Aug. 7th River Report, St. Joe, Clark Fork, NF Coeur d Alene

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

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