NF CDA - North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Hatches

Caddis
March browns
Golden stones
PMD's
Drakes
Yellow sallies
Carpenter ants

The Fishing

Shaping up to be another great weekend on the North Fork Coeur d'Alene River. We’ve heard reports from every section of the drainage at this point and you really can’t go wrong wherever you decide to go. Keep in mind that water temps will be colder up high, so hatches may take longer to get going during the day. We’re seeing a bit of everything lately for hatches. Salmonfly and golden stone activity has been good, especially with a warming trend coming up I’d expect to see the big bugs get going again. The March Brown hatch that seemingly won’t quit still has fish interested. When the Green and/or Grey drakes get going fish will be very happy, some of the best tasting mayflies of the year I’ve heard. Caddis, PMDs, Yellow Sallies and Carpenter ants will be around too, I’d expect the lower river to have higher densities of these hatches in the short term.

Current Flow

Prichard = 272 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Prichard

Cataldo = 1480 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Cataldo

St. Joe River, Idaho

Hatches

March Browns
Salmonflies
Golden stones
Yellow Sallies
Drakes
Caddis
PMDs

The Fishing

I'm back out of report-retirement for a St. Joe River Report this week. I (Sean) wandered up the St. Joe to check out the water above Avery this week. Roads are clear from the down trees and rocks, there was quite a bit of blow down from the wind storm earlier this year. I drove all the way up as high as you can drive (as of 5/19) which is Line Creek CG just below Spruce Tree CG. The final bit of road to Spruce Tree is blocked. Assuming they are still clearing out downed timber / rocks in the campground.

Any "likely" spot along the banks produced very well. You can fish chubbies or stones as prospecting patterns with a dropper (if you want) and do very well. Drakes, yellow sallies, and March browns are also on the menu. Below Avery expect to see the mentioned hatches, but also more caddis and pmds. I'd say fishing is pretty solid right now as one would expect for these flows in late May. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Current Flow

Red Ives = 720 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Red Ives

Calder = Affected by ice ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Calder

Miscellaneous

The Fishing

Not much talk from the lake front this last week, sounds like most anglers are starting to search out moving water at this point in the season. I’d still have stillwater fishing on the radar until air temps really start to crank up and push the trout out to deeper water.

Bass and carp fishing is still prime time right now, should be a good season to get into warmwater species if you haven’t dabbled already.

I’d have the Clark Fork in Montana on the agenda going forward. We received a great report from the lower river around St Regis yesterday, sounds like flows are still pushy but fish are very willing.

Spokane River, Washington

Hatches

n/a

The Fishing

Opens this Saturday, May 23rd. Flows are at a level we rarely see this early in the season, so definitely get out there and take advantage of some prime fishing opportunity. Caddis are hatching in force especially in the evenings. Keep an eye out for some salmonflies, usually we don’t see many but when there’s a few around the fish will definitely take notice.

Current Flow

4840 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Lower River / Post Falls

Steelhead Rivers

The Fishing

Grande Ronde - Good time of year to start finding smallmouth bass down here. The stretch closest to the mouth near Hellar Bar is generally best in May. The smallies will head further upriver as it heats up and flows drop. Any smolt colored streamer is a good starting point, crawfish patterns work well too.

Current Flows

Grande Ronde River at Troy - 2120 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Troy

Snake River at Anatone - 36200 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Anatone

Clearwater River at Spalding - 17700 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Spalding