Fish Tips

Fall will be here before we know it, but fly fishing is still hitting.

“It’s definitely been slowing down with the hot spells, but this cool spell should help it pick up,” said Bryan Gregg at Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Riverstone.

“The Coeur d’Alene River has been solid in the mornings and slower around midday,” he said. “The St. Joe River typically does better in the heat because it has higher canyons and higher peaks, which help keep the water cooler.”

Water levels are about average for a typical August flow, though temperatures are still getting a little warm around midday.

Gregg said good flies right now are caddis patterns in the evenings; terrestrials like hoppers, ants, beetles and bees during the day; and PMDs in the mornings.

“Lots of guys are looking forward to September for its longer, cooler nights,” he said. He also mentioned that the anticipated October caddis is already starting to show up.

Although still a bit early in the season, steelhead have been arriving in small numbers. Gregg said they’re beginning to hit on the lower Clearwater the first couple miles before it merges with the Snake. It’s still too soon to say what flies are doing well, but he said some anglers are just throwing traditional steelhead flies in the early mornings.

Meanwhile, on the lakes, Jordan Smith of Fins and Feathers in Coeur d’Alene, noted the past week’s weather has been quite wild and has been throwing some of the fish for a spin as well.

“The fish are not sure what is going on. The salmon on the south end of Coeur d’Alene have been tougher than usual,” Smith said. “We are starting to see a few more show up down between east point and Harrison. There will be more and more show up over the next couple weeks so if you want a chance at one of those big spawner’s you better head down there pretty soon.”

Big flashers and big squids, big flashers and flies, and the herring with the helmets have been the go-to baits over the past few weeks, Smith said. Ideal depths have been 40-80 feet.

Kokanee fishing has been strong. The fish are small, but there are tons out there, Smith said. Standard kokanee gear Jack loyd and a wedding ring should get the job done. Depths of 35 and 50 feet around Arrow Point and Hudson Point have been productive areas on the north end of the lake.

The pike fishing on Coeur d’Alene and the Chain Lakes continues to be awesome, Smith said. The weather has not seemed to bother the pike at all. Spinner baits, spoons and swimbaits are still the go-tos for the pike which have been seen in 6-14 feet of water over the past week.

Lake Pend Oreille has been fishing great for the kokanee salmon, Smith said. The kokanee have been 30-40 feet deep and anglers are starting to use some dodgers and mini-squids tipping it with maggots or corn. The smallmouth bass have been pretty active out there as well most of the bass have been in 15-35 feet of water using tube jigs or a dropshot rig, a few crank-baits can be used to catch some of the suspended fish as well.

Quite a few of the smaller lakes are starting to get pretty warm and that causes the fish to go deeper and get a little bit more lethargic. Although with all the rain and cooler weather we have had it will change these smaller lake quite a bit and should turn them back on for awhile. If you are looking for bass, the wacky rigged worms is one of your best choices this time of year. It presents a slower action for these fish and entices them just a little bit more. Round Lake up north, Kelso and Granite Lake have been good for trout. The typical bait for the trout is a worm and a marshmallow or your standard power-bait.