River Report - NF CDA, St. Joe, St Regis & Clark Fork

Remember this?  That was mid March on Pritchard Creek where it enters the NF of CDA.  But the warm weather has returned and it looks like summer is just around the corner.  The flows on both the St. Joe and NF of the Coeur d A'lene (CDA) have declined and leveled off.  The water temps are up, we have longer days and the hatches are starting to come off strong.  Salmon Flies, Yellow Sallies, PMD and Sm Green Drakes are making their presents known.  Gray Drakes, March Browns and Skawala are still around but in lower numbers.  But don't be afraid to tie one on.  The fish have memories.

​Also with the warm weather the upper stretches of both rivers are accessible and starting to fish well.  If your heading to the St. Joe check the conditions of the passes.  As of this morning both the St. Regis Pass and Moon Pass are still closed due to snow.  With the snow, thawing and refreezing in the Bitterroots, we could still see some fluctuations in the flows for the next few weeks.  

NF of CDA   3,800 CFS  Water temp  48 degrees

Suggested Flies  -  We carry Montana Fly Company, Fulling Mill, Fly Fish Food and Catch Flies

Godzilla #8
Big Sky Salmon Fly #10
King Kong Yellow or Orange #10
Improved Sofa Pillow #8, #10
Britton's Golden #8
Henry Fork Golden #10
Wilson's Little Golden #14
Jake's Yellow Sally #14, #16
UM BUtt Sally #12
Adult Yellow Sally #14
Goulds Half Down Sally #14
Galloup's Tilt Wing PMD #14, #16  (New Fly)
Thorax PMD #14, #16
PMD Cripple #14
Stimmies  #8-#12, Orange, Yellow
PMX Swisher Original #10-14
Jakes Green Drake #12
South Fork Chernobyl #12
Chernobyl Ant Black/Tan  #10-12
Grumpy Frumpy #12-16   (New Fly)

Streamers  

Lil' Kim Olive
Complex Twist Olive
Bubba's NBX Sculpin
Cheech Leech Tan/Orange

Nymphs - Big Stones

Double Bead Black Stone
Galloup War Bird  Black and Coffee
Kaufman Stone
Pats Rubber Leg
Kyles Golden Stone
Kyles Yellow Sally

St. Joe  5,900 CFS  Calder  48 degrees

The suggested flies for the NF will also work on the St Joe, but don't forget about the St. Joe Special Fly.  Local Tier, Shauna Hillman just brought by 12 dozen dozens!

St. Regis and Clark Fork

St. Regis opens this Saturday.  If you fish it send me a report
Clark Fork is still flowing high and dirty, 28,000 CFS.  It will be after Memorial Day before it is safe to float.

We are guiding on the Clark Fork this year in the St Regis area.