A Guide to Fishing the Spokane River by Marc Fryt of Fly Fish Spokane
Casting a line into the Spokane River is stepping into a living story—a river whose waters carry
memories. Memories of salmon runs nourishing the Spokane Tribe of Indians for generations.
Memories of bridges and railroads built over roaring falls, and a city that once poured its waste
freely into the currents. Memories held within fish, like redband trout and largescale suckers,
still persisting after thousands of years. But also memories yet to be written—where
communities gather, new connections form, and hopeful visions for Spokane’s future continue
to flow forward.
This guide is your invitation into that story. We’ll journey along the Spokane River from the
Washington–Idaho state line down to the rocky gorge below the Spokane Falls, discovering
when to fish, how to gear up, where to go, and why this river is so special. Along the way, you’ll
find practical how-to tips woven with a narrative of community and stewardship, because
fishing the Spokane is about more than catching fish—it’s about connecting with a river in the
heart of our city.
Whether you’re casting a fly rod or a spinning lure, wading in the shallows or floating on a
paddleboard, this guide will help you get started. By the end, you’ll know the seasons and rules,
the gear and local shops, the fish species and river sections, plus a few local secrets (like who to
call when you find a locked gate, or how to get real-time water temperatures). Most
importantly, you’ll feel ready to head out and fish the Spokane River with confidence, care, and
a sense of adventure.
Fishing Seasons and Regulations
Like many rivers in Washington, the Spokane River has a defined fishing season to protect
redband trout during spawning. Fishing on the Spokane River (from the Idaho state line down
to Nine Mile Dam) is open from the Saturday before Memorial Day through March 15 each
year. That means late spring, all summer, fall, and winter are open to angling, but come mid-
March the river gets a rest. The closure from March 16 until late May covers the critical spawn
period for redband trout, giving them a chance to reproduce undisturbed.
Know the Rules
The Spokane River has Selective Gear Rules in effect. In plain language, this means:
-Artificial lures and flies only: No bait of any kind is allowed. Leave the worms, eggs, and
scented tackle at home. This regulation protects the fish from swallowing baited hooks.
-Single, barbless hooks are required: No treble hooks allowed. You can use wire cutters
to snip the other two hook points off (or swap out the treble for a single siwash hook). If
you are using a hook with a barb, pinch down the barb with a pair of needle nose pliers.
Using single, barbless hooks makes releasing fish easier and with less harm (it’s also
safer when teaching kids or learning how to fly fish).
-Catch-and-release for all species: The general Spokane River rule is that you must
release all species (quick note, the regulations say you can keep hatchery trout, but
hatchery trout are no longer released into the river above Nine Mile Dam). To help with practicing catch-and-releasing fishing to ensure greater survival rate for the fish, refer to
information provided by KeepFishWet.org
Current regulations may surprise anglers interested in keeping fish. Due to pollution, the fish
in the Spokane River are currently unsafe to eat, for both humans and non-humans alike. Still,
many anglers imagine a future where the river is clean enough to support limited, responsible
harvest. Because catching and eating a fish you’ve caught yourself isn’t just a meal—it’s a
powerful, personal way to engage with the ecosystem, and to reflect on what it means to take a
life in order to sustain your own.
If you’re ever unsure about the regulations or want to double-check a detail, consult the Fish
Washington app (WDFW’s official regulations app). The app is a handy resources to have on
your phone for on-the-spot rule checks.
One final note: please don’t throw fish on the riverbank. There is no rule requiring anglers to
remove any species from the river. If you’re unsure about a fish you’ve caught, the best
approach is to take a photo, note the location, gently release it, and then connect with local
community members and officials who are actively learning about the complex ecological and
social roles each species plays in the Spokane River. That kind of curiosity—and care—goes a
long way.
Seasonal Timing Matters
The Spokane River’s character changes with the seasons, and understanding those changes
will help you plan successful outings. Late April into June often bring higher flows from spring
runoff—the river runs swift and cold. As summer settles in, flows drop and the water warms. By
late summer, certain stretches get quite warm (more on that in the River Sections below),
which is great for smallmouth bass but stressful for trout. Fall brings cooling water and active
trout feeding up before winter. And in winter, while many anglers shift to tying flies, die-hards
can still be founding nymph fishing for trout in the Spokane’s deeper holes until the season
closes in March.
One more seasonal consideration: the river’s flow levels. Wading on Spokane River becomes
easier when flows are below about 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), and when flows are below
3,000 cfs wading is at its best. When flows are higher (say in early summer), the current is
strong, wading becomes difficult and risky, and fish have lots of water to disperse into. Once
flows drop under that 3,000 cfs threshold, more riverbed is exposed, currents slow a bit, and
trout congregate into pocket waters and runs that anglers can effectively fish. In fact, by mid-
summer flows often hover in the low 2000s cfs or even below 1,800 cfs, making it much easier
to get around in the water.
Keep an eye on the USGS streamflow gauges, which you can find on the USGS website
(dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov) to know current flow. As a rule of thumb: early season = high
flows (use caution), mid-summer = lower flows (easier wading, but watch water temps), fall =
moderate flows (great fishing conditions).
Quick recap:
Season: Open from the Saturday before Memorial Day to March 15.
