CX3 DIY FISHING GUIDE

The Spokane River is a tailwater that drains the northern part of Lake Coeur d’Alene in the Idaho panhandle. It travels 111 miles through Post Falls, Spokane Valley, downtown Spokane creating the Spokane Falls, and further westward where it joins the Columbia River at Lake Roosevelt. The primary target species for the fly angler is the Redband Trout, a subspecies of Rainbow Trout native to Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

• Centennial Trail Barker Trailhead
• Sullivan Park
• Redband Park – Access at the boat slide and downstream of the Maple Street Bridge along the residential street
• People’s Park (Sandifur Bridge)
• Riverside State Park– Bowl and Pitcher Area

• Rod: 4-6wt for nymphs, dries, and small streamers
• Flies – Stoneflies, caddis, stimulators, attractor nymphs, sculpin, sparkle minnows
• Methods – tandem nymph rigs, dry droppers, and swinging or stripping streamers
• BRING A WADING STAFF – the Spokane River is slippery and difficult to wade

Silver Bow Fly Shop

North 40 Outfitters

Swedes Fly Shop

Silver Bow Fly Shop – (509) 924-9998

Fly Fish Spokane – (509) 655-0865

The Spokane River requires a Washington fishing license.

The St. Joe River is a freestone stream that begins in the Northern Bitterroot Range and travels 140 miles before reaching Coeur d’Alene Lake. “The Joe” is a blue ribbon trout stream with great access to miles of cold, clean, and beautiful habitat full of native Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Well worth the drive from Spokane, the St. Joe is a gem of a western freestone stream.

• Avery, ID is a perfect jumping off point and is a 2 ½ hour drive from downtown Spokane
• Follow the North Fork of the St. Joe River from the town of Avery to the Spruce Tree Campground in the St. Joe National Forest. TroutRoutes has several marked access points.
• For the more adventurous angler, there are 26 more miles of river above Spruce Tree that provide fantastic fishing opportunities.

• Your favorite rod for throwing big dry flies
• Flies: stimulators, terrestrials, hoppers, small mayfly or midge emergers, keep an eye out for October Caddis!
• Methods: dries, dry dropper, swinging or stripping streamers

Idaho Fly Fishing Company

Silver Bow Fly Shop

North 40 Outfitters

The St. Joe requires an Idaho fishing license.

The North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene river is a freestone stream that originates in the Bitterroot Mountains and travels south for 77 miles before joining the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene in the Silver Valley and eventually emptying into Lake Coeur d’Alene. A classic western freestone stream, the NF CDA provides great opportunities to target native Westslope Cutthroat trout in the beautiful northern Idaho mountains.

• The Coeur d’Alene river road is accessed via the Kingston exit off of I-90 and is roughly 1 hour east of downtown Spokane
• Coeur d’Alene River Road mile marker 7 – multiple riffles and runs around the island
• Campgrounds above Prichard, ID
  • Sissons
  • Kit Price
  • Devil’s Elbow
• View the Coeur d’Alene River in TroutRoutes to see more dedicated fishing access points!

• 4-6 wt trout set-up for nymphing or dry flies
• Flies – Stoneflies, caddis, stimulators, terrestrials, keep an eye out for October caddis!
• Methods – dries, dry droppers, and swinging or stripping streamers

Northwest Outfitters (we call this Orvis Northwest Outfitters)

Castaway Fly Shop

North 40 Outfitters – Coeur d’Alene 

Silver Bow Fly Shop

The North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene requires an Idaho fishing license. 

The Snake River is everything you think of when you envision a high-desert summer steelhead river. Originating in Yellowstone National Park, the Snake flows through Hell’s Canyon – North America’s deepest river gorge – and down through eastern Washington to its confluence with the Columbia. Anglers searching for Steelhead focus on the 23 or so miles of water between Rogersburg and Asotin, WA. “A-run” steelhead are the primary quarry, as the Snake doesn’t have nearly as many of the big “B-run” fish as the Clearwater. That said, a few of those giants are caught every season. The Snake is wild and beautiful country, with plenty of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled and you might see bighorn sheep on the hillsides above the river. There are also some interesting anthropological sights along the river – check out the petroglyphs at Buffalo Eddy.

