Photo Courtesy Steven Lamb
Copyright 2010 James Marsh
Fly Fishing St. Joe River Idaho
The St. Joe River in Idaho is one of the best cutthroat
trout streams in the nation. Not only is it a good fly
fishing stream, it is a beautiful, wild freestone river. The
St. Joe drains from the west slopes of the Bitterroot
Mountain Range along the Montana - Idaho Panhandle
state line. Part of the river is a designated "Wild and
Scenic" River. The river is 120 miles long, running from
its headwaters at St. Joe Lake through the St. Joe
National Forest to Lake Coeur dAlene. Fly fishing the St.
Joe River is a wonderful experience worth any anglers
time..
Its trout, westslope cutthroat, are plentiful throughout the
length of the river but more so in the extended "catch
and release - artificial lures/flies only - barbless hooks"
sections of the river. The river consist of long sections of
shallow flats over cobble, and deep pools with short
sections of riffles between them. It's excellent dry fly
water. Below Gold Creek, the river becomes wider and
has lots of rapids. It's tougher to fish but still contains
plenty of cutthroats for those willing to go to the effort to
fish it.
The section above Spruce Tree Campground doesn't
have road access and is also fished much less than the
popular sections. It has a trail that follows along the river
for 17 miles. From Prospector Creek downstream to St.
Marles, the St. Joe River is stocked with rainbows. The
water is slower and there are fewer cutthroats,
especially during warm weather.
Seasons:
The season runs from June through October
Summer:
The best fishing starts just as soon as the runoff is over.
Fly fishing the St. Joe River is best during July, August
and September.
Fall:
Fishing can be excellent during the early part of October.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies
The St. Joe River in Idaho is one of the best cutthroat
trout streams in the nation. Not only is it a good fly
fishing stream, it is a beautiful, wild freestone river. The
St. Joe drains from the west slopes of the Bitterroot
Mountain Range along the Montana - Idaho Panhandle
state line. Part of the river is a designated "Wild and
Scenic" River. The river is 120 miles long, running from
its headwaters at St. Joe Lake through the St. Joe
National Forest to Lake Coeur dAlene. Fly fishing the St.
Joe River is a wonderful experience worth any anglers
time..
Its trout, westslope cutthroat, are plentiful throughout the
length of the river but more so in the extended "catch
and release - artificial lures/flies only - barbless hooks"
sections of the river. The river consist of long sections of
shallow flats over cobble, and deep pools with short
sections of riffles between them. It's excellent dry fly
water. Below Gold Creek, the river becomes wider and
has lots of rapids. It's tougher to fish but still contains
plenty of cutthroats for those willing to go to the effort to
fish it.
The section above Spruce Tree Campground doesn't
have road access and is also fished much less than the
popular sections. It has a trail that follows along the river
for 17 miles. From Prospector Creek downstream to St.
Marles, the St. Joe River is stocked with rainbows. The
water is slower and there are fewer cutthroats,
especially during warm weather.
Seasons:
The season runs from June through October
Summer:
The best fishing starts just as soon as the runoff is over.
Fly fishing the St. Joe River is best during July, August
and September.
Fall:
Fishing can be excellent during the early part of October.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies
| Type of Stream Freestone Species Cutthroat Trout (Native West Slope) Bull Trout Whitefish Rainbow Trout (Stocked with holdover lower section of river) Size: Small - Medium Location Idaho Panhandle Nearest Towns St. Maries. Season June through October Access: Good Special Regulations Catch and Release Waters extend- over 50 miles Non-Resident License State of Idaho Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies |
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St. Joe River Idaho
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| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |