Fishing first-rate on Cd'A River

Pat Way, a fly-fishing guide at Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene, took a trip down the Coeur d'Alene River over Fourth of July weekend.

Not surprisingly, it was a little crowded up that way, but the weather was beautiful and the fishing was first-rate.

"We actually ended up floating the lower river," Way said.

His outfit launched at Enaville and traveled down to Cataldo, hunting for cutthroats and rainbows. The fish were hitting streamers, Chernobyl ants and rubber-legs, Way recalled.

On the upper river, too, above Shoshone Creek, anglers can locate some productive spots.

"I think with the crowds subsiding, the wading is totally doable now," Way said.

He suggests downsizing tippets and flies on the upper Coeur d'Alene, where the water is clearer. And if one fly isn't working, throw something different.

"Really think about running some nymphs and streamers through some of the deeper pockets up there," Way said. "It's a good thing to stop, take a break and try giving 'em a different offering. Change flies, change size, change technique."

Right now, the Coeur d'Alene River is about the only game in town. The St. Joe is still roaring, even on its highest tributaries. Good kayak water, maybe, but no good for fishermen.

Near the headwaters of the Joe, the current was moving along at 1,700 cfs, Way reported. That's comparable to the lower Coeur d'Alene, where the water registered 1,800 cfs.

"Hopefully just a couple weeks out (for the Joe)," Way said. "Still an awful lot of water on that drainage."

Warm-water fisherman can still hook a few smallmouth on Hayden Lake. In this warm weather, fly-casters should toss a ruby-eye leech under an indicator.

Cast near docks or shallow structure.

"We've got a window for a while now," Way said.

A great time to be on the water

After a rough spring, it's a great time to be fishing on area lakes and streams, said Blake Becker of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

"Everything in the bass and crappie world are doing well," Becker said. "I'm looking for structure - wood docks, tree laydowns, submerged grass... Those are things the fish are keying in around."

Becker said various plastics are working well.

"From lizards to tubes, you name it," he said.

Northern pike and crappie are aggressive as they're fresh out of spawn.

"Largemouth bass are hit or miss on spawning, but they're getting there," Becker said.

Becker said he expects conditions on Lake Coeur d'Alene to improve when the Post Falls Dam is shut for the summer season.

"The current on the north side is really ripping," he said on Tuesday. "The south side isn't as bad because it's had more of a chance to warm up."

Becker said he has heard that river fishing is also good.

"Guys are going up past Bumble Bee (on the Coeur d'Alene River)," he said.

Elk hair caddis is popular with fly fishermen.