The Spokane River is one of America's most accessible urban trout fisheries — a gem hiding in plain sight as it courses through the heart of Spokane, Washington, and into the surrounding countryside. Flowing 111 miles from Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho to its confluence with the Columbia River at Revelstoke, the Spokane offers the rare combination of wild trout, scenic canyon water, and freeway-close access that makes it an exceptional option for both resident anglers and visiting fly fishers with limited time.
The river's defining feature is its native Redband Rainbow Trout — a distinct subspecies of Rainbow Trout evolved in the Columbia Plateau's inland desert environment. These fish, with their vibrant red lateral stripe, rosy gill plates, and subtle spotting, are built for the river's cold, swift current and represent an irreplaceable piece of the American West's native fish heritage. Redband trout average 10–14 inches in the Spokane, with larger fish present in deeper canyon pools and below the dams. Brown Trout, stocked and self-sustaining in many sections, add variety and the chance at a trophy fish in the 18-inch-plus range.
The river is most productive from the Idaho stateline downstream through the canyon sections above and below Spokane city limits. The upper reach from Stateline to Nine Mile Dam encompasses the best wild trout water — a series of canyon runs, riffles, and deep pools accessible by trail from various parks and public access sites. Riverside State Park, located just northwest of downtown, provides miles of easily accessible river within stunning basalt canyon walls, making it the most popular fly fishing venue in the Spokane corridor.
Hatches are typical of a Pacific Northwest freestone system. Midges fish well in winter and early spring when the river is at low clear flows. Blue-Winged Olives emerge through cool-weather months. Caddis dominate June and continue through summer, with evening spinner falls drawing fish to the surface in flat water. PMDs appear in early summer, and terrestrial fishing — ants, beetles, and grasshoppers — can be excellent along grassy banks in July and August.
For newer fly anglers, the Spokane is an ideal learning river. Multiple access points, relatively forgiving wading, and accommodating fish make it a superb place to develop technique. The proximity to a major city means fly shops, restaurants, and lodging are never far away. The river is open from late May through March 15, giving anglers nearly ten full months of fishing opportunity in a remarkable urban-wilderness setting.
