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All Idaho reports
St. Joe River
Photo: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 2.0
Should I go fishing?
Check the water temperature first.
Water temperature is unconfirmed. Use a stream thermometer; stop trout fishing at 70°F or warmer, or sooner if fish show stress.
Fishing rating92
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 382 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1911-2025, 108 readings) show a typical middle range of 367 cfs to 501 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationMediumWater temperature not verified; do not use this score to clear warm-water risk.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use the Calder RiverReports and USGS gauge for the main condition check.
- Try
- Wait for runoff to drop before planning a dry-fly cutthroat day.
- Leave when
- Skip the trip when cutthroat rules are unclear, when runoff makes wading unsafe, when forest-road or weather conditions make the upper area risky, when access signs do not support the bank you planned to fish, or when warm low water would stress trout.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 382 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 58°F
- Next 24h high
- 72.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 1%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 1 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
St. Joe River Avery forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: St. Joe River at Calder
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Grasshopper PatternsHopperView fly guide ↗
- Ant PatternsantView fly guide ↗
- Beetle PatternsbeetleView fly guide ↗
- Caddis Patterns by Stagesmall caddisView fly guide ↗
- Perdigon NymphperdigonView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Spring
What to look forMidges, BWOs, early caddis
Early summer
What to look forCaddis, golden stones, PMDs
Late summerThis season
What to look forHoppers, ants, beetles, caddis
FallThis season
What to look forBWOs, midges, October caddis
Flies to try
Also try October caddis
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish St. Joe River today.
The St. Joe is best after runoff drops, water stays cool, and cutthroat are willing to rise. If the river is high or access is questionable, wait or choose a lower-risk nearby river.
Post-runoff stable
Best for attractor dries, caddis, and dry-droppers in riffles and pocket water.
High runoff
Avoid unsafe wading and wait for the Calder gauge to settle.
Low clear summer
Use stealth, smaller dries, and lighter tippet in visible pools.
Warm lower water
Move higher, fish early, and stop if trout recovery is poor.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading92/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing92/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
FloatingNot recommended
This report does not recommend floating this reach.
Full river report
Is St. Joe River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Idaho before you go.
The St. Joe is a cutthroat-first Idaho river with easy roaded access in places and more remote upper water above. Flow, road conditions, and section-by-section rules decide whether it should be a quick dry-fly day or a remote plan.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Riffle
- A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
- Attractor fly
- An attractor fly is bright or bold. It draws a strike without copying one exact insect.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pale morning dun (PMD)
- Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowHelps
USGS shows 382 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1911-2025, 108 readings) show a typical middle range of 367 cfs to 501 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler water, BWOs, and fewer anglers can make strong days.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 58F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 72F. Partly Cloudy.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip the trip when cutthroat rules are unclear, when runoff makes wading unsafe, when forest-road or weather conditions make the upper corridor risky, when access signs do not support the bank you planned to fish, or when warm low water would stress trout.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the RiverReports Calder chart and USGS 12414500 together. Stable or slowly falling post-runoff flows are the best window. High snowmelt, storm color, or warm low water should move the plan to safer edges, a different reach, or another river.
Skip the trip when cutthroat rules are unclear, when runoff makes wading unsafe, when forest-road or weather conditions make the upper area risky, when access signs do not support the bank you planned to fish, or when warm low water would stress trout.
Start with the Calder and Avery area for the most practical read on flows and access, then decide whether the day fits roaded lower water, campground-based fishing, or a more remote upper-river scout.
If the St. Joe is high, warm, crowded, or access-limited, compare the Coeur d'Alene River, Clearwater River, or Silver Creek after checking current rules, flows, and travel time.
St. Joe River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
IDFG lists St. Joe River rules by reach, including cutthroat harvest restrictions and no-bait/barbless language upstream. Check current rules before fishing.
Where to access the river
Calder
The main flow-reference point and lower-river planning anchor.
Avery area
Roaded access with services, campgrounds, and upper-river launch points.
St. Joe River Road and Red Ives Road
Upper-area access where road and weather conditions matter.
Wild and Scenic upper river
A more remote cutthroat plan with stronger self-sufficiency needs.
- Rules differ by lower and upper reaches.
- Spring runoff can make familiar wades unsafe.
- Road closures, wildfire, and remote travel can affect upper access.
- Respect campsites, pullouts, and private land.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
See all 6 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This St. Joe River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS flow data, Idaho Fish and Game rule information, Forest Service corridor access references, weather checks, and northern Idaho cutthroat planning guidance.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What is the best St. Joe River season?
After runoff drops and before lower water warms, summer dry-fly fishing is the classic window.
Which gauge should I use?
Use USGS 12414500 at Calder, shown with RiverReports and official USGS context.
Are the upper rules different?
Yes. IDFG lists different language for upper sections, including no-bait and barbless-hook rules.
Is this mostly a cutthroat river?
For fly anglers, yes. Native cutthroat are the core target and should be handled carefully.