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

Hatches

Salmonflies
Grey drakes
Yellow sallies
Golden stones
March Browns

The Fishing

We were all able to get out for a float on the CDA yesterday (5/7). Flows were about 1200 CFS at Prichard and hovered around that mark throughout the day. We started fishing at 10:30 and were out until about 6:30. Fishing was good right out of the gate on nymph rigs, a small jig streamer and heavy stonefly picked up fish right away. We quickly switched to dry/dropper combos or single large salmonfly dries and really didn’t need to mix it up much until later afternoon. Fishing did get a bit stale after 4:30 or so, but we still found a few on the dropper nymph and smaller foam dries before we were wrapped up. Bo and Mike tried some streamer fishing but nothing real exciting happened there, Bo had a couple grabs and stuck one decent fish. We didn’t see much for consistent heads up, a couple sporadic risers that would usually eat the big dry if you plopped it on their head. There were a broad variety of hatches, I feel like we saw just about every Spring bug you’d expect. Salmonflies, March Browns, Gray Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Nemouras, Caddis, and maybe a couple Golden Stones. A few hot dries were the Morrish Fluttering Stone, Emma’s Stone Salmonfly, Pteronarcys Chubby Chernobyl and Henry’s Fork Stone. A variety of dropper nymphs picked up fish; Jig 20 Inch Stone, Duracell, and small Pats Rubber Legs were the most noteworthy.

Current Flow

Prichard = 1120 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Prichard

Cataldo = 3800 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Cataldo

St. Joe River, Idaho

Hatches

Salmonflies
Skwala Stones
March Browns
Grey drakes

The Fishing

Flows are a little pushy up here still but the river is very fishable. Hatches have been great. Salmonflies are at their peak, March Browns and Gray Drakes have fish up sipping. Still a few Skwalas and Nemouras around. Should be seeing Yellow Sallies and Caddis soon. The river below Avery definitely fishes best at these water levels, once they drop more the upper river will start fishing better. I’d be rocking a dry-dropper combo with a salmonfly on top and a small stone or perdigon-style dropper nymph. Nymphing the margins tight to the bank or swirly eddies is always a reliable tactic if they aren’t showing interest in the dry fly.

Current Flow

Red Ives = 1210 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Red Ives

Calder = 5670 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Calder

Miscellaneous

The Fishing

Still plenty of good lake fishing going on. We’ve heard some good reports on trout fishing from Amber, Coffeepot, Clear and Williams lake. Chironomids, Damsels and Callibaetis have all been hatching depending on where you are. Bass and carp fishing is also excellent right now. Look for bass up shallow around structure like docks and laydowns, carp will be up on shallow flats rooting around and starting to get into their spawning phase.

Steelhead Rivers

The Fishing

Want to try something different? Smallmouth fishing on the Lower Grand Ronde is exceptional this month. Smolt colored streamers, craw patterns, sparkle minnows, really whatever you want to throw will work. I always make a point of getting down here at least once in May, it’s not uncommon to have a triple digit day of smallie fishing when conditions are prime.

Current Flows

Grande Ronde River at Troy - 5420 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Troy

Snake River at Anatone - 61700 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Anatone

Clearwater River at Spalding - 30300 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Spalding

Spokane River, Washington

Hatches

n/a

The Fishing

SPOKANE RIVER IS CLOSED TO FISHING AS OF 3/15/25

If you see someone fishing the river during the closed season, report to WDFW Spokane Office / (509) 892-1001

Non-emergency Violations & Poaching 1-877-933-9847

The river will re-open to fishing on May 24th this year (general stream opener, Saturday before Memorial day.)

Current Flow

8660 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Lower River / Post Falls