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The Spokane River is an extremely diverse stream that greatly ranges in size and
depth due to a series of dams stretching from Idaho to Lake Roosevelt. Its largest
impoundment, Long Lake, is amongst the best spiny ray lakes in the state boasting
trophy size crappie, bass, Northern Pike (state record), brown trout, and even chinook
salmon that have migrated from the land-locked population in Lake Coeur d Alene
(Idaho). Long free-flowing stretches cut from the Idaho state line all the way through
the Spokane area until Nine Mile Falls.Water ranges from extremely deep holes to a
whitewater pocket fishery. While there is a great diversity of species throughout the
river, the species of choice are rainbow and brown trout. Wild rainbows range in length
from an average of 12-13 inches, to fish well into the 20's. Browns, while much less
common that the rainbows, also grow to very respectable sizes. Chances of hooking numbers
of large fish here are good, especially from the state line to the Spokane Valley,
and also from the Monroe Street Bridge to Nine Mile Falls. Regulations vary along
the river, but as a rule most of the best stretches fall under the state's "selective
gear regulations." Fishing is usually at its best when the water is low (July through
September), although good fishing can occur at anytime except for under the most
extreme high water conditions. For the most part, the Spokane is unwadable due to
its size, but some places along the river can afford wading access. The Spokane
can be a very "specific" fishery, so those wanting expert info can call Propp's
Fly Shop at (509) 838-FISH. Spokane rainbows are fat and built like bulls, and are
amongst the highest quality fish you can ask for.
-Overview by Jeff Holmes
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June 29, 2000
Thanks to: Brian Gavin
I fished the Spokane down from Harvard Road with modest success for a couple of hours towards dark last night. With the water leval at about 5000 cfs and clear, somewhat gusty conditions, I expected to do a little better than the couple of rainbows I hooked on a bead head pheasant tail behind an X-caddis. I did have a couple of fish turn on the x-caddis also. There were a few larger fish rising intermittently, presumably taking some of the sparse emerging caddis.
June 22, 2000
Thanks to: Brian Gavin
I have fished the Spokane east of town a handful of times so far and floated once (in a pontoon boat last night), mainly in the evening. Although there are a good number of flying caddis I haven't had much success with the bigger fish on dries or nymphs as yet (woolly buggers are quite productive though). This was echoed by the half dozen other anglers I passed while floating. In fact I saw very few fish working consistently. I suppose it may a bit early as yet due to the cool spring.
June 6, 2000
Thanks to: Ron Johnson
The Spokane has dropped several feet and water clarity is improving. I decided to give it a try for the first time this season. Using a Mepps #1 Aglia I immediatly hooked 2 nice trout, 12-14 inchers. Finding areas to fish that are free from vegitation that is still water covered can be difficult. I lost two spinners in no time at all. Fishing should improve in the next few weeks as water levels drop. I have fished the Spokane for many years using spinners with great success. I am looking forward to fly fishing for the first time this year. Anybody out there with experience fly fishing the Spokane please post a report.
August 2, 1998
Thanks to: Randy Hert
The fishing was really quite well. The fish were hitting almost anything. A few hours
out fishing could produce 5-10 nice rainbow. The fishing is best early morning
from 6:00-9:00 A.M.
June 24, 1998
Thanks to: Jeff Holmes
This site needs some river reports from the eastside, so I took the "chore"
of fishing the river for a report. Conditions certainly weren't ideal, with the high
temp only reaching about 60 degrees , and the water still a little too high. None the
less I had a feeling I would at least hook a few. I decided to try my luck with weighted
natural zonkers below the Bowl and Pitcher area at Riverside State Park. I staked out a
promising hole (there are plenty to choose from) and set about casting. Almost immediately
I hooked into a fish that decided to do its best impersonation of a rocket. It quickly ran
right out of the relatively slow moving hole I was fishing and into the very healthy, deep,
main current. With only 6X tippet there was little I could do but let the fish run. I
knew it was hopeless when I saw my backing and the fish down and across river. Needless
to say I was broken off. I estimate the fish to be at least 18 inches, and maybe much
bigger judging from prodigious head shaking. I lose more fish at the Spokane during
high water than anywhere I can think of. I tied on another zonker and managed to
take a fat 14 incher out of the hole.
There weren't any real hatches going on, probably due to the incliment weather, but there
were some fish working the banks for little gnats. I tied on a #20 griffith's gnat and
began casting to the few rising fish I found. I took several small rainbows (8-10 inches),
and another 14. I think the bigger fish were holding deep, but I didn't want to press my
luck. Better weather and water conditions will provide better fishing, so I called it a day.
Nymphs usually produce well, and in hindsight I wished I'd tied on a #14 prince nymph
(usually deadly). If you're ever in the Spokane area give the river a try- whether you're a
flyfisherman or not. There are productive stretches where bait and treble hooks are allowed,
and spinfishermen can do well. If anybody else out there has a report on ANY eastside river,
send it in.
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