Lake Cd'A fishing is improving

Fishing is only going to pick up more on Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"I think it will get better with the water coming up now," Smith said. "It will come up a lot this week, and that changes a lot of fish on that whole system."

Salmon fishing is already doing well there, he added, pointing to last weekend's salmon fishing derby, where the top three prizes were given to Frank Whitney for a 13.4 pound fish, Matt Palmer for a 12.5 pounder, and Craig Strayer for a 10.46 pound catch.

"For all those, there were probably 100 little fish caught," Smith said.

Kokanee are also starting to pick up on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene by Harlow Point, Smith said. Fishermen are using any kind of tractor blade setup, or wedding ring spinners with maggots or corn.

"They're trolling fairly shallow for them, like from the surface to 15 feet deep," he said.

At Hayden Lake, pike fishing is up, too, he said, most biting on plugs or spoons.

Crappies are also being caught with jigs or bobbers.

Trout is plentiful at Fernan Lake, Smith said.

"Most of the people are bait fishing, whether with power bait or nightcrawlers," he said.

Rising temperatures will encourage female largemouth bass to start swimming up to shallower bays in Lake Coeur d'Alene for pre-spawning, said Josh Kinghorn of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

In two weeks or so, the temperatures should rise 5 or more degrees, enticing the fish so anglers can catch them using cinco worms, spinner baits and rapalas.

But getting in the shallow bays may prove tricky, as water levels are very low stemming from the warmer-than-usual winter, he said.

Meantime, the lower Twin Lake is starting to see largemouth action, and anglers can catch them using any of the above bait or even throwing lizards too, Kinghorn said.

Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe rivers

Water levels have risen over the past few days.

"The rivers should balance out soon, and the fishing will turn back on again," said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene. "In general, fishing on the Joe and Coeur d'Alene has been solid. Fish are looking up and have been eager to eat a well-placed fly."

If you are fishing dries, be sure to have some blue wing olives, pale morning duns and stone flies, Roush said. Nymphing is still a productive way to catch fish and most fishermen have been primarily using pheasant tails, san juans, copper johns and princes.

"Fish are moving from the lower stretches of river and we will soon see lots of catchable fish throughout the entirety of both river systems," he said.

Area lakes

The warm weather has raised water temperatures slightly in our area lakes, Roush said.

Fernan continues to produce high catch rates for anglers pursuing trout, crappie and perch. Fish the east end of the lake for crappie and perch. Use a nightcrawler or red worm under a rocket bobber.

Bottom fish nightcrawlers anywhere on the north side of the lake for trout. There are also some large pike being pulled out of Lake Coeur d'Alene by fishermen using smelt and herring on a slip rig.

Large mouth are starting to pursue lures more actively on Hauser and Hayden, Roush said.