Flows – 12,700 CFS

Temp – 54

Flies

https://houseoffly.com/pat-s-rubber-legs-fly

https://houseoffly.com/josh-graffams-hustler-cdc

https://houseoffly.com/fly-project-imperial-ipt

https://houseoffly.com/loren-williams-sexy-walt-s-worm

https://houseoffly.com/patrick-kilbys-emmas-stone

https://houseoffly.com/andrew-grillos-dancin-ricky

https://houseoffly.com/rios-chubby-norm

https://houseoffly.com/parachute-adams-fly

https://houseoffly.com/parachute-adams-sparkle-purple-fly

Flows are still in great shape on the Kootenai. This week's rain has helped bring the water temps back down; the dam is able to control temps, but that wasn’t the case last week. These Kootenai rainbows really like their cold water and can get a little grumpy when things get warm. A dry/dropper setup has been working well this month, fished near the edges and banks of the river. The nymph has been getting the most love, but you will also find some action on the dry throughout the day. The deep holes haven’t been producing as good as the edges, so I would spend your time drifting along the banks. Cast it super close, as close as you can get. They hide in that rip-rap and want it right up tight to the rocks. Looking forward, the heat is expected to return, but that doesn’t mean much for the Kootenai since they can run it super cold at the dam. But it should help with the hatches we get out there, making the dry-fly fishing a little better. Be safe out there this holiday weekend if you make it out.

Lake Pend Oreille

Temps – 60-68

Flies -

https://houseoffly.com/rios-precious-metal-kreelex-coppy-4

https://houseoffly.com/patrick-kilbys-shimmy-frog-green-3-0

https://houseoffly.com/brita-fordices-just-keep-swimming

https://houseoffly.com/chocklett-factory-chockletts-finesse-changer

https://houseoffly.com/ol-mr-wiggly-asb

https://houseoffly.com/tullis-wiggle-craw

https://houseoffly.com/larry-dahlbergs-skipper-frog-green-1-0

The big lake is still fishing good, and we are still seeing a good amount of Hexagenia’s hatching in the evening and into the night; the smallies will key in on those big bugs and that can make for some fun dry-fly fishing. Fishing a Bugger pattern subsurface imitates the nymph of these bugs pretty good so give that a try. Topwater flies like frogs and poppers have been working good near structures, such as weeds and docks. Midday minnow patterns subsurface have also been working well. I expect there to be quite a bit of powerboat traffic out there this weekend for the Fourth, so getting out early will provide the best opportunity, all before the craziness cracks off. A water temps continue to rise these smallmouth will start to spend more time deeper during the day, so to the fly angler the best time to find these bigger fish is early in the morning when they come up to feed shallow before retreating deeper for the day. The shallows are filled with the JV squad of smallies during the midday heat. The few largemouth out there still stay shallow during the summer heat but they will be found under the lily pads and docks ready to ambush.

Small Lakes

Temps – 68-75

Flies -

https://houseoffly.com/phil-rowleys-pearly-damsel

https://houseoffly.com/patrick-kilbys-shear-damsel-blue-12

https://houseoffly.com/umpqua-crystal-damsel-dragon-fly-lure-blue

https://houseoffly.com/saint-maries-deer-hair-leggy-popper

https://houseoffly.com/larry-dahlbergs-skipper-frog-green-1-0

https://houseoffly.com/chocklett-game-changer-2-0-fly

https://houseoffly.com/keller-s-she-demon-bugger

The small lakes are still fishing good for warmwater fish. The weeds and lily pads are prevalent in all our lakes now, giving those fish plenty of structure to hide in and hunt around for food. I’ve been seeing lots of damsel adults and nymphs around, and the fish have keyed in on them, whether that is panfish or bass. Frog fishing has been good on the pads and weeds for bigger largemouth early in the morning as well as throughout the day. Covering water with a boat is good, as you poke around the docks and weeds to find all the right fish.