Sport fishing here includes rainbow trout, kokanee, walleye, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass. The entire river right shoreline of this reach is part of the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation and users are subject to Spokane Tribal fees and rules.

Species: Rainbow Trout, Kokanee, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass

Launches: Porcupine Bay and Fort Spokane boat launches are part of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and users are subject to National Park Service fees and rules.

Rapids and Riffles: Powerboats navigating upstream toward Little Falls Dam should use caution since they may experience shallow water and submerged rock hazards where the current picks up and water levels fluctuate.

Regulations: The entire river right shoreline of this reach is part of the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation and users are subject to Spokane Tribal fees and rules. Season is open year-round. Kokanee – No minimum size, daily limit 6 (no more than 2 with intact adipose fins) Trout – No minimum size, daily limit 5 (only adipose fin-clipped trout may be retained). Walleye – No size restriction, daily limit 16. Other game fish – Statewide minimum size and daily limits apply. Salmon – Counts toward trout daily limit. No catch record card required. Sturgeon – Closed.

Fish Advisory: Before consuming fish, consult the Washington Department of Health’s Fish Advisory.

Fishing: This section is a popular walleye fishing destination, especially in the spring. Anglers should check the WDFW walleye regulations to confirm when the season opens and closes.

This 39.4 mile reach includes Lake Spokane and has something to offer anglers of all kinds.

Species:
Plese Flats to Long Lake Dam: Mostly located in Lake Spokane: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass

Long Lake Dam to Little Falls Dam: Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon

Launch Information:
From Plese Flats to Nine Mile Dam: The take-out near Nine Mile Dam is informal with hardly any parking.  Next available parking is approximately a mile away (Centennial Trail parking lot.)  Watercraft users should use extreme caution since this is the last take-out before Nine Mile Dam, which is not far away.

Lake Spokane: The river is shallow at the Riverside State Park (Lake Spokane) launch. Caution, water fluctuations can expose or hide hazards such as stumps, making launch inoperable. The Nine Mile Resort and DNR launches, which are located on opposite ends of the lake, are particularly good for powerboats. But the Nine Mile Resort launch can become inoperable during low water conditions.

From below Long Lake Dam to Little Falls Dam: The only public access site is Long Lake Dam. Not available for motor access, approximately 30-yard walk for those carrying watercraft. All watercraft must put-in and take-out at the same access point.

Rapids and Riffles:
From Plese Flats to Nine Mile Dam: This is a calm river section with an easy flowing current.

Lake Spokane: Caution, the upper portion of this section consists of shallow, moving water. Water fluctuations can expose or hide hazards such as stumps.

From below Long Lake Dam to Little Falls Dam: Although this is mostly a reservoir environment, operations at Long Lake Dam and Little Falls Dam can create strong currents and drastic, unannounced water level fluctuations.

Regulations:
From Upper Boundary of Plese Flats Day Use Area to Nine Mile Dam: Motors prohibited. All species – selective gear rules. Trout (Sat before Memorial Day – March 15) – No minimum size, daily limit 2. Release all trout other than hatchery rainbow trout. Other game fish (Sat before Memorial Day – March 15) – Catch and release.

Lake Spokane: Season open year-round. All game fish – Statewide min size/daily limit. Salmon – Landlocked Salmon rules.

From below Long Lake Dam to Little Falls Dam: Season open year-round. River right below Chimakum Creek is the Spokane Tribe of Indians Reservation, tribal regulations apply.  Salmon – landlocked salmon rules. All game fish – Statewide minimum size and daily limit. Sturgeon – Closed.

Fish Advisory: Before consuming fish, consult the Washington Department of Health’s Fish Advisory.

Fishing:
From Upper Boundary of Plese Flats Day Use Area to Nine Mile Dam: 8,000-9,000 hatchery triploid trout are stocked annually in this section.

From Nine Mile Dam to Lake Spokane: This riverine section is a popular trout angling destination.

Lake Spokane: Good fishery for black crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch.  Caution to ice anglers, water level fluctuations can create extremely hazardous air vacuums below the ice.

Sport fishing here includes rainbow trout, brown trout, and whitefish. Water Street to TJ Meenach includes a number of Class II rapids. At TJ Meenach Bridge, river right, all boaters without Class III+ rapid experience should exit the river. The area below the Monroe St. Dam is popular among fly-fishers.