• Asotin Boat Ramp: Located on Wilson St at the East end of the town of Asotin
• Couse Creek Boat Ramp: located at the intersection of the Snake River Road and the Couse Creek Rd
• Buffalo Eddy Parking & Access Site: located on the Snake River Rd 14.8 miles south of Asotin
• Rendezvous Boat Ramp: located on the Snake River Rd 15.6 miles south of Asotin
• Lyon’s Ferry /Hatchery access: located on the Snake River Rd 17.6 miles south of Asotin
• Heller Bar Boat Ramp: located on the Snake River Rd 22.5 miles south of Asotin
• Rogersburg Rd: at the Grande Ronde confluence, there are a few access points at the end of Rogersburg Rd, as well as on Joseph Creek Rd, as you continue upstream. Find them here on TroutRoutes

• Typical Steelhead setup: Spey rods 12’6” and larger (16’ rods are not uncommon), 6-8 wt. Single-handed rods should be 8-wt or larger, a 9’6” or 10’ rod is ideal.
• Shooting Heads: Dry-line fishing is the norm. A Scandi or long-belly spey line is typical, but there’s no reason a Skagit head won’t get your fly to where it needs to be.
• Tips/Leaders: A standard monofilament leader or a floating or slow-sinking polyleader with 12-15 lb tippet. If fishing a Skagit head and a sink-tip, 10’ of T-8 is as heavy as you need.
• Flies – Green Butt Skunks, Undertaker, Freight Train, WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IN! Orange and red are popular colors.
• Methods – Swing the fly! While the Snake is a very large river, the fish will be close to the banks. Don’t be intimidated by the size of the river.
• BRING A WADING STAFF AND CLEATED BOOTS – the Snake River is slippery and difficult to wade.

Red Shed Fly Shop

North 40 Fly Shop – Lewiston

Silver Bow Fly Shop

Silver Bow Fly Shop – (509) 924-9998

Tracy Allen – 406-438-1138

A list of “Guides We Know & Like” from the Red Shed

Fishing for steelhead on the Snake River requires a Washington fishing license and a catch record card. You will also need either a Discover Pass or a Vehicle Access Pass (free with annual license purchase) to access the WDFW-managed lands along the Snake River road.

The Clearwater River is one of the most famous summer steelhead rivers in the United States. While the smaller “A-Run” steelhead are more numerous, this river is particularly renowned for the massive “B-Run” fish that can reach 40” in length and surpass 20 pounds. The Steelhead in the Clearwater are well known to move a great distance to grab the fly, so fishing sink tips is usually not necessary. Dry-line fishing with wet flies is the norm, and many fish are caught every year on skated flies.

Access to the Clearwater is ample along US Highway 12, which closely follows the Clearwater’s entire 75 miles from Lewiston to Kooskia. As you drive the road you’ll encounter numerous pull-offs, fishing access sites, and other places to park and access the river. Know exactly what is public/private with the TroutRoutes app.

• Lewiston, ID is a great jumping off point
• The Red Shed Fly Shop in Peck, ID, is your go to for all things related to swinging for steelhead. Be sure to read this article from the Red Shed’s Poppy Cummins for the last word on targeting steelhead on the Clearwater.

• Typical Steelhead setup: Spey rods 12’6” and larger (16’ rods are not uncommon), 7-9-wt. Single-handed rods should be 8-wt or larger, a 9’6” or 10’ rod is ideal.
• Shooting Heads: Dry-line fishing is what the Clearwater is all about! A Scandi or long-belly spey line is typical, but there’s no reason a Skagit head won’t get your fly to where it needs to be.
• Tips/Leaders: A standard monofilament leader or a floating or slow-sinking polyleader with 12-15 lb tippet.
• Flies – Green Butt Skunks, Undertaker, Freight Train, WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IN!
• Methods – Swing the fly!
• BRING A WADING STAFF AND CLEATED BOOTS – the Clearwater River is slippery and difficult to wade.

Red Shed Fly Shop

Silver Bow Fly Shop

Swedes Fly Shop

Fishing for steelhead on the Clearwater River requires a Idaho fishing license and salmon/steelhead permit.