NF CDA - North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene / St. Joe River, Idaho

Hatches

BWOs
Midges
Maybe a few Mahogany Duns and October Caddis still

The Fishing

Looks like we’ll be hanging on to this current weather trend for the foreseeable future on the NF Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe Rivers. Cloudy, misty and cool are great conditions for the mayfly hatches, specifically the BWOs. Mahoganies are pretty much done, same with October Caddis. Midges are around and will play a role in a trout’s diet all winter long, just expect to fish the tiniest flies in your box if you happen across fish feeding on them. I feel this should be obvious, but there is no point in being on these rivers early in the morning this time of year. Afternoons will fish best as things warm up and fish are more actively feeding. Nymph rigs will be productive when fish aren’t up on top, think smaller baetis style nymphs like perdigons or pheasant tails trailed off a larger stonefly nymph or worm pattern. Streamer fishing will be worthwhile; I’d be creeping them along pretty slowly especially in the colder hours. Flows are still low so getting around is easy, plan on fishing the more obvious pools and holes as fish begin to settle in for the winter months.

NF CDA River Note: We received a message from our friend that there are downed trees from beavers that stretch the entire river if you are floating below Steamboat Pond. You can portage over it.

Current Flows NFCDA

Prichard = 75 ft³/sec

Cataldo = 304 ft³/sec

Flow Graph at Prichard
Flow Graph at Cataldo

Current Flows St Joe

Red Ives = 49 ft³/sec

Calder = 360 ft³/sec

Flow Graph at Red Ives
Flow Graph at Calder

Spokane River, Washington

Hatches

BWOs
Midges
Maybe some fall caddis out on warmer days

The Fishing

The Spokane is our go-to trout river this time of year and going into the Winter months. Perfect for a few hours during the primetime fishing window and you’re back home within a few minutes. The BWO hatch is the main focus lately, late morning onwards there will be good opportunities to find some fish up feeding on the surface. Bring your A-game and light tippet, these fish get picky! Nymphing will be the most reliable tactic to get into a few fish. A stonefly/attractor nymph combo is gonna be hard to beat, I’d be throwing some hot spot/hot bead versions as well going forward. Streamer fishing with sculpins, zirdle bugs, or crayfish color patterns are also worth trying.

Current Flow

2030 ft³/sec

Flow Graph at Spokane River - Post Falls
Flow Graph at Spokane River - Below Falls

Miscellaneous

The Fishing

The Spokane is our go-to trout river this time of year and going into the Winter months. Perfect for a few hours during the primetime fishing window and you’re back home within a few minutes. The BWO hatch is the main focus lately, late morning onwards there will be good opportunities to find some fish up feeding on the surface. Bring your A-game and light tippet, these fish get picky! Nymphing will be the most reliable tactic to get into a few fish. A stonefly/attractor nymph combo is gonna be hard to beat, I’d be throwing some hot spot/hot bead versions as well going forward. Streamer fishing with sculpins, zirdle bugs, or crayfish color patterns are also worth trying.

Steelhead Rivers

The Fishing

The Grande Ronde and Snake rivers are both good options if you’re looking to head down this way. Water temps are chilly on the Ronde, so plan on some dredging tactics. Sink tips and larger profile flies are the go-to this time of year, but its steelhead fishing so if you wanna leave that scandi on there and keep working on your snake roll have at it, the odds are never zero. The Snake stays significantly warmer and is high on my list in November for the swung fly. Generally not as crowded here too, at least from the fly anglers. Haven’t heard much from the Clearwater recently, but the same approach should be taken. The lower river is better for your lighter flies and scandi lines, heading up towards Orofino I’d be leaning towards the sink tip program.

Current Flows

Grande Ronde River at Troy - 736 ft³/sec

Snake River at Anatone - 13,700 ft³/sec

Clearwater River at Spalding - 3340 ft³/sec

Flow Graph at Grande Ronde River - Troy
Flow Graph at Snake River - Anatone
Flow Graph at Clearwater River - Spalding