Fish Tips Feb. 4, 2010

Early morning best time to drop a line

At Spirit Lake, kokanee are being caught 15 feet to 30 feet out on the icy surface at Silver Beach using jigs, said Tina Padgitt of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Early morning, around 7 a.m., is the best time to drop the line in, too, if anglers want to catch their 15-fish limit quickly.

"There's a good early bite and there's a good afternoon bite," she said. "We got the early bite and we were done by 9 a.m."

Twin Lakes is offering up perch chasing jigs with a Swedish pimple and a maggot, and at Round Lake near Sandpoint they're after vertical repalas and Swedish pimples, too. Pike are at the Chain Lakes, chasing smelt with a tip-up.

Also, trout are biting at Kelso Lake between Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint on jigs with a marshmallow and a worm.

Most fishermen are gunning to Clearwater River these days for steelhead, said Jeff Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Most who fish along the main river and the north fork are snagging catches between 8 and 15 pounds, he said.

"This is the time when they're biting good," Smith said. "The water's just right for that kind of fishing."

Ideal steelhead bait is slip bobbers and 8-ounce jigs, he added.

Fishermen must obtain a steelhead card from a local vendor to fish for steelhead on the Clearwater.

Salmon are still biting in Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith added, at both deep and shallow depths.

"You want to mix it up right now," he said, suggesting running a deep line as well as some shallow lines off side planers. "This is a hair early to see those shallow fish, but with the warm water and the rain, it might be getting them to move around a little bit more."

Ice fishing is still hanging on despite the mild temperature, he said.

Perch are biting at Cocolalla, Spirit and Gamble lakes, and Fernan Lake still offers trout, bass and bluegills.

A small jig with maggots is advised for perch, he said, and a jig tipped with a nightcrawler for trout.

"Just for ice fishing in general, take any small glow jig and bait that up with maggots, and you're going to be in the game," Smith said.

Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers

As far as winter cutthroat fishing in North Idaho, the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers are solid, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"Abnormally nice weather and warmer water temperatures have made the fish slightly more active during this sluggish time of year," Roush said. "Nymphing is still the best choice for anglers, and most are using copper johns, buggers, princes and hare's ears."

If nymphing proves to be slow, try running a white or olive-colored streamer through the deepest holding water, Roush said. Don't hesitate to add split shot to your leader if your flies are not reaching desired depths.

Area lakes

Warm spells in winter often trigger more aggressive feeding habits for fish holding in northern lakes, Roush said.

"Unfortunately, this warm spell has lasted a little longer than we would have liked," he said. "There are still a few fishermen out on Fernan Lake, and those who venture out usually have great success catching stocked rainbows."

Ice is continuing to recede on Fernan, so there has been less traffic lately.

Only a few fishermen have continued to find their way on to Hayden Lake.

"I visited the north end of the lake on Monday, and it is clear that there are warmer water currents moving heavily underneath the ice," Roush said. "Use extreme caution if you choose to fish on Hayden."

However, several of the northernmost lakes are still safe to fish.

"Spirit Lake and parts of the Twin Lakes are still providing ice fishermen with chances to fish safely while catching their fill of kokanee, perch, sunfish and trout," Roush said. "Another really cold spell would allow us to fish well into March, so keep your fingers crossed. If we do get another cold spell, be sure to head out onto the ice as it should mark an excellent late winter bite."

Steelhead

Mike Beard, co-owner of Northwest Outfitters, said steelhead fishing is still solid on the Snake, Grande Ronde and Clearwater rivers.

With more warm weather in the foreseeable future, fishermen should be able to continue having success. There have been especially good reports by fishermen who have ventured up toward "Bogans" on the Ronde, Beard said.

Fishing on the Clearwater near Orofino has proved lucrative for many anglers.

"The water has warmed considerably, so you can still swing flies with a sink tip while using varying flies," Beard said. "Nymphing is also another popular choice for anglers and often produces high catch rates."