Alan Liere

Fly fishing The Upper Spokane River has some good trout fishing, but anglers are also catching a lot of smallmouth bass, some of decent size. Large flies on a sink tip will bring strikes. The upper Spokane River from State Line to Upriver Dam is a selective catch-and-release stretch for all species.

Fly fishing Nymphing in the lower Yakima River canyon has been good to great lately. Pat’s Stones, Lightning Bugs, King Princes and caddis pupa patterns have been the ticket. Big summer stone dry fishing has been fair to good. The best hatch is still a week away.

Fly fishing The Coeur d’Alene River is the bright spot in the region for fly fishermen. The lower end is floatable and wade fishing is possible from Shoshone Creek up.

Fly fishing The consensus among fly shop owners in Montana is that the most popular rivers are going to have more water flow all summer than most fly fishermen are used to. Fishing will be good ... but different.

Fly fishing Grimes Lake has been hot for Lahontan Cutthroat trout up to 25 inches. Chironomids and pheasant tail nymphs are working well. 

Fly fishing The first fishing reports from the St. Joe came in this week. The river is still high, but nymphs are taking a few small trout between Avery and Calder.

Fly fishing The Coeur d’Alene River is high but fishable. Golden stone adult patterns are turning Yakima River fish in the afternoons, and nymphing is also accounting for good fishing.

Fly fishing The Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe rivers, though high, are relatively clean, and fly fishermen have had some good days from shore. The St. Regis River is greening up some, too. Fishing is a possibility, but the river is still high and fast.

Fly fishing Amber Lake trout are lying close to the bottom in 25 feet of water. Try throwing a Wooly Leech on a sinking line. Amber rainbow are running mostly 16-20 inches.

Fly fishing The St. Regis has dropped into the marginally fishy zone at 1,400 cfs. That’s still high but should make it fishable through the weekend before blowing out again.

Fly fishing Fly fishermen are finding their action on the lakes. The area’s only fishable stream is Crab Creek, but the public-access water is getting hammered.

Fly fishing For at least a week, area fly fishermen must concentrate on the lowland lakes. Area trout rivers, including the Yakima, are blown out. Crab Creek maybe?

Fly fishing The Clark Fork River was at 17,700 cfs on Wednesday and rising steadily. Other possible river destinations for fly fishermen in Washington, Idaho and Montana are likewise high and unfishable, with the possible exception of the Yakima. Better to find a lake such as Amber or West Medical where you can find big rainbow, 13- to 20-inch brookies or fan for a trout/spiny ray mix.

Fly fishing The Bitterroot River in Montana is one of the few fishable rivers right now. It has been very good. The Clark Fork could be blown out by the weekend.

Fly fishing Medical Lake has been very good for brown trout and fair for tiger trout. Fly fishermen throwing bloodworm patterns are doing well. After the deluge this week, area rivers are once again high and dirty.

Fly fishing Pat Way at Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d’Alene says there has been a lot of insect activity on the Coeur d’Alene and the St. Joe rivers, and cool evening temperatures are keeping flows low enough to be fishable. Streamer fishing tight to the bank is effective. He added that wading will be tricky for a few days and this is no time for beginning rowers to be floating the rivers. The Clark Fork in western Montana should be fishable this weekend, but fluctuation in flows is a given this time of year. The Yakima River is still high, but catching has been decent.

Fly fishing The Clark Fork near St. Maries was running at 8,240 cfs at midweek and on a steady decline. Fishing was reported to be good but not great. The 10-day forecast is for cooler temperatures, which should keep the water dropping. Closer to Missoula, fishing has been good on Rock Creek and the Bitterroot. Water continues to drop with temperatures slowly climbing. March Browns have been out along with Baetis in the afternoon.

Fly fishing Brooks Sanford at Clark Fork Trout and Tackle in St. Regis, Mont., said anyone who calls (406) 649-2538 before Saturday can book a guided fly-fishing trip for any dates during the 2011 season and receive a $75 discount. New snow fell in the area this week, but the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Rock Creek are dropping and the Clark Fork may be OK by the weekend.

Fly fishing High water is coming eventually, but for now, the Clark Fork is fishable. Reports have been variable with some reporting dry fly success in the afternoon and others resorting to nymphing and doing well. The Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Rock Creek are also fishable. Nymphing is the name of the game.

Fly fishing Dusty and Burke lakes in Grant County are providing fair fly fishing for 14- to 18-inch rainbows. Chironomid patterns along the shorelines are working under a strike indicator.

Fly fishing There has been a significant amount of Skwala stonefly nymph activity throughout the day on the Yakima River.  Most success has been using a dropper system with a Skwala stone as the lead fly and a San Juan worm or beadhead as the dropper fly.  The river has been flowing at a good level for wading or floating.  Cool temperatures are predicted for the week, setting the stage for a slow snow melt and good river conditions.

Fly fishing Lenice Lake cutthroat have been active. Fly casters tossing green or black chironomids are finding action on the north side in 8 feet of water. Fish, including a few tiger trout, are mostly running 14-20 inches.

Fly fishing A few fly fishermen are targeting the large Omak Lake Lahontan cutthroat feeding near shore on the north end. Casting black streamers to pods of cruising fish has been effective. As the water warms, the lake should really take off.

Fly fishing This is perfect weather for Rocky Ford near Moses Lake. Fill your vest with scuds, chironomids, leeches and hand warmers and give the big rainbow a go.