need a little help...taking all of next week and fishing the easternmost side of WA and the panhandle of ID. Any good suggestions? How is the Grande Rhonde (sp) or Kelly Creek, the St. Joe? I have heard that Waitts lk and Loon lk are pretty hot. Also, how is Preist lk and river?? Any help would be rewarded w/ high praise and admiration!!!???

wit45cal
I hope you don't have your heart set on fishing the great cutthroat streams you mentioned. Most of the rivers over here are still really high and unfishable. I went up the Marble Creek last week, a trib. to the St. Joe and it's really rolling. Looks like it would be better for whitewater rafting than fishing. I'm sure Kelly Creek and most of the others will be the same for at least the next week or two, but the flows are finally starting to go down. Most area lakes still have some fish in them but most of the trout lakes are the silly little put and take fisheries that are really good for a couple weeks then get fished out. For more accurate info on the Spokane area lakes take a look at the friday edition of the Spokane "Spokesman Review" they alway have an area fishing report that will include Loon lk. and most of the others close to Spokane. If you want to head to the South east the Rhonde is probably still too high for good fishing but you may be surprised with the Tucannon river. It's small and access can be a problem but I know a few guys that have done well on decent rainbows on the lower part on that river. Other places, well try Rock lake or maybe sprague lake if you have a boat and the CoureD'alene river may be in shape by then who knows. Sure wish I had a week to take off and go fishing! Hope this helps out, Good Luck!

Duke

I have to second what is said above. The GR is a little high still for trout (though not unfishable). The Tucannon and the Touchet (runs through Dayton WA) can have excellent trout opportunities. The Tucannon has a fair number of rainbows around 8-15". Just about any gear works, match the hatch (caddis and may patterns work well) or small stream trout terminal gear. The Tuchet river has rainbows planted every year, and has browns from a plant a few years ago as well. Some of the browns will push 28". Use zonker strip leaches in black or brown or use small crayfish plugs if using spinning gear (for browns...for the rainbows see the comments for the Tucannon). Most of the access on the Tuchet is from Dayton to Waitsburgh. You'll have to guess on the plug color and the exact holes...I cant' tell you everything