Fishing slows with weather

At Black Sheep Sporting Goods, Tina Padgitt said the fishing has slowed with the warmer weather.

Now, anglers might have to wait for the water to warm too, before the fishing gets good again.

"There's just not a lot going on," she said. "It's really nice weather, people are taking advantage of it but the fishing hasn't been very good."

Meantime, anglers are trying with little luck casting worms, eggs and some flies from the banks of area lakes, trying to land pike and trout.

And fishermen are still trying to troll for chinook in Lake Coeur d'Alene with minimal luck, she said.

But once the water warms, rainbows and pike will go after spinners and plugs; it's just a matter of waiting, she said.

If anglers are too antsy, they can cast flies for Steelhead on the Clearwater River near Lewiston.

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It's not over yet.

A few lakes to the north are still offering a shot at ice fishing, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"A few guys are going out on a few small lakes for perch and bluegills," Smith said. "At Upper Twin Lakes there are still guys ice fishing up there, but that's almost 'Proceed at your own risk.' You're at the end of ice fishing season, and you've got to be careful doing any ice fishing."

Open water spots are offering more trout fishing, though, he added.

There's just enough open water at the edge of Fernan Lake for bait fishing, he said.

Or folks can head down to the Coeur d'Alene River in the Kingston area for cutthroat trout, he said.

All catch and release cutthroats, the fish range from 12 to 18 inches, he said.

"They're pretty nice trout," he said. "That will remain good until we get heavy water flow."

Some are fly fishing at the Coeur d'Alene River, some relying on lures or bait.

Salmon fishing is still only so-so on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith said.

"We keep saying it, but it really should get better each week as we get into March," he said.

He suggested sticking to the bays on the south end of the lake, at roughly 30-foot depths.

"I haven't heard of anything really big. Mostly smaller fish from 3 to 6 pounds," he said.

St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene rivers

Fishing on local rivers has continued to improve, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

More anglers are heading to the north fork of the Coeur d'Alene and the Joe.

"Most of the day will still call for fishermen to slow fish deep water with nymphs," Roush said. "Popular flies include copper johns, princes, hare's ears and pheasant tails."

There can sometimes be a small hatch during the heat of the day, Roush said. Be sure to bring along some small stone flies and midges in case you are around for hatch.

Area lakes

Ice fishing is now limited to the northern most lakes in the Panhandle, Roush said.

Fishermen who frequent Lake Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake are taking to their boats for a day of trolling.

"There have been a few over-sized rainbows that anglers