Spokane River fishing opens Saturday, May 23rd

Cooped up? Stir crazy? Thinking of adventure destinations put on-hold because of COVID-19? The solution is literally outside your back door.

Head on down to the Spokane River. The fishery opens Saturday, May 23rd. There is an assortment of opportunities.

Stateline to Nine Mile Dam: Iconic native Redband Trout can be found in Spokane Valley and the Great Gorge; native Cutthroat Trout are especially common in Spokane Valley; wild Brown Trout can be found throughout the system; and some are targeting Smallmouth Bass from Stateline down.

Lake Spokane: Good for warmwater fish like Yellow Perch, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, and Black Crappie. The Rainbow Trout fishery has grown in popularity due to Avista and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife annually stocking 155,000 catchable size triploids. 2-year old class sizes are frequently over 20 inches.

Below Little Falls Dam to Lake Roosevelt: Rainbow Trout fishing just got better with the Spokane Tribe now releasing 53,000 rainbow trout at different times of the year. A recommissioned fish acclimation facility is enabling these fish to grow past harvestable size (1 – 3 lbs) before being released. Anglers also commonly fish this area for Walleye and Smallmouth Bass.

Check the WDFW fishing regulation pamphlet for harvest regulations and other conditions. Check Spokane River Water Trail for access, river flows and more.