Spokane River - 696 CFS

Cooler conditions have finally settled into the region, signaling the start of fall fishing! October Caddis pupa will start their migration towards the shoreline as the hatch nears. BWOs are also not far behind. Inevitably there will be some warms spells in September so don’t put away those terrestrial and attractor boxes just yet. Slim profile nymphs, like Perdigons and classic Flashback Pheasant Tails, will do the subsurface work.

Access to the Spokane River below TJ Meenach Bridge is still limited due to the wildfire in August. The popular Bowl and Pitcher area is back open, but again, access is still very limited. You can view the current access map here.  

In the coming weeks we’ll see an uptick in flows as Lake Coeur d’Alene is drawn down to winter levels. Until then the walk and wade crowd will have full access to the river while floaters will still be scraping bottom in some areas. With the continued low flows, expect to find a majority of fish holding in the deeper runs.

Stillwater Trout

September is finally here and that means all of our local trout lakes will be cooling down soon! Fall is a magical time on Eastern Washington lakes with minimal angling pressure and aggressive trout. Lakes to the north of Spokane will be the first to cool off and provide a good opportunity for catch-and-release fishing.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has some excellent online resources for those looking to get out and discover new lakes. The first thing you’ll want to get is the Fish Washington mobile app. I use this app for checking the regulations on all bodies of water in Washington, especially lakes because they can vary greatly.

Second, I use the Places to go fishing page on the WDFW’s website. Here you can search for lakes by county, fish species, or both. Never caught a tiger trout? You can find lakes that have them along with maps and other useful information.

Warmwater

Smallmouth fishing on the upper Spokane River has been excellent lately with a few customers catching some jumbos near the Idaho border. Stripping streamers on sink-tips will become the norm as water temps start to cool. The Pend Orielle and Columbia River also offer up some phenomenal fall smallmouth fishing. Stop by the shop and we can give you some spots to try!  

Carp fishing will be a little more challenging with the cool temperatures and rain in the forecast this coming weekend, but if we get a sunny day, it’ll be worth making the trip for one last shot at these wonderful fish. Those looking to extend their carp season should start exploring the Snake River and Columbia around the Tri-Cities as conditions will stay more conducive to carp feeding on the flats.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Free fly tying classes have kicked off at our House of Fly location in Mead and run through spring. Classes take place every Saturday at 10 a.m. (please note, no tying class on September 19).  After you’re done with fly tying class, stick around for our casting clinic starting at 2 p.m.

Steelhead season is coming up fast, so we’re offering a free Steelhead 101 class to help those who are just starting their journey chasing these magical fish! This class will take place on Saturday, September 19 at 10 a.m. at our Mead location.

Our 2026 Clearwater Spey Gathering takes place September 20 in Orofino, Idaho. Come join House of Fly and other renowned spey enthusiasts for a day of casting, angling, and tying demos. Check out new gear, get some intel on where to find Clearwater, Snake and Grande Ronde steel, and enjoy a great, complimentary lunch. Get all of the details here.

Wayne Jordan

West Spokane House of Fly