Fishing Reports

 The fishing has been great on the Missouri so far this spring, and things are looking even better as we head toward Summer.  Midges and baetis are the 'main' hatches floating around.  March Browns are popping up as well, and caddis are moving up the river- more caddis are around the lower you are on the river.  

Nymphing: River Snake, Tungsten Sunkist, Gold or Pear Lightning Bugs, Purple Holo Prince, Batman, Little Green Machine, Micro Mayfly

Dries: Keller's Rocky Mountain Mint, Parachute Purple Rooster, Black Pulsating Emerger, Dom's Reneball, Galloup's Biot Cripple BWO, CDC Para Spinner, Quigley's Hackle Stacker BWO

Streamers: Abram's Lil Kim, Galloup's Boogie Man, Coffee's Sparkle Minnow, Skiddish Smolt, JJ Special

The forecast for this week is looking great for fishing... just be sure to bring your rain jacket.  The  forecast calls for clouds or thunderstorms every day.  Great for fishing, great for keeping the crowds at home, and a little rain wouldn't hurt around here anyway.  

The Missouri has been fishing great the last few days.  "Woohoo" shouts came from around the river as it seemed like every boat and wader was hooked up on a fish.  A couple of brief showers brought some baetis out and turned some heads up.  

Under the surface smaller baetis nymphs are producing well: Green Machine, Micro Mayfly, Tailwater Tiny, as well as some purple prince nymphs.  You can try a pink firebead sowbug if you find a lull in the action.  Up top: Quigley's Film Critic, Split Flag BWO, baetis spinners, Flick's March Brown, Keller's Rocky Mtn Adams.  It won't hurt to try some caddis patterns as they are showing up in small numbers.

This week is looking very nice.  Windy, but nice.  If you can find a spot with some shelter from the wind, a chance of PM storm should trigger some dry fly action.  Don't forget your buff and sunscreen... it's about that time.

Your Cinco de Mayo fishing report!

Fishing has been excellent on The River the last few days.  With overcast skies and calm(er) winds, baetis and March Browns have been the hatches to fish on the water.  Reports of fish gulping foamy seams for mouthfuls of baetis on the surface have had folks tossing the dry flies.   BWO hatch matcher and biot comparadun blue wing flies have been working great up top, Galloup’s biot cripple is a great fly to fish just below the surface, and when the fish are really hitting the surface during a baetis hatch they’re probably going after march browns and Flick’s March Brown is working great during the brown hatch. 

Nymphing has also been outstanding.  Fishing a firebead sow/rays/Czech whatever with a midge or baetis beadhead underneath has been a great combo.  Zebra midges are still a go-to fly while a micro mayfly, little green machine, and tailwater tiny are great droppers for baetis.

Steamer fishing has been picking up as well.  Water temps are around 45F and the fish are becoming more aggressive.  If your streamer is not producing, try either changing the color or the fly every 10 mins or so.  With the water warming up don’t be afraid to get more aggressive with the retrieve.

The weather forecast is looking absolutely beautiful for this week.  70’s for the first part of the week and maybe some precip later this week.  Go fishing.

Fishing on Lake Pend Oreille has been consistent the last few weeks.  The water temp is 42 and rising with the warm days we have had.  There are lots of weeds on the surface in the West arm so be sure to either run swivels (leaving tag ends on your knots) or shorter lines and check them often.  Hard baits have been putting out the most fish.  The LPOIC Spring Derby is underway with a lot of entries, so you will definitely have lots of competition out there.  Winds of 9-16mph gusting to 24mph will make some big water out on the big lake. Tomorrow is more of the same with slightly higher wind speeds.  Be safe and respect your fellow fishermen and the fish that we have in this lake.

After a few inches of overnight snow, it'll be a chilly day on the water today, but those who brave the weather will be treated to some pretty darn good fishing.  On the calm days, blankets of baetis have been in and on the river.  In fact, at times the river will be littered with baetis parts of bugs that didn't quite develop to the full adult stage.  Fishing durring these times requires a pretty methodical approach since there is so much food source in the water.  
Streamer fishing has been pretty good as well, tossing some big junk has produced some big browns.
Tomorrow's forcast is on the chilly side- high of 37F- but light winds.  
When you head out, make sure you have baetis, skwallas, and march browns.  They might not all be flying around, but you sure don't want to be caught out there empty handed on a killer hatch.

Holter lake is fishing great right now.  The ice-off rainbows are cruising near the shore in search of food.  Fred's Spring Breaker Leech was a big success.  Since it is often windy at the lake, use that wind towards your advantage... meaning the wind will create underwater currents, pushing and depositing that food around the calm areas.  This is where the fish will be holding.  Try using red, orange, or chartreuse colored bead heads.