fly fishing the Spokane River Archives - Out There Venture https://outthereventure.com/tag/fly-fishing-the-spokane-river/ Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:37:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://outthereoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-OTO_new-favicon-32x32.jpg fly fishing the Spokane River Archives - Out There Venture https://outthereventure.com/tag/fly-fishing-the-spokane-river/ 32 32 Know What Fish Species can Be Found In Local Lakes and Rivers https://outthereventure.com/fish-in-lakes-and-rivers-near-inland-nw-cities/ https://outthereventure.com/fish-in-lakes-and-rivers-near-inland-nw-cities/#respond Sat, 05 Jun 2021 20:33:12 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=47291 Which fish species to expect to find at Lake Spokane and the Spokane River, and—in North Idaho—at Fernan, Cocolalla, Round, and Shepherd Lakes.

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]]> There are lots of different species of fish to be found in waterways close to major Inland Northwest cities, including Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint. Here is what you can expect to catch on your rod.

Spokane

Expect to find lots of rainbow trout when fishing the turnouts downstream of Tumtum, as well as smallmouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) also encourages northern pike harvest. In Lake Spokane (aka Long Lake), year-round statewide rules apply.

Because of contaminants and to protect redband trout, the Spokane River from Nine Mile Dam to Idaho is now one section with one set of regulations. There are selective gear rules, no bait, barbless hooks, and you can keep two hatchery rainbow trout per day; everything else is catch and release.

Washington and Idaho’s Department of Health recommend checking fish advisories. In some areas it may mean limiting certain types of fish eaten or not eating fish at all.

Man holding a redband trout with two hands, one hand under the belly and another at the tail.
Catching (to release) a prized redband trout. // Photo: Sean Visintainer, Silver Bow Fly Shop.

Coeur d’Alene

Fernan Lake, near Coeur d’Alene, is open for fishing all year. You can find bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass (in shallow, warm water April-May, moving out to deeper water in summer), catfish, yellow perch, rainbow and brook trout, and white crappie.

Sandpoint

Look for largemouth bass, catfish, white crappie, yellow perch as well as rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and brown trout at Cocolalla Lake. Round Lake has bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, bullhead catfish, largemouth bass, brook and rainbow trout. Unique to Shepherd Lake is tiger muskie, but you’ll also find largemouth bass, bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, and yellow perch.

For all three lakes there are bag limits and restrictions for certain species.

Originally published as “Fish Found Near Your Front Door” in the May-June 2021 issue as a sidebar for “Fishing Close to Home” feature story.

Man holding Black Crappie fish and smiling at the camera.
Black Crappie caught at Lake Spokane. // Photo: Randy Osborne

[Feature photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – rainbow trout.]

Read more fishing stories in the OTO archives.

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]]> https://outthereventure.com/fish-in-lakes-and-rivers-near-inland-nw-cities/feed/ 0 Fly Fishing & Catching Your First Redband Trout https://outthereventure.com/fly-fishing-catching-your-first-redband-trout/ https://outthereventure.com/fly-fishing-catching-your-first-redband-trout/#respond Tue, 18 May 2021 20:34:19 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=47051 Advice on how to fly fish on the Spokane River from Spokane Tribe Fish Biologist Conor Giorgi and Silver Bow Fly Shop Owner Sean Visintainer

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]]> Contrary to some popular beliefs, it doesn’t take a whole lot of money or skill to get into fly fishing. I, for one, know next to nothing but go with a few obsessed friends.

Conor Giorgi, fish biologist with the Spokane Tribe, suggests a 5-weight rod with a soft hackle caddis fly attached. Sean Visintainer, owner of Silver Bow Fly Shop, says most trout are caught subsurface on nymphs and streamers.

Not sure what all that means? Stop by your local fly-fishing shop or join a club or fishing group to get started.

Remember the Spokane and many surrounding rivers are catch and release and the Spokane season runs from May 29 to March 15, with the spring closure intended to protect the trout during spawning season.

Visit the OTO archives for more fly fishing stories.

[Feature photo: Catching a prized redband trout. // Photo: Sean Visintainer, Silver Bow Fly Shop.]

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