Fly Fishing Coeur d’ Alene River Idaho
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Westslope Cutthroat Trout (native)
Location
Northern Idaho
Size:
Small to Medium
Nearest Towns
Spokane
Kingston
Coeur d’Alene
Season
General Idaho Season but different
in Special Regulations Areas. Be
sure to check the current regulations
and seasons.
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Idaho
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 & 12 ft., 5 or 6X, Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Superb Five or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Coeur d’ Alene River, Idaho Fishing Report – November 15, 2023 The stream is still flowing just a little above a normal level and clear. Keep in mind normal levels are low at this time of the year. There are good hatches are taking place. Check back with us. The Coeur d’ Alene River fly fishing report is update weekly.
Rate: 245 cfs
Level: 1.89 ft
Afternoon Water Temperature: 44
Clarity: mostly clear
NF COEUR D ALENE RIVER AT ENAVILLE ID
Trout Flies:
Flies:
Brown Sculpin and White Belly Sculpin and Articulated streamers, size 6/4
Black Matuka and Olive Matuka Sculpin, size 4/6
Blue-winged Olives: size 16, nymph, emergers, duns and spinners
Spotted Sedge caddis, size 14/16, larva, pupa and adults
October Caddis, size 6, pupa and adults
Midges: Blood, Cream sizes 20/22, larva, pupa and adults
Fly Fishing The North Fork Coeur d’Alene River Idaho: As compared to other Idaho cutthroat trout streams, the North Fork Coeur d’ Alene River is probably just as good of a fishery as any of them, yet it’s usually only fished by locals. Years of abuse did take its toll on the river but for the past several years, reparations have been in progress and the stream is much improved from damages down by timber cutting and mining. We have several customers who fish this river regularly and consider it among the best Idaho has to offer. Not many streams are left un-damed with native cutthroat. The river is small in its uppermost reaches and has long, shallow riffles connected by deep runs and pools. The average size cutthroat is probably 9 to 12 inches. Of course, larger ones do exist. The trout are native west slope cutthroats and there are plenty of them. The upper section of the North Fork Coeur d’ Alene River is accessible from the 15 mile long National Coeur d’ Alene Recreational Trail. The stream is small and mostly fast flowing, pocket water but the fish are plentiful. This section starts just above Tepee Creek. There are “catch-and-release” only sections located on the North Fork above Yellowdog Creek and on the Little North Fork above Laverne Creek. This includes Yellowdog Creek and all the tributaries to the streams. The Little North Fork tributary of The Coeur d’ Alene river also provides excellent fishing opportunities. The special regulations sections open July 1 for fishing and close November 30th. Access to the North Fork of The Coeur d’ Alene from road # 209 that runs along the stream. Dry fly fishing is usually excellent during most of the season. The river, especially the lower elevations, has a good population of mayflies including Blue-winged Olives, Pale Morning Duns, Yellow Quills, Pale Evening Duns, Western Green Drakes, Mahogany Duns, Tricos and a few other less important ones. There are plenty of stoneflies including Golden Stoneflies, Winter Stoneflies and Little Yellow Stoneflies. The Little Yellows are very plentiful at times. We have also found a few Skwala stoneflies. Caddisflies are also plentiful with Little Black Caddis, Spotted Sedges, Short-horned Sedges and October Caddis representing the major species. There are several others but of far less importance. Terrestrial imitations work well during the summer months. Carpenter Ants, Japanese Beetles, and grass hopper imitations are all effective. We have also found flying ants during the month of September. There are lots of sculpin and baitfish in the river and streamers are among the most effective flies. Our brown sculpin streamer has produced lots of trout from this river.