Little Spokane River facts for kids

The Little Spokane River is a cool river in eastern Washington that flows into the Spokane River. It's about 35 miles (56 km) long and winds through forests, hills, and farms north of the city of Spokane, near the Idaho border.

The river actually has two main parts, or branches. One starts west of Newport, and the other comes from Eloika Lake. These two branches meet up about a quarter-mile east of Milan. The water from Eloika Lake can be quite warm in the summer, which means different kinds of fish live there compared to the colder water from the Newport branch. The best spot for trout fishing is where the two branches meet, but this area is on private land. The Little Spokane River is also special because it's mostly privately owned, which is pretty rare for a river!

Where the Little Spokane River Flows

The Little Spokane River begins in southern Pend Oreille County, south of Newport, close to the Idaho state line. It then flows south and southwest, passing by towns like Milan and Colbert. Finally, it joins the Spokane River from the east, about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Spokane.

Near where the river meets the Spokane River, there's a special natural area. You can find an old Indian painted rock there, along with trails for walking. There are also places where you can launch canoes and kayaks to explore the river. The river's speed and depth change along its path, but it's usually slow-moving and about 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 meters) deep. The river is typically between 40 and 60 feet (12 to 18 meters) wide.

Fish and Fishing in the River

The Little Spokane River is a popular spot for fishing. Many people enjoy flyfishing here, but regular fishing methods work too. The river is home to many different kinds of fish, both those that naturally live there and those that have been introduced by people.

Native Fish Species

Fish that are native to the Little Spokane River include:

• Redband trout
• Rainbow trout (which are related to steelhead, a type of trout that travels to the ocean)
• Suckerfish (which come from the Spokane River)
• Pikeminnow
• Longnose dace
• Speckled dace
• Sculpin
• Mountain whitefish

It's interesting to know that the trout in this river are often a mix of redband trout and coastal rainbow trout. This is because these two types of trout now share spawning times, so their offspring are often a mix of both. There are special rules for fishing for whitefish during the winter season.

Introduced Fish Species

Over time, many non-native fish have been introduced into the river basin, likely from lakes like Eloika, Chain, Sacheen, and Horseshoe Lake, which are connected to the river system. These introduced fish include:

• Brook trout
• Brown trout
• Grass pickerel
• Pumpkinseed
• Green sunfish
• Largemouth bass
• Tench
• Yellow bullhead
• Yellow perch

How Humans Have Changed the River

More than a hundred years ago, in 1893, two scientists named Charles Gilbert and Barton Warren Evermann studied the Little Spokane River. They noticed that human activities were already causing a lot of changes to the river.

They wrote that the river's natural state was changing because of "civilization." When people cut down trees and bushes right along the riverbanks and started farming the land nearby, it caused more dirt and soil to wash into the river. This made the river less clean and changed its natural environment. This shows how important it is to take care of our rivers and the land around them!