It's catfish catchin' time

Catfish are just begging to be caught on Fernan Lake, said Dale Odenbaugh with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Most fishermen are reporting catches out there, he said, and one catfish snagged this past weekend weighed in at 12.5 pounds.

"I myself was out yesterday and caught four," Odenbaugh said on Tuesday.

The fish are generally biting on Dough Bait, he said.

Catfish are also doing well on Hauser Lake, Odenbaugh said, suggesting the same bait.

"Quite a few have been caught with a nightcrawler, too," he said. "The old standby."

Lake Coeur d'Alene is still a hot spot for salmon fishing, especially at East Point and on the north end, Odenbaugh said.

Various baits can work, he said, adding that fishermen have used small hoochies or black glow flasher.

Some have also caught salmon with flies, he said.

"Even the big hoochies are doing all right," he said.

Smallmouth are still biting on all local lakes, mostly on tube jigs and twintails, Odenbaugh said.

Many are still snagging trout on Fernan and Hauser lakes, he added, usually with Powerbait or a marshmallow with a nightcrawler.

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Bass fishing has slowed down a little bit with overnight temperatures dropping in recent days. But with temps expected to pick back up the rest of the week, bass and pike should continue to chase summer colors and patterns, said Josh Kinghorn of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

That means smallmouth in Hayden Lake and Lake Coeur d'Alene are going after Senko and crank baits. Summer colors for plastic worm and lizard patterns are the familiar green pumpkin and watermelon shades.

Pike are after spinner and jerk baits in Coeur d'Alene, too. But with the looming fall that will change. Bass will switch to orange and red senkos, or crawdad colors with tube jigs and grubs.

Pike will sink to the bottom chasing smelt then too, instead of chasing lures during the heat, but meantime, they're after the lighter colored summer plastic baits, too.

Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe rivers

Fishing has been solid over the last week, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"Terrestrials are still the bugs of choice throughout most of the day," he said. "Large hoppers, ants and beetles often work best during the heat of the day, but will also trigger strikes in the early morning and evening."

Parachute adams in a variety of sizes and patterns have gotten some good looks. Also be sure to have plenty of caddis with you as the early mornings and evenings usually see a hatch or two.

"Pulling streamers has been very productive lately," Nick Slomski, head fishing guide for ROW Adventures. "Many of the large fish that are sitting behind rocks and in certain pocket pools have been eager to slam a bugger or leech that is run by their nose."

Area lakes

Pike fishing has been steady on the Chain Lakes, Coeur d'Alene and Hayden, Roush said.

They have been eating on spinners and husky jerks. Smallmouth fishing has been solid with fish striking at Senko worms, deep-diving crankbaits and spinners.

Families are still pulling lots of trout out of Fernan, Roush said.