Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River

Type: Freestone river, Idaho (West)
Designation: Featured sport-fishing water · Special-regulation trout water
USGS gauges: None on it; nearest shown
Guides: None listed
Shops: None listed

Today on the Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River

Caution: Low water: go quiet and stealthy

No water temperature here.

Flow now: 304 ft³/s
Vs normal for Nov 5: Much below normal
Trend: Steady over 24 h
Last reading: Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST

At COEUR D ALENE RIVER NR CATALDO ID (USGS 12413500). No gauge on Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River. Nearest: COEUR D ALENE RIVER NR CATALDO ID (13.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River's own flow is not measured. Provisional USGS data

Regulations & access Guides & shops

The Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River is a freestone river in Idaho, listed as Featured sport-fishing water by Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

More about the Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River

The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled; Idaho Department of Fish and Game lists 2 species, including cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish.

Updated 5 Nov 2026 · Sources: IDFG Recommended Fishing Waters (Idaho Fishing Planner), IDFG Recommended Fishing Waters (Idaho Fishing Planner), USGS Water Data

Representative photograph of similar water; not a photograph of this place. — Representative photograph, not this water.

Where it is

Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River is a freestone river in Idaho.

Nearest gauge (not on this water)

COEUR D ALENE RIVER NR CATALDO ID

USGS 12413500 · NWS CTLI1

No gauge on Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River. Nearest: COEUR D ALENE RIVER NR CATALDO ID (13.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River's own flow is not measured.

Caution: Low water: go quiet and stealthy

Flow 304 ft³/s: much below normal (under the 10th percentile) for Nov 5, over 94 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey

What the agencies suggest

Stay low and approach slowly. Approach the stream carefully and with a low profile Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Work upstream. Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstream Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Look to deep pools and undercut banks. Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low water Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 304 ft³/s
Gauge height: 32.6 ft

Reading Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST · provisional USGS data

Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 304 ft³/s at Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 1:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 12:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 11:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 10:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 9:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 8:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 7:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 6:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 5:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 4:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 3:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 2:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 5, 1:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 12:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 11:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 10:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 9:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 8:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 7:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 6:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 5:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 4:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 3:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 2:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 1:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 12:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 11:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 10:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 9:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 8:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 7:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 6:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 5:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 4:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 3:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 2:15 AM PST	316	32.6
Nov 4, 1:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 12:15 AM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 11:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 10:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 9:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 8:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 7:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 6:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 5:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 4:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 3:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 2:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 1:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 12:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 11:15 AM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 10:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 9:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 8:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 7:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 6:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 5:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 4:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 3:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 2:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 1:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 12:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 11:15 PM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 10:15 PM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 9:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 8:15 PM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 7:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 6:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 5:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 4:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 3:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 2:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 1:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 12:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 11:15 AM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 10:15 AM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 9:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 8:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 7:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 6:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 5:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 4:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 3:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 2:15 AM PST	349	32.7
Nov 2, 1:15 AM PST	349	32.7
Nov 2, 12:15 AM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 11:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 10:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 9:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 8:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 7:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 6:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 5:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 4:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 3:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 2:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 1:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 12:15 PM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 11:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 10:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 9:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 8:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 7:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 6:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 5:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 4:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 3:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 2:15 AM PST	375	32.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM PST	375	32.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM PDT	375	32.7
Nov 1, 12:15 AM PDT	375	32.7
Oct 31, 11:15 PM PDT	375	32.7
Oct 31, 10:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 9:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 8:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 7:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 6:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 5:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 4:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 3:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 2:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 1:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 12:15 PM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 11:15 AM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 10:15 AM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 9:15 AM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 8:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 7:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 6:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 5:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 4:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 3:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 31, 2:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 31, 1:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 31, 12:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 30, 11:15 PM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 30, 10:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 9:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 8:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 7:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 6:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 5:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 4:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 3:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 2:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 1:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 12:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 11:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 10:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 9:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 8:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 7:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 6:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 5:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 4:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 3:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 2:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 1:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 12:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 11:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 10:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 9:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 8:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 7:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 6:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 5:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 4:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 3:30 PM PDT	416	32.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 397–898 ft³/s (middle half of 94 years of record). Now: 304 ft³/s, much below normal.

