Northwest Fishing Reports

Does anyone have any suggestions for fishing from the shore on this river?

I would be very interested in this information as well. I love fishing the rivers and just moved to the area.

Are you looking for locations to fish from ?
I do know of a spot out near Liberty Lake if you are interested.
Take I-90 towards Idaho, take the Liberty Lake Exit. Turn Left at the light.
You will go over the Highway then through another light.
Further down and just barely past the river ( on the left side ) is a gravel turn off.
The dirt road leads to a medium sized parking area. You can fish from there, or follow the Centennial Trail downstream.
There are quite a few areas there good for fish to park, etc. (logs, rocks, small island, eddies, etc.)
I have never fished it myself - but have seen folks down there fishing before. Mostly Fly-Fishing I think.
You can fish from the parking area, you can also go upstream a bit - it is pretty clear of trees, etc.
Going further down the trail there are a few more trees, etc. to contend with, but there are spots where it is clear enough to cast from shore without getting wet feet.

Centennial Trail offer access at Sullivan Road and Liberty Lake/Otis Orchard. I have fished in the summer several times when the water level falls. Wear short and wade, when you feel cold spots you found a spring entering the river. It there is a riffle or run near by fish it. I have caught (no bull) a 22 inch bow right under the Sullivan bridge on a size 12 pheasant tail. The multiple currents and back eddy's make a drift very hard and you have to mend you line a lot. There is not a ton of fish but most evening I have managed a 2-4 fish. Most in the 12" range.

Glastron and jmay hit the nail on the head. This section has the highest trout poulation of the entire system. It fishes best in the summer when main river temps soar and the underground springs keep this area cooler. Late summer evening caddis hatches are great.Not many fish eat on the surface however so swing soft hackles and fish caddis larva and pupa. There are lots of crawdads, dead drift a brown 'dad imitation under an indicator, takes are usually pretty agressive. Do not forget to swing the 'dad at the end of the drift many fish will pound it then.

I hate answering a questions with a question but waht type of gear are you trying to use spinning or fly, and are you trying to fish the upper or lower region of the river. I think I read another post that said the upper was the best portion of river, I have been fishing the river for a few years now and from my understanding thats how it use to be but the case now is the lower region holds more fish due to the bad use of water levels which leave most of the eggs on the upper region high and dry during the spawning season. However I live 5 minutes from the upper region and thats why I fish it because its close and easy. The upper region is basicly stocked from what comes over the dam from CDA of course there are fish in there that arent from CDA dont get me wrong but I have heard from many sources that the fish come from CDA. So besides hooking into one of the brude trout it holds you can also catch some of the landlock salmon, Pike, brown trout, small mouth bass, heard of large mouth but havent caught one yet, and probly many more species. Aarron if you ever want to tag along just PM me all my buddies think I waist my time fishing this river so im usely down there by my self after work on the evenings. Mabey one day they will figure out sitting on the couch is a waist of time.

Hi there JayS.
As for the question of what gear to use...
I have caught several using spinner set ups (Brown Rooster Tails, etc.) - as for Fly's - I have also seen quite a few Fly Guys along that section of the river. Never fished like that myself there - but just went there because it was very close to where I used to live and wanted to get a line wet. I normally keep spinners & rod in the rig with me at all times during fishing season - for those quick pit stops when spotting a good place to fish w. a bit of time on my hands.

As for the "section" of the river it is - the only thing I can tell you is that it is in Liberty Lake - so I guess this would be the lower region from the dam in CDA ?

Hope that helps.

Tight Lines.

jmay wrote:Centennial Trail offer access at Sullivan Road and Liberty Lake/Otis Orchard. I have fished in the summer several times when the water level falls. Wear short and wade, when you feel cold spots you found a spring entering the river. It there is a riffle or run near by fish it. I have caught (no bull) a 22 inch bow right under the Sullivan bridge on a size 12 pheasant tail. The multiple currents and back eddy's make a drift very hard and you have to mend you line a lot. There is not a ton of fish but most evening I have managed a 2-4 fish. Most in the 12" range.

Is that section fly only?
Do you ever hook up with any smallies there?

That part of the river is selective so spinning gear with a single barbless hook is ok. I have only caught rainbows out of there. I have never heard of anyone pulling bass out of that section althought some of the run look like a good smallie action like on the Grande Ronde in summer