Gear: Selective rules – artificial lure/fly, single barbless, no bait.
Limits: Catch-and-release for all fish.
Check the app: Fish Washington app or WDFW site for any updates or section-specific
rules.
Flows & wading: <3000 cfs is ideal for wading; early season high water demands
caution.
Understanding and respecting these rules and seasonal patterns not only keeps you legal, but
it also aligns you with the rhythms of the river and its fish. Now that you know when to fish,
let’s talk about how to fish: choosing the right gear and tackle.
Gear Up: Tackle Tips for Fly and Spin Fishing
One beautiful aspect of the Spokane River is that it welcomes both fly fishers and conventional
(spin) anglers. In this section, we’ll cover gear recommendations for both styles, from rods and
reels to the types of flies or lures that work well. We’ll also highlight some local shops where
you can gear up and get expert advice in person.
Fly Fishing Gear
If you’re new to fly fishing the Spokane, don’t worry—you don’t need a truckload of different
rods. A versatile 5-weight or 6-weight graphite fly rod about 9 feet in length is the classic choice
for this river. A 5-weight is perfect for presenting flies delicately and can handle most Spokane
trout; a 6-weight gives a bit more backbone for casting heavier flies or battling the occasional
larger fish or strong current. If you want a second fly rod, many Spokane fly fishers also use
longer 10.5-foot, 3-weight rods for euro (tightline) nymphing which is very effective for catching
a variety of fish species along the river.
For the reel and line, pair your rod with a standard disc-drag reel and a weight-forward
floating fly line in the same weight as your rod (5wt or 6wt line). A floating line covers 90% of
Spokane River techniques, from dry flies to nymphing in moderate depth. Later, you might add
a sink-tip line if you want to fish streamers deep, but it’s not required at first.
For leaders, go with a 9-foot tapered leader (ending in 3X to 5X tippet for trout). The
Spokane’s water can be clear, so a longer leader helps avoid spooking fish. If targeting
smallmouth bass in summer (more on that in species), you can use a shorter, sturdier leader
(e.g. 7.5 ft 2X) since bass aren’t as leader-shy and often hang near structure.
Lastly, you’ll need to choose some fly patterns. The Spokane River can be a buggy river at
times—it has mayflies, caddisflies, some stoneflies, and more—but it’s also an opportunistic
fishery. The fish here often eat a variety of foods, and many species will even chase minnows or
crayfish. Here are some fly suggestions to start (and these patterns will work for various fish
species along the river):
-Nymphs (subsurface flies): Patterns like Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Hare’s Ear, Pat’s Rubber
Legs (stonefly nymph), and various Perdigon or Euro nymph patterns work well.
-Dry Flies: In summer and early fall, caddisflies and mayflies hatch in the mornings and
evenings—Elk Hair Caddis in size 14-16, Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) size 16, and Blue-
Winged Olives (BWOs) size 14 to 18 are good choices. Terrestrials are also effective; a
Chubby Chernobyl (or any large foam dry fly pattern) in tan or brown not only imitates
grasshoppers but also doubles as an indicator fly for a dry-dropper rig.
-Dry-Dropper Rigs: A favorite approach on the Spokane is a dry-dropper setup—tie a
buoyant dry fly (like a foam dry fly) and drop a bead-head nymph 2 to 6 feet below it.
This covers surface and subsurface at once. As local anglers note, using a big foam dry as
your “bobber” with a tungsten nymph below is deadly in the Spokane’s riffles and
bouldery pockets. If one fly doesn’t get them, the other might!
-Streamers: Trout, northern pikeminnow, and smallmouth bass will hit streamers,
especially in spring or fall when they’re fattening up or when water is high. Woolly
Buggers, Sculpin patterns, or flashy streamers imitating small fish and crayfish (size 4–8)
stripped through deeper pools can entice larger fish to bite. Some two-handed “trout
spey” fishing happens on the Spokane—anglers use 3- or 4-weight two-handed rods to
swing streamers or soft hackles. It’s an enjoyable technique if you have the gear, but not
at all required. A regular single-hand rod with a sink-tip will do the same job of getting a
streamer down.
The fish along the Spokane River can adapt their diet with the season. For instance, during
summer, many Spokane trout feed heavily on caddisflies (both adults and subsurface caddis
larvae and pupae)—swinging an emerger in the evening or skating an adult caddis can produce
explosive strikes. In the upper river in spring and fall, anglers have reported brown trout chasing
streamers aggressively (yes, there are a few browns in the upper Spokane!). By late summer,
those same spots might see trout sipping tiny blue-winged olives or chironomids in the morning
or evening. The key is to be observant and willing to change tactics—that’s why having a variety
of fly types (dries, nymphs, streamers) in your box is useful.
If you are really looking to incorporate more fishing into your everyday life, then you may also
want to consider purchasing a Tenkara rod—which is a highly portable, telescoping rod that
collapses down to about a foot-long. These rods are great for catching trout, largescale suckers,
northern pikeminnow, etc. and are a fun way to introduce beginners to fishing.
Stay tuned for part II of this guide series to fishing our local river! For more information about fishing the Spokane, to inquire about guide services, or to connect with Marc, visit his website at www.flyfishspokane.com