Much below normal for this date. 304 ft³/s is below the 10th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 94 years of record (1912–2026): 10th 309, 25th 397, median 534, 75th 898, 90th 1,590 ft³/s.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 274 ft³/s, highest 6,110 ft³/s.

Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).

Steady over 24 hours (−1.9% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.

NWS observed 32.6 ft stage, 304 ft³/s at Nov 5, 11:00 AM PST (NWS gauge CTLI1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 42 ft
Minor flood: 43 ft
Moderate flood: 46 ft
Major flood: 50 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 7:51 AM PST. Highest point: 32.6 ft, 304 ft³/s on Nov 5, 10:00 AM PST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	32.6 ft	304 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	32.6 ft	298 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	32.6 ft	292 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	32.6 ft	279 ft³/s
Mon, Nov 9	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s
Tue, Nov 10	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s
Wed, Nov 11	32.6 ft	279 ft³/s
Thu, Nov 12	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 13	32.6 ft	279 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 14	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Idaho Fish and Game uses are 66°F and 73°F.

Species

Species the agency lists for Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River: Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish.

Source: IDFG Recommended Fishing Waters (Idaho Fishing Planner) (Idaho Department of Fish and Game).

Safety

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)

Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.

Open the USGS gauge page

Checked Nov 5, 3:22 PM PST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.

Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River for flow alerts

Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Idaho fishing and boating access sites

Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River on the map

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Restrooms Access map

Map of Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River with 1 USGS gauge.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River

Restrooms within 2 miles of Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.

No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.

Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.

Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.

More water near Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River

Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Coeur d'Alene River
Photo credit
The Snake River near Oxbow, Oregon, with Oxbow Dam in the far background. Photo: Adumbvoget, public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Coeur d'Alene River.
Coeur d'Alene River
Idaho · about 13 mi
304cfsFlow now · much below normal for the date
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Hayden Lake
Photo credit
Henrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hayden Lake.
Hayden Lake
Idaho · about 14 mi
Rainbow trout, smallmouth bass & largemouth bass
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Fernan Lake
Photo credit
Ennis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Fernan Lake.
Fernan Lake
Idaho · about 15 mi
Rainbow trout, brook trout & smallmouth bass
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Avondale Lake
Photo credit
Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Avondale Lake.
Avondale Lake
Idaho · about 16 mi
Rainbow trout, largemouth bass & panfish
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not North Fork Coeur d'Alene River
Photo credit
Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho. Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Fork Coeur d'Alene River.
North Fork Coeur d'Alene River
Idaho · about 18 mi
Cutthroat trout
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Coeur d'Alene Lake
Photo credit
Eagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Coeur d'Alene Lake.
Coeur d'Alene Lake
Idaho · about 22 mi
Cutthroat trout, chinook salmon & smallmouth bass

Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Coeur d'Alene River
Photo credit
The Snake River near Oxbow, Oregon, with Oxbow Dam in the far background. Photo: Adumbvoget, public domain, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Coeur d'Alene River.
Coeur d'Alene River
Idaho · about 13 mi
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Hayden Lake
Photo credit
Henrys Lake from Henrys Lake State Park, Idaho. Photo: James Postema, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hayden Lake.
Hayden Lake
Idaho · about 14 mi
Rainbow trout, smallmouth bass & largemouth bass
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Fernan Lake
Photo credit
Ennis Lake, Montana, in March, with the Madison Range beyond. Photo: Gloria Cabada-Leman, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Not Fernan Lake.
Fernan Lake
Idaho · about 15 mi
Rainbow trout, brook trout & smallmouth bass
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Avondale Lake
Photo credit
Lake Billy Chinook, Oregon. Photo: icetsarina, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Avondale Lake.
Avondale Lake
Idaho · about 16 mi
Rainbow trout, largemouth bass & panfish
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not North Fork Coeur d'Alene River
Photo credit
Silver Creek near Picabo, Idaho. Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not North Fork Coeur d'Alene River.
North Fork Coeur d'Alene River
Idaho · about 18 mi
Cutthroat trout
Featured sport-fishing waterRepresentative photo · not Coeur d'Alene Lake
Photo credit
Eagle Lake, Lassen County, California, with dry Horse Lake in the foreground (aerial). Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Coeur d'Alene Lake.
Coeur d'Alene Lake
Idaho · about 22 mi
Cutthroat trout, chinook salmon & smallmouth bass

Regulations

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

2 official designations

Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.

