SWOTF Summer Suds Weekend
Welcome to the ninth annual Spokane Women on the Fly “Summer Suds” fishing weekend. The event takes place near Prichard, Idaho on the North Fork of the Coeur D’ Alene River. Dates are 6/9/27 – 6/13/27. We are excited to be bringing our event back to the Devil’s Elbow Group Campground.
Event Format
This event is the SWOTF DIY Fishing Weekend event model. Everyone goes out daily to fish and then connects in the evening with fish tales. It’s budget-friendly for all! Please use the Spokane Women on the Fly Facebook Group Event to connect with other women attending and make weekend-fishing friends. If needed, the event co-hosts will help connect you with someone to fish with. Please let us know if you need to borrow any equipment.
Registration
Registration is required for anyone staying with us in the group campsite and encouraged for those joining us just to fish.
Please note:
- The group campsite is limited to 50 people and 12 vehicles
- We strongly encourage carpooling
- Only tent and car camping spots are still available
Location
Devil’s Elbow Group Campsite on the NF of the Coeur D’ Alene River
Dates
June 9 – 13, 2027
Co-hosted
- Spokane Women on the Fly
- Amy Carlson, Elizabeth Simpson and Heather Hodson
Contact Email
Weekend Schedule
Each day is centered on fishing adventures, concluding with social evenings. We urge individuals to engage with one another in the Spokane Women on the Fly Facebook Group to form fishing friendships and coordinate weekend adventures.
Attend for as much of the event as your schedule allows. Some participants will arrive on Wednesday and stay through Sunday, while others will join us after work on Friday and depart Sunday morning.
- Wednesday, June 9, 2027 – Arrive and DIY Fishing
- 2:00 PM – Check-In Opens at Devil’s Elbow Group Campground
- Thursday, June 11, 2026 – DIY Fishing and Meeting New Friends
- 8 am – Coffee and Daily Fishing Plans Time
- Evening – Campfire and Social time at Devil’s Elbow Group Campsite
- Friday, June 11, 2027 – DIY Fishing
- 8 am – Coffee and Daily Fishing Plans Time
- 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm – Education Workshop #1 at the Group Campsite Picnic Tables
- Knots, Choosing a Fly and Leader Set-Ups
- Evening – Campfire and Social time at Devil’s Elbow Group Campsite
- Saturday, June 12, 2027 – DIY Fishing and Mentorship Day
- 8 am – Coffee and Daily Fishing Plans Time
- 10 am – 12 pm – Education Workshop #2 at the Group Campsite Picnic Tables and then at the Devil’s Elbow Group Site River Run
- Approaching the Water, Fishing Techniques, and On-Water Mending Practice
- 6:30 PM – Group Potluck at Devil’s Elbow Group Campsite
- 7:30 pm – SWOTF Fly Fishing Olympics, Social Evening, Campfire and Live Music with Hooked on Angie
- Sunday, June 13, 2027 – Fishing & Departure
- 12:00 PM – Check out from Devil’s Elbow Group Campground
This schedule will not be final until the week before the event.
Food
You’re on your own for all meals. We’re going to have a group potluck on Saturday evening at 6:30 pm. If you’d like to participate, please bring your own protein and beverage, along with a side dish to share. We’ll have a community grill and camp stove available for anyone who needs them.
Travel
It’s about 3hrs to the upper NF of the CDA River. There are several ways to get to the river. Please use Google Maps.
What to Bring
Bring a chair, your favorite beverages, food, and join us in the evenings to relax, swap stories, share fishing tips, and enjoy some laughter and connection after a day on the water.
Connect in the Facebook Group
We have created a Facebook Group Event. Please utilize this group event to ask weekend questions and connect with other women to fish with over the weekend. This will be the location that the co-hosts will post additional event information to. Facebook Group Event Link HERE.
Camping and Parking
The campsite is an open group camping area with plenty of space to set up your tent, so feel free to choose a spot and pitch your tent wherever you’d like. Please keep in mind that this is a shared campsite, and you will likely be camping near other participants. If you plan to sleep in your vehicle, please park in a designated parking space so that multiple vehicles can be accommodated.
If you are bringing a boat and trailer, a co-host will be available to direct you to the appropriate parking area, or signage will be posted with parking instructions upon arrival.
Campground Amenitites
- Dedicated vault toilet (outhouse) for the group campsite, cleaned daily
- No potable water available, please bring all drinking and cooking water needed for your stay
- Several picnic tables are located throughout the group campsite
- Multiple fire rings available for campfires and gathering
- Firewood available for purchase
- A community camp stove and grill available for anyone to use
Kit Price Campground
Important Camping Update for This Year – Due to the unavailability of the Devil’s Elbow group site, this year’s event will be held at Kit Price Campground. The campground has three loops with a mix of first-come, first-served and reservation-only sites.
🔗 Click HERE to reserve your campsite
Please note: There will be no group campsite this year—each attendee is responsible for reserving their own site. SWOTF has reserved site B36, a larger spot with shelter, which will serve as our central meet-up location throughout the event.
We encourage you to coordinate with others for site reservations and carpooling.
2hr "On Water" Clinic
Instead of assigning individual river mentors this year, we’re switching things up! On Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, our river mentors will team up to lead a 2-hour hands-on “On-Water” clinic.
Since cutthroat fishing picks up as the day warms and the bugs begin to hatch, there’s no need to hit the water at sunrise.
📍 Meet at campsite B36 — come fully geared up with your waders and fishing equipment. It’ll be best to walk over as there won’t be room at the campsite for multiple cars.
We’ll rotate through several learning stations covering:
- Match the Hatch – Learn to identify aquatic bugs and choose the right flies.
- Leader Setups – Tips for dry and dry-dropper rigging.
- Approaching the Water –Are you searching or targeting? Your fishing approach should change depending on whether you’re exploring for fish or casting to one you’ve already spotted.
- Reading the Water – Understand where trout are likely to be based on conditions.
- Amphitheater Casting – Start close and work your way out and up stream.
- Mending – Practice achieving a drag-free drift.
- ABCs of Fly Fishing – Assessing the water, identifying bugs, and mastering your cast.
This is a great opportunity to sharpen your skills and connect with others—don’t miss it!
Saturday Potluck and Fun Evening
We’re planning a great evening of food, fun, and community on Saturday night and hope you’ll join us for a potluck dinner beginning at 6:30 PM. If you’d like to participate, please bring your own protein and beverage, along with a side dish to share with the group. A community grill and camp stove will be available for anyone who would like to use them.
There is absolutely no obligation to participate in the potluck; we’d love to have you join us regardless. Just be sure to bring a camp chair and your enthusiasm for an evening of socializing, games, and activities planned by the co-hosts. The SWOTF Fly Fishing Olympics will also take place Saturday evening, so come ready for some friendly competition and plenty of laughs!
Fishing License
Idaho Fishing License is Required. https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses
DIY FIshing
This is a DIY Fishing Weekend. Each angler is responsible for bringing their own gear, tackle and flies. If you need gear, please let us know.
Boat Sticker Required
An Invasive Species Boat Sticker is REQUIRED for all boats launched in Idaho Waters. You also must stop at the Idaho Boat Checks. Buy sticker at https://idfg.idaho.gov/info/boat-stickers.
Fishing Tips
Get off the beaten path. Hike away from the road. Use the longest leader you can cast and fish well (12-18’). Talk to Silver Bow Fly Shop or NW Outfitters in CDA about the current fishing report.
Know the River Flows
Know the river flows before you go. It’s been a cold spring with a gradual runoff. Be prepared to fish the soft water and exploring the tributaries could be a great choice. There are two-gauge stations on the NF CDA River. Prichard and Cataldo. The links below are through the National Weather Service and will give the current flows as well as predictions. Prichard – https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=prci1&wfo=otx Cataldo – https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=ctli1&wfo=otx |
Fishing Equipment
- Fly Rods – 4-6wt Rods
- Leaders – 3-5x 9 – 12’ Leaders
- Tippet – 3x, 4x, 5x and possibly 6x
Fishing Techniques
Dry, Dry Dropper, Swinging Wet Flies, Nymph (Subsurface), Euro Nymphing or Streamers.
Flies
Check out Silver Bow Fly Shop’s “Fishing Report” for specific fly names. https://www.silverbowflyshop.com/fishingreports/
Hatches
Caddis, Salmon Fly, Golden Stone, Yellow Sally, Brown and Green Drakes, Flavs, BWO and PMDs.
Fly Examples
- CDC Thorax Drakes and Flavs
- Green Drake Sprouts
- Parachute Adams and Purple Haze
- CDC Golden Stones
- Larimer Yellow Sallie
- Yellow/Golden Chubby Chernobly
- Royal Wulff
- Caddis – X-Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis
- PMX & PMDs
- Droppers – Caddis, Lightning Bugs, Hares Ears, Tungsten Bead Nymphs
Education opportunities
Each evening, co-hosts and SWOTF mentors will offer informal education sessions covering fly fishing basics such as knots, leader setups, flies, and more, so don’t hesitate to ask questions.
Participants who requested a mentor should have already received an introductory email from Amy Carlson. Please connect directly with your assigned mentor to coordinate your time together on Saturday.
If you did not receive a mentor email or have any questions, feel free to reach out to one of the Summer Suds co-hosts.
We are beyond fortunate to have Molly Semenik, our “Casting Doctor,” joining us this weekend. Molly will be available throughout the event to help diagnose casting flaws and offer helpful tips to improve your technique. Be sure to stop by and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to learn from her expertise.
Safety & Wellness
Your safety matters to us. We strongly encourage anglers to avoid fishing alone and to connect with a fishing buddy through our Facebook group. For the safety of all participants, please stay home if you are feeling unwell or have a positive COVID test result. Be sure to monitor weather conditions, dress appropriately for the environment, and remain aware of changing water levels, flows, and conditions at all times.
Questions
Email us at heather@ifishibelong.org with any questions until Thursday morning. Utilize the SWOTF Facebook Group Event to connect with those attending.
Weekend Disclaimer
Spokane Women on the Fly want you to have an unforgettable weekend. The event mission is to foster a sense of belonging to all individuals who attend. We will provide education, resources and connect anglers throughout the weekend. Drama of any kind will not be tolerated. This weekend is DIY and not guided by the co-hosts. Please connect with other women in the Facebook Group Event to make fishing plans. This is not an exclusive women’s weekend as some partners will also be attending.
Donations to spokane Women on the fly
Summer Suds is offered on a donation basis. Spokane Women on the Fly is part of United Women on the Fly, a program of iFishiBelong, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 93-4542368). All donations made for this event will directly support Spokane Women on the Fly.
Ways to Donate:
- PayPal – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=H2CW83EU9YD4W
- Write a check made out to iFishiBelong with SWOTF in the Memo. Mail it to 3211 W Alice Avenue, Spokane, WA 99205.
