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

Hatches

Skwalas
March Browns
BWO's
Samonflies

The Fishing

From here on out, it’s go time on the North Fork Coeur d'Alene. Flows have been on a steady drop since our report last week, and based off flow forecasts and snowpack levels, I can pretty confidently say we are done with runoff in this drainage. I’ve been beating this drum for months now but get after it sooner than later this season. We are likely going to see exceptionally low flows up here come mid-summer, and fishing will be very tough in those conditions. Fortunately, fishing is very good right now. With the current weather pattern, bug hatches will be prolific with plenty of variety. Salmonflies have been out and will continue to find fish. Skwalas are about done. March Browns will hang in a while longer, but various Drakes are beginning to dominate the mayfly game. I’d also be bringing along Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Golden Stones, PMD’s, shouldn’t be long for these to get going. Apart from the very upper reaches and tributaries, the whole system is fishing well.


Lower North Fork Coeur d'Alene Floating Restrictions @ I90 Bridge Near
Cataldo: For both the 2025 and 2026 construction seasons, restrictions will once again be in effect from April through November inhibiting access, use and passage Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Boat launches outside of the work zone will remain available for use, though no one will be able to pass beneath the structure during working hours for safety reasons. Later in the summer restrictions may be changed or lifted depending on overhead work being done. Read more here: https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i90cataldobridges

Current Flow

Prichard = 621 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Prichard

Cataldo = 2500 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Cataldo

St. Joe River, Idaho

Hatches

March Browns
Skwalas
BWO's
Salmonflies
Golden stones

The Fishing

The Joe has dropped back into good shape after a significant flow increase last week. Sounds like fishing was still worthwhile this last week even in higher water conditions, and will only get better as it gets into more prime levels. I’m guessing there will be another bump or two in flows when high elevation snow melts off, but there isn’t much left up there so shouldn’t be anything extreme. Hatches are similar to the CDA system, just a couple weeks behind typically. Still a bit early for the upper reaches here, last we heard mile marker ~65 was about the cutoff before the road was in too bad of shape. Won’t be long though before it’s cleaned up and you can drive as far as your heart desires.

Current Flow

Red Ives = 782 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Red Ives

Calder = 4500 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Calder

Miscellaneous

The Fishing

Lakes are fishing good, going to see a lot more weed growth as temps warm up. This does bring along some more bug activity like damsels and callibaetis but can make shallower bodies of water trickier to fish. Pretty much every lake in the immediate area that wasn’t open is now open to fishing since the general lowland lake opener last Saturday.

Warmwater species are also really getting fired up lately. Bass and carp fishing has been great and will only get better with this warmer weather. Look for bass up shallow around structure and carp on the flats feeding mid-day.

Spokane River, Washington

Hatches

n/a

The Fishing

The Spokane River from the WA/ID state line down to Nine Mile Falls Dam is now closed until the Saturday before Memorial Day. This closure is to help protect spawning Redband rainbows.

Current Flow

7870 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Lower River / Post Falls

Steelhead Rivers

The Fishing

Reports for steelheading on the Grande Ronde, Snake and Clearwater are wrapped up for the season. Time to let them spawn. We will begin reports for steelies late summer as they trickle back into the Columbia system. We will periodically have some smallmouth reports from this region when we get them.

Current Flows

Grande Ronde River at Troy - 3180 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Troy

Snake River at Anatone - 41500 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Anatone

Clearwater River at Spalding - 25800 ft³/sec
Prediction Flow - Spalding