Featured sport-fishing water
On the IDFG Recommended Fishing Waters (Idaho Fishing Planner) list (Idaho Department of Fish and Game, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
Special-regulation trout water
On the Special Rule Waters (trout / salmon / gear rules) list (Idaho Department of Fish and Game, read 2026-11-05). All waters with this designation
- From the mouth upstream to Laverne Creek / From and including Laverne Creek upstream

The water on the map

Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-05) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.

Length: 38.7 mi (37.3 in ID)
Drains: 168 sq mi
Drop: 2,054 ft · 53.1 ft/mi
Flows into: North Fork Coeur d'Alene River
Watershed: Upper Coeur d'Alene

Public land along it

Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.

36.9 of 37.3 mi on public land

Coeur d'Alene National ForestForest Service · 36.9 mi

Nothing on this page grants or implies access.

Guides and shops near Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

Guides

No guide within 40 miles yet.

All Idaho guides

Shops nearby

No shop nearby yet.

All Idaho shops

Species and hatches

The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.

Listed by the state agency

Cutthroat trout
Species guide
Photo credit
Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii), photographed by James E. Johnson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: James E. Johnson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mountain Whitefish

When the bugs come off

Cutthroat trout

Regional hatch months: Northern Rockies

5 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

January: no charted hatch
February: no charted hatch
March: no charted hatch
April: no charted hatch
May: 3 charted hatches
June: 2 charted hatches
July: 2 charted hatches
August: 1 charted hatch
September: 1 charted hatch
October: no charted hatch
November: no charted hatch
December: no charted hatch

Mother's Day caddis (Grannom) (May) · Salmonfly (May to June) · Salmonfly (May to July) · Salmonfly (July) · Trico (August to September)

Northern Rockies hatch chart

Plan your stay

Fishing lodges nearby

All lodges

Wolf Lodge Campground
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Fishing lodge · 12 mi
- Unclaimed
CDA River RV
Cataldo, Idaho
Campground · 14 mi
- Unclaimed

Getting there

GEG · Spokane · 53 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
PUW · Pullman · 76 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
LWS · Lewiston · 98 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)

About this

Miles are straight-line distances, not drive times.
Airports: scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports (public domain) (2026-11-04).
Lodges are listed when their own website talks about fishing. Prices and availability are the lodge's own.

Plan a trip here

None of our destination hubs is within 40 miles in a straight line. The trip planner builds a trip around the water itself: the guides and shops listed within 40 miles of it, its gauges and its nearest towns and airports.

No hub within 40 miles

Plan a trip here

Gear checklist

A wade-fishing checklist for big western trout rivers: a 9 ft 5–6 weight outfit, nymph, dry and streamer setups, waders, boots and a wading staff, with estimated prices by tier and where to buy.

A woman in waders and a sun hat wades a broad river and casts, bluffs on the far bank

Big western rivers (wade fishing)

9′ rod, 5–6 weight, floating line · Rainbow and brown trout, whitefish

Open the checklist

Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

Seams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.

Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.

90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River.

No stories from here yet.

Write the first story Share your day

Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 16 sources and dates

A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.

Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: a point on the mapped channel of “Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River”, halfway along its length in Idaho, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 5 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.

COEUR D ALENE RIVER NR CATALDO ID

USGS 12413500 · NWS CTLI1

Caution: Low water: go quiet and stealthy

Flow 304 ft³/s: much below normal (under the 10th percentile) for Nov 5, over 94 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey

What the agencies suggest

Stay low and approach slowly. Approach the stream carefully and with a low profile Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Work upstream. Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstream Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Look to deep pools and undercut banks. Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low water Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 304 ft³/s
Gauge height: 32.6 ft

Reading Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST · provisional USGS data

Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 304 ft³/s at Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)
Nov 5, 2:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 1:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 12:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 11:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 10:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 9:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 8:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 7:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 6:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 5:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 4:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 3:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 2:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 5, 1:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 5, 12:15 AM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 11:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 10:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 9:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 8:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 7:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 6:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 5:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 4:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 3:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 2:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 1:15 PM PST	304	32.6
Nov 4, 12:15 PM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 11:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 10:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 9:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 8:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 7:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 6:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 5:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 4:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 3:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 2:15 AM PST	316	32.6
Nov 4, 1:15 AM PST	310	32.6
Nov 4, 12:15 AM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 11:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 10:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 9:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 8:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 7:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 6:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 5:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 4:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 3:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 2:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 1:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 12:15 PM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 11:15 AM PST	316	32.6
Nov 3, 10:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 9:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 8:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 7:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 6:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 5:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 4:15 AM PST	323	32.6
Nov 3, 3:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 2:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 1:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 3, 12:15 AM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 11:15 PM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 10:15 PM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 9:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 8:15 PM PST	329	32.6
Nov 2, 7:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 6:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 5:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 4:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 3:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 2:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 1:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 12:15 PM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 11:15 AM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 10:15 AM PST	336	32.6
Nov 2, 9:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 8:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 7:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 6:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 5:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 4:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 3:15 AM PST	342	32.7
Nov 2, 2:15 AM PST	349	32.7
Nov 2, 1:15 AM PST	349	32.7
Nov 2, 12:15 AM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 11:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 10:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 9:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 8:15 PM PST	349	32.7
Nov 1, 7:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 6:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 5:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 4:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 3:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 2:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 1:15 PM PST	355	32.7
Nov 1, 12:15 PM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 11:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 10:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 9:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 8:15 AM PST	362	32.7
Nov 1, 7:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 6:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 5:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 4:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 3:15 AM PST	368	32.7
Nov 1, 2:15 AM PST	375	32.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM PST	375	32.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM PDT	375	32.7
Nov 1, 12:15 AM PDT	375	32.7
Oct 31, 11:15 PM PDT	375	32.7
Oct 31, 10:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 9:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 8:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 7:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 6:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 5:15 PM PDT	382	32.7
Oct 31, 4:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 3:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 2:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 1:15 PM PDT	389	32.7
Oct 31, 12:15 PM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 11:15 AM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 10:15 AM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 9:15 AM PDT	395	32.7
Oct 31, 8:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 7:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 6:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 5:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 4:15 AM PDT	402	32.7
Oct 31, 3:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 31, 2:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 31, 1:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 31, 12:15 AM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 30, 11:15 PM PDT	409	32.8
Oct 30, 10:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 9:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 8:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 7:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 6:15 PM PDT	416	32.8
Oct 30, 5:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 4:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 3:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 2:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 1:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 30, 12:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 11:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 10:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 9:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 8:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 7:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 6:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 5:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 4:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 3:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 2:15 AM PDT	437	32.8
Oct 30, 1:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 30, 12:15 AM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 11:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 10:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 9:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 8:15 PM PDT	430	32.8
Oct 29, 7:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 6:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 5:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 4:15 PM PDT	423	32.8
Oct 29, 3:30 PM PDT	416	32.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 397–898 ft³/s (middle half of 94 years of record). Now: 304 ft³/s, much below normal.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 274 ft³/s, highest 6,110 ft³/s.

Steady over 24 hours (−1.9% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.

NWS observed 32.6 ft stage, 304 ft³/s at Nov 5, 11:00 AM PST (NWS gauge CTLI1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 42 ft
Minor flood: 43 ft
Moderate flood: 46 ft
Major flood: 50 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 7:51 AM PST. Highest point: 32.6 ft, 304 ft³/s on Nov 5, 10:00 AM PST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	32.6 ft	304 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	32.6 ft	298 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	32.6 ft	292 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	32.6 ft	279 ft³/s
Mon, Nov 9	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s
Tue, Nov 10	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s
Wed, Nov 11	32.6 ft	279 ft³/s
Thu, Nov 12	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 13	32.6 ft	279 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 14	32.6 ft	285 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Idaho Fish and Game uses are 66°F and 73°F.

Species

Species the agency lists for Little North Fork Coeur d'Alene River: Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish.

Source: IDFG Recommended Fishing Waters (Idaho Fishing Planner) (Idaho Department of Fish and Game).

Safety

Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)

Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.

Open the USGS gauge page