Fishing Report, Spokane River, June 20th 2025

"Wade closer. Don't cast yet, get closer," the words repeating in my head with every step I take further into the river. My gaze fixes on a bush along the bank, something stationary to look at, helping to balance me as I feel gravel and pebbles shift under my boots and water pushing forcefully against my legs. It's cold, refreshing, and a relief from the summer heat. "Little bit closer," the water now up to my knees, splashing against my thighs and waist. I lean into the current, the fabric of my pants flaps harder in the current.

In front of me, two rod lengths away, is a pocket of calmer water as wide and long as the hood of a car. Upstream of the pocket, a line of boulders and rocks stretches perpendicular across the river. Water rushes into and tumbles over the rocks slowing the force of the current and creating lines of bubbles in its wake. In the middle of the pocket the water deepens, maybe waist-deep. And trout, if there are any trout, should take a fly if it drifts calmly through the pocket.

Standing in the rushing water, I'm less than two rod lengths away now from the pocket. I press my feet down and grind my boots into the gravel to better anchor against the current. My flies are tied and ready—a large dry fly with a small weighted nymph hanging a couple feet below. I point the rod directly downstream of where I'm standing, strip a few feet of line off the reel, dip the rod tip until the flies touch the water and begin drifting downstream pulling line through the guides.

I look back to the pocket. Raise and extend my arm out in front, the reel pointing skyward, rod tip still low to the water and downstream, the line tight to the flies, butt of the rod high and pointing at my target. One quick motion, I rotate my forearm and wrist over like a hatchet chopping wood. The rod arcs through the air, stops high, straightens, and the flies flick forward. The little nymph plops into the pocket first followed by the dry fly.

Keep the rod high. Don't let the fly line or leader touch the water. Pinch the fly line to the cork under the index finger, and gently pull any slack with the other hand. The dry fly begins to drift with the pace of the water in the pocket. The fly rod stays slightly downstream of the dry fly, the line and leader making a straight line between the rod tip and the fly. Now—it's fishing.

The dry fly vanishes beneath the surface. Quick! Drive the rod tip downstream like making a backcast.

The rod jolts to a stop, the line pulls tight and begins twitching. A trout erupts from below into the air, twisting and spraying water, splashes back down and races out of the pocket. Lift the rod up and over until the bend of the rod is pointing upstream. Now, pull further back on the cork handle—it flexes like a bending tree branch. The pressure in your grip begins to ease as the trout turns and steers back into the pocket. Your free hand strips line in and tension builds again in the cork. The fly line slices upstream through the pocket. In the clear water, the trout's tail flutters—it's close now.

Raise the rod up while stripping more line in until the fly line is barely outside the rod tip. Rotate your arm back, the rod high over your head, your other hand grabs the net, reaches out, the trout's head breaks the surface, disoriented, twists atop the water, and slides into the net.

Lifting the net up, the handle heavy in your hand, you look down inside—whitefish.

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Every fish caught on the Spokane River is a well-earned experience. Trout, northern pikeminnow, largescale suckers, mountain whitefish, bass, catfish—each brings it own challenge, each teaches you something new. They help shape you into a more skilled, well-rounded angler, while quietly inviting you to learn more about the river and its ecosystem. So, whatever fish ends up sliding into your net, take a moment to look at it—really look at. What your holding isn't just a catch, it's a further glimpse into the life of the river. It's a chance to deepen your connection, to better understand the waters you fish.

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The weather this weekend is going to cool down, that's for sure. How much rain we'll get, well I'm not sure because the weather reports keep bouncing around. If we do get rain, that could entice some blue-winged olives (BWO) mayflies into hatching, which then gets the trout rising to the surface. So, if you get caught in the rain, take a look around to see if any fish start rising to the surface.

Or, you could just rig up a dry-dropper setup using a large Chubby Chernobyl and a weighted nymph suspended 1.5 to 3 feet below and fish the pocket water. While on the river the other day, we had several trout hit large dry flies like the Chubby Chernobyl. In downtown, around Riverfront Park, we were also watching trout rise up to caddis that are still fluttering around and laying eggs on the water's surface in the evenings.

Water flows are below 2000cfs now, which opens up more wading opportunities along the Spokane River. Water temperatures in the valley (from about Barker Road upstream to Post Falls Dam) are creeping up into the 70s. That's getting into lethal water temperature for redband trout (not good!). So, the trout in the upper river are going to be heading downstream into areas where the aquifer recharges and cools down the river. If you fish the upper Spokane, a helpful video to watch and learn from is this one that I made last summer:

Upcoming Community Events

Become a Spokane River Fly Fishing Mentor, July to September

  Are you passionate about the Spokane River and interested in becoming a mentor to help others discover the joys of fly fishing and local river ecology? I'm excited to launch a free mentorship program for Spokane-area residents interested in fly fishing and river advocacy. Open to just six participants, the program requires no prior fishing experience or gear and will run from July through September, with six sessions focusing on fly fishing skills, river ecology, and teaching fly fishing techniques.

  Each 2-hour session is designed to help participants grow into confident mentors who can volunteer (on their own initiative and based on personal availability) at public fishing events hosted by groups like Spokane Riverkeeper, Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited, Spokane Women on the Fly, and Spokane Fly Fishers. As interest in fly fishing continues to grow, this program aims to build a stronger network of local mentors and river stewards dedicated to protecting and sharing the Spokane River.

  For more info about the program, click here. To sign up for the program email me (Marc) at Info@FlyFishSpokane.com

Summer Kick Off Public Clean Up Event with the Spokane Riverkeeper, Saturday June 21st 10:00am to 1:00pm

  Location: Meet at 820 E Spokane Falls Blvd (UW School of Medicine parking lot)

  There is no better way to start the summer than volunteering for a clean river! Join the Spokane Riverkeeper for a day of community action and river care. Help keep the Spokane River beautiful by volunteering to remove litter and debris from the downtown river corridor. This is a great opportunity to give back to the river that gives us so much — and to connect with fellow river stewards.

  What to Expect: ✔️ All cleanup supplies provided (trash bags, gloves, grabbers) ✔️ Light refreshments and water ✔️ Family-friendly and group-friendly ✔️ Volunteer hours available

  For more info and to sign up, click here.

Riverkeeper Cleanup Ambassador Training, Thursday June 26th 5:30 to 6:30pm 

  Location: Redband Park

  Would you like to lead volunteer river cleanups along the Spokane River and our local waterways? Volunteer leads will guide groups with cleanup supplies along the shoreline of the river, providing guidance and safety while removing trash. This is a great way to support a healthy river and get some exercise while you’re at it!

  The Spokane Riverkeeper is excited to offer an in person training that will go over river cleanup procedures, safety, and logistics. All supplies will be provided.

  For more info and to sign up, click here.

Salmon Stroll with Save Our Wild Salmon, Thursday June 26th 6:00 to 8:00pm at People's Park

Join Save Our wild Salmon for a cleanup of the Spokane River, where you’ll hear about efforts to restore salmon across the Columbia Basin while cleaning up the Spokane River!

Salmon are a keystone species—when they thrive, entire ecosystems thrive. But today, wild salmon across the Columbia and Snake River Basins are in crisis. Decades of habitat destruction, warming waters, pollution, and massive hydroelectric dams have pushed many runs to the brink of extinction.

Save Our wild Salmon works to restore abundant salmon populations across the Pacific Northwest, advocating for the removal of harmful dams and the protection of critical cold-water habitats. These fish are not just vital to the health of rivers—they are central to Indigenous cultures, local economies, and the balance of the entire watershed.

Join in cleaning the Spokane River not only to restore its beauty, but to take a step toward healing the home that salmon depend on. Every piece of trash removed helps improve water quality, reduce harm to wildlife, and honor our responsibility to this place we all share.

For more info about the event, click here.

Hang Out and Fish, Thursday July 1st 5:30 to 7:30pm Riverfront Park

  I'll be hosting another Hang Out and Fish event, a free event to come fish, meet other anglers, and learn about fishing the Spokane. This event is open to everyone, no prior fishing experience required (newbie friendly). Bring whatever fishing gear you have. If you would like to try out fly fishing, please send me (Marc) an email (Info@FlyFishSpokane.com) ahead of time so I know how many extra fly rods to bring.

  This is a family friendly event. No waders required either. I'll meet people at the Clocktower at Riverfront Park at 5:30pm and then we'll fish around the park for a couple hours so if you show up later just walk around the park until you see some people fly fishing.