Wade0/100
Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.
All Washington reports
Fly fishing report · Pacific Northwest
Spokane River
Is Spokane River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Washington before you go.
See the flow chart ↓Photo: ARCloud Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Good day to fish?Latest river check
Poor
Not today. Make another plan.
32
Best option: Bank / edge. Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
See update time and confidence
Live data checkHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Today's callHighA verified hard stop is active, so the avoid-or-wait decision is clearer than the fishing score itself.
Score calculated Aug 22, 2026, 10:42 PM PDTUsually checks again about every 45 minutes
Best access methodBank / edge
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Bank / edge · Best fit14/100
Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
FloatNot recommended
This report does not recommend floating this reach.
Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 9:38PM PDT until August 23 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA
Your plan
Today's Spokane River plan.
The Spokane is a real fly-fishing river in an urban setting. Use the Spokane gauge, confirm WDFW rules, and handle native redband trout carefully. Summer heat and dam-influenced flows can change the plan.
- Check first
- Use USGS Spokane for the core live flow check.
- Try
- Fish riffle seams, basalt ledges, bridge shade, and pocket water with short casts.
- Leave when
- Skip redband trout fishing when water temperatures are high, when WDFW rules or posted access are unclear, when urban runoff or safety conditions look poor, or when the day would require wading pushy canyon water alone.
Live river check
What the river is doing
Check the latest flow and weather before you go. A quick change can make the river harder or less safe to fish.
Showing the latest stored river check while current readings load.
- Flow
- 705 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air now
- 76°F
Current NWS forecast period
- Next 24h high
- 81.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 22%
For this forecast period
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
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wind
- 7 mph
- Weather checked
Recent flow chart is loading
The latest stored reading is shown above. Check the official source below if you need the newest value now.
More forecast and source details
National Weather Service
Spokane River at Spokane, Washington
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
Latest stored USGS gauge: Spokane River at Spokane
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
How to fish it
How to fish Spokane River today.
The best windows are stable flows, cool water, and enough clarity to fish ledges and seams. If temperatures are high, shift away from trout handling or fish early and stop quickly.
Stable moderate flow
Best for reading riffles, ledges, and seams.
High flow
Stay off pushy ledges and fish banks only where safe.
Low summer flow
Fish early, check temperature, and consider bass instead of trout.
Dam changes
Watch the hydrograph for flow swings before committing to a wade.
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.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
- Pocket water
- Pocket water is a small calm spot among rocks or fast current.
- River reach
- A reach is one named section of a river or stream.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.
Why this call
Why this score
Public alertHurts
An active alert is in effect: Red Flag Warning issued August 22 at 9:38PM PDT until August 23 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Spokane WA. Check public safety sources before going.
Best mode nowHurts
Bank / edge: Bank and edge fishing is the safer default when water is high, pushy, or not fully verified.
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 705 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1891-2025, 135 readings) show a median near 1,400 cfs and a low-water marker near 762 cfs; today's flow is unusually low for the date. Low water can make fish spooky, warm, pressured, or concentrated; check temperature and handling risk.
SeasonHelps
Summer: Early and late windows matter; heat can stress trout.
WeatherHelps
The current NWS air forecast is about 76F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 81F. Slight Chance Rain Showers.
Trip notes
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use USGS 12422500 at Spokane as the core live trend. Moderate, stable flow with cool water is the best trout fit. High water, heat, or sudden flow changes should move the plan to bank observation, bass water, or another river.
Skip redband trout fishing when water temperatures are high, when WDFW rules or posted access are unclear, when urban runoff or safety conditions look poor, or when the day would require wading pushy canyon water alone.
Start with the Spokane gauge and the legal access point, then choose the method. Nymph riffle edges when cool flows support trout, swing soft edges in shoulder seasons, or switch to streamers and warmwater flies only where that plan fits the reach.
If the Spokane is too warm, too high, or access feels uncertain, compare the Yakima for a trout-first plan, the Grande Ronde for a more remote canyon decision, or the Deschutes for another basalt-river reference point.
What to try
Spokane River flies through the year.
Match the time of year, then let rising fish and current speed guide the next change.
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
April to May
What to look forWarming smallmouth water, caddis, minnows, crayfish, and bank insects
June to AugustCurrent
What to look forLow-light topwater, hoppers, cicadas, damselflies, and shade-line baitfish
September to November
What to look forCooling water, minnow movement, crayfish, and steady streamer fishing
December to March
What to look forDeep winter holding water, midges, small baitfish, and limited warmwater windows
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
Access and safety
Spokane River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter. Check WDFW rules before fishing the Spokane River, including redband trout rules, season dates, gear requirements, and any access or water-quality advisories.
Spokane city reach
Urban access with paths, bridges, and current-speed awareness.
Canyon and park reaches
Basalt ledge water where flows and footing matter.
USGS Spokane gauge area
Primary flow reference for this report.
Urban rivers require extra attention to posted closures and water-quality alerts.
Dams and hydro operations can affect flow and wading safety.
Summer trout handling should be limited when water temperatures are high.
River sources
Official Spokane River sources.
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report is maintained from current regulation, access, flow, weather, and public planning sources so anglers can make better trip decisions than a raw gauge or generic overview would allow.
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.
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.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 5 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.
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.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
Quick answers
Quick Spokane River answers.
What should I check before fishing Spokane River?
WDFW rules, Spokane flow, water temperature, access closures, water quality, and fish handling
Which flow should I use for Spokane River?
Use USGS 12422500 Spokane River at Spokane for the core city and canyon flow trend.
Where should I start on Spokane River?
Start with public city and park access, then confirm posted closures and choose a short wade before expanding.
Can I wade Spokane River?
Yes in selected stable flows, but basalt ledges, dam changes, and urban hazards require caution.