month since we had any rain. The flows and most rivers are low and the temps are up. Fishing early will be your best bet for landing some trout. Hoppers in size 12 in tan or gray should work well. As the season progresses the hoppers will grow. Black and cinnamon ants have also been working well. Right at dusk you will probably find a good caddis hatch going. If you are a late riser the evening caddis hatch is your best bet.
North Fork of the Coeur d Alene River Flows 110 CFS Prichard, 500 CFS Cataldo water temps between 64-68 degrees Hatches - Hoppers, Ants, evening caddis While the golden stones, drake, PMD hatches have disappeared they have been replaced by the bikini, rubber beer hatch. Right now this is extending as far up as Big Hanks Campground. But this is public water so it is meant for everyone. With summer the river has become fuller with other river users. But if you are on the water at 6:00 AM you won't have a problem. You may want to do a little hiking up some of the tributaries along the the CDA, you might find some big boys hiding in those pools. Besides hoppers and ants, SF Chernobyl Ants, hairy foam and PMX's. Suggested Flies Black Ants Flying Ants More or Less Hopper, gray or tan Osteens Hopper, gray or tan Para Hopper Yeti Hopper Purple South Fork Chernobyl Evans Foam Baby Red Jakes Trigger Belly PMX Grumpy Frumpy Sedgehammer Caddis Ballonhammer Caddis Ovulating Caddis Elk Hair Caddis #8 Kruegers Cicada - These were sent to me by mistake, we don't have Cicadas here, but they are working! St Joe River Flows 621 Calder Water Temps 62-66 degrees Hatches - Caddis, Hoppers, Ants If you walked into the shop today I would tell you to fish, The Joe. The elevation of the river, narrower canyons, shade and runoff from a higher elevation has kept this river fishing well. Drive time is longer, but above Avery you won't see as much of the bikini, rubber, beer hatch. So it is worth the drive. Flows are still at a good level, but a bit thinner the higher you head up river. Just like the NF CDA the early mornings and evening are going to be your most productive time. Try some foam with a trailing PMD or Para Adams in the morning, hopper and ants as the day progresses and caddis at twilight. Suggested Flies - The list above for the NF CDA should cover the St. Joe. In addition I would suggest St. Joe Special Para St. Joe Special Small PMX Trudes The Clark Fork, St. Regis Montana Flows 3,000 CFS Water Temps 64-68 degrees. At the St. Regis River confluence it was 62 degrees I've floated the the Clark Fork 4 times over the last 10 days on stretches from Superior down to 14 mile bridge. The water is getting clearer, but temps are rising during the day as much as 4 degrees between 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM The best fishing has been early morning right at dawn. The fishing stayed steady until 9:30 then it began to taper off. The 2 stretches that fished best were St. Regis to 14 mile bridge or Sloway to St. Regis. The 14 mile bridge float is, as it says 14 miles. So you are on it for the entire day. Sloway to St Regis is only about 6 miles. You could put on at 6:00 and be off by 11:00. The St. Regis water temp. is cooler. At the confluence you will probably find fish bunched up in that area. As the flows continue to go down the river is revealing more structure. Hit those gravel bars, rocky shores and riffles hard and push through the lake regions. Thanks again for reading my reports. If you find them helpful, insightful of just amusing, support our shop! |
AuthorGregg Maddock is the owner of Wallace Fly Shop. Archives
June 2018
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