Fly Fishing

Sandpoint, ID offers unique opportunities for fly fishing within the surrounding area. With famous rivers such as The Clark Fork River, Kootenai River, Couer d’Alene River, St. Joe River, and many others all within an hour of Sandpoint, ID. Not to mention our friendly neighbor to the North, Canada. The Elk River and many others are within 2 hours of Sandpoint. For local fishing there are a variety of small streams and beautiful high mountain lakes, as well as, Lake Pend Oreille (Pon-der-a). Most of the small streams and lakes offer countless rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout. There are also some monster bull trout holding in the bottom of the deepest pools. Lake Pend Oreille offers a unique fly fishing experience for several different species including, Bass, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Perch, Walleye, and Crappie. Like all other lakes, sometimes the fish are biting, and sometimes they aren’t.

When they are biting, get ready! Best times for fishing local streams and lakes are in the spring. Bass fishing turns on as the waters of Lake Pend Oreille warm up, increasing the bass’ metabolism throughout the summer months. Fall is definitely the best time to catch trout out of Lake Pend Oreille.

Kootenai River Info

The Kootenai River is a tailwater fishery created from Libby Dam below Lake Koocanusa. With Flows from 3,000 cfs to 30,000 cfs this can be a very big and intimidating river at times. The crystal clear waters provide the perfect habitat for rainbows, bull trout, and whitefish. Recently rainbows as big as 30 lbs have been hooked and landed. However, most average 8-16 inches with 20 inch fish hooked every day.

There are an estimated 3,000 Bull Trout over 20 inches within the first two river miles of the Kootenai’s origination. These fish love to attack that largest flies that you can throw.

Clark Fork River Info

The Clark Fork River is perhaps one of the most famous fly fishing rivers in all of Montana. It originates deep inside Montana and flows Westward toward Idaho and ends up dumping into Lake Pend Oreille. The Clark Fork River has many faces throughout it’s 300 miles of life. We primarily focus on the Mid to Lower River. The part of the river that is closest to Sandpoint, ID flows out of Cabinet Gorge Dam into Lake Pend Oreille and is roughly Nine miles long. This section of the river holds Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, and various other species. Fishing can be a little inconsistent due to constant changes in flows from the dam. However, when you hit it right, it can be some of the best fly fishing anywhere around.
Once above the dam the water slows down and offers Bass and Pike fishing. Fishing can be very good throughout the summer months. Various selections of Buzz Baits, Rapalas, Crank Baits and Spinner Baits are extremely effective for these fish.

Consistent trout fishing starts once again around the town of St. Regis, MT and continues up River. Fly fishing opportunities are seemingly limitless with healthy populations of Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Brown Trout, it is easy to find fish eager to take a dry fly.

Couer d’Alene River Info

The Couer d’Alene River is perhaps one of the best Cutthroat Trout fisheries in Idaho. With eager fish in every pool the river primarly fishes well throughout the summer starting in June. The Couer d’Alene is a small intimate river in it’s upper stretches and widens out before dumping into Lake Couer d’Alene. Primarily a Cutthroat Trout fishery, fish average between 10-16 inches with some cutthroat exceeding 20 inches. These fish are very eager to take dry flies especially early in the year. Fishing is very good throughout the entire season.