Species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Whitefish

Launch Information: At TJ Meenach Bridge, anyone who lacks the necessary experience or equipment to navigate advanced whitewater should exit the river to avoid the hazardous rapids that occur downstream from the Water Reclamation Facility.

Rapids and Riffles: Water Street to TJ Meenach includes a number of Class II rapids. At TJ Meenach Bridge, river right, all boaters without Class III+ rapid experience should exit the river. Rapids begin downstream from the Water Reclamation Facility.

Regulations:
From Monroe St. to Upper Boundary of Plese Flats Day Use Area: Motors prohibited. All species – Selective gear rules. Trout (Sat before Memorial Day – Mar 15) – No minimum size, daily limit 2. Release all trout other than hatchery rainbow trout. Other game fish (Sat before Memorial Day – Mar 15) – Catch and release.

Fish Advisory: Before consuming fish, consult the Washington Department of Health’s Fish Advisory.

Fishing and Seasons:
From Monroe St. Dam to Upper Boundary of Plese Flats Day Use Area: Popular area for fly-fishing.  Many anglers utilize the area around the Water Reclamation Facility, especially during fall.

Sport fishing here includes rainbow trout, brown trout, and whitefish.  Motors are prohibited in this entire section. A couple riffles exist between Upriver Dam and Greene Street. Shoreline access and a 5,000-6,000 trout hatchery make this a popular fly-fishing destination.

Species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Whitefish

Launch Information: The SIRTI access point, located river left near the condominiums at Riverpoint Village, is the last take-out in this section. No watercraft of any kind are allowed below Division St.  Use caution in higher flows since this is the last take-out and you are not far from the falls near Riverfront Park.

Rapids and Riffles: Motors are prohibited in this entire section. A couple of riffles exist between Upriver Dam and Greene Street.  Watercraft may have difficulty navigating these shallow, riffle areas during low flows.

Regulations: All species – Selective gear rules. Trout (Sat before Memorial Day – Mar 15) – No minimum size, daily limit 2. Release all trout other than hatchery rainbow trout. Other game fish (Sat before Memorial Day – Mar 15) – Catch and release.

Fish Advisory: Before consuming fish, consult the Washington Department of Health’s Fish Advisory.

Fishing: Fair amount of shoreline access for anglers.  Fly-fishers frequent the area below Upriver Dam.  5,000-6,000 hatchery triploid trout are stocked annually in this section.

Sport fishing here includes rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. The reach between Sullivan Road and Plante’s Ferry is popular with anglers, especially during summer.

Species: Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass

Launch Information: The launches within this reach provide sufficient access until mid-summer when flows and water levels become too low. Drift boats using this section HAVE to take out at Harvard Road since no other trailer retrieve sites are available on the river until below Nine Mile Dam.

Rapids and Riffles: During low flows, multiple shallow riffle areas may be difficult to navigate and users may encounter larger boulder-type substrate as well. Barker Road to Mirabeau (4.5 miles) is for boaters experienced with class II rapids. From Mirabeau to Upriver Dam, reservoir type conditions exist, except for Coyote Rock, a class II rapid located just below the Plante’s Ferry access site.

Regulations: No motors allowed in this section except for the portion between Plante’s Ferry and Park Road. All species – Selective gear rules. Trout (Sat before Memorial Day – Mar 15) – No minimum size, daily limit 2. Release all trout other than hatchery rainbow trout. Other game fish (Sat before Memorial Day – Mar 15) – Catch and release.

Fish Advisory: Before consuming fish, consult the Washington Department of Health’s Fish Advisory.

Fishing: The reach between Sullivan Road and Plante’s Ferry is popular with anglers, especially during summer when flows are low.

Sport fishing here includes brown trout, redband trout, and smallmouth bass. The Idaho section of the river is 4 miles long and includes minor Class I rapids much of the way.

Species: Brown Trout, Redband Trout, Smallmouth Bass

Launch Information: Drift boats putting in at Corbin Park should be aware that the only take-out is Harvard Road, located 7.5 miles downstream.

Rapids and Riffles: The Idaho section of the river (4 miles) includes minor Class I rapids much of the way. Boaters, who are inexperienced with strong currents, should wait until spring runoff is complete and/or the gates at Post Falls Dam have closed.

Fish Advisory: Before consuming fish, consult the Washington Department of Health’s Fish Advisory.

Regulations: Trout limit is 2. Largemouth and smallmouth bass limit is 6 (both species combined.) Chinook salmon limit is 2, none under 20 in.