Alan Liere's hunting and fishing report for Oct. 8, 2026

Fishing on the Spokane River is improving this week, with larger fish returning and more frequent insect hatches. Nymph rigs using caddis, Spanish bullets, and rubber-leg stones are recommended, especially in daytime when dry/droppers draw bright chubbies in red or purple, paired with a caddis pupa. The North Fork Clearwater River and Kelly Creek drainage are also fishing well, but the Black Canyon of the North Fork Clearwater will stay closed for a large stretch due to the Moose Mountain fire, likely through the rest of 2026. Clark Fork near St. Regis is producing trout in slower water on hoppers and low-profile Chernobyl patterns. Steelhead and salmon reports improved on the Grande Ronde and Snake River, and specific Clearwater/Snake harvest rules have changed.