Spokane River – 1,330 CFS

Flows are staying steady and the weather continues to be perfect for fall fishing. The 10-day forecast for our area looks like we can expect more of the same!

Insect hatches remain strong with caddis, mayflies, and craneflies hatching from late morning into the evening. Most of the surface feeding activity will be found in deeper glassy runs and backeddies. 5X tippet and delicate presentations are your friends when the fish are feeding in slack water. They have plenty of time to inspect and reject your offering, so make it count. BWO patterns we love to fish this time of year include 401K Baetis, Hackle Stackers, and Timmy Emergers.

Nymphing during the early part of the day before the hatches get started will definitely get you some fish. I like to run a heavy stonefly or October caddis as my main fly and Lightning Bugs, Pheasant Tails, and Perdigons as a dropper.

Streamer fishing hasn’t really been popping off for most people yet, but give it a couple weeks. Once the bug activity dies down the streamer fishing will pick up.

Stillwater Trout

Water temps are coming down, finally, and we should see more trout cruising along the shoreline and weedbeds looking for an easy meal. Chironomids, balanced leeches and blobs either dangled in deep water or under an indicator are always a safe bet. Streamers and buggers will also draw strikes from fish, especially brown and brook trout that are starting to get into spawn mode.

If you only have a few hours to fish, Amber and Clear Lake are a short drive from downtown Spokane and have been fishing well this year. If you live on the north side of town, Waitts or Jumpoff Joe Lake have some healthy browns and rainbows waiting to eat your flies!   

For those looking to venture beyond Spokane or Stevens County, the lakes in Central Washington should be fishing excellent now. Dry Falls, Dusty, and Quail Lake are a few that come to mind and are an easy day trip from Spokane.

Steelhead

Well, there are some fish being caught by folks heading south. The folks that aren’t heading south? Definitely not catching anything. Don’t think about it, just go!

For the latest updates on conditions check out our Lewiston shop’s report here.

Wayne Jordan

West Spokane House of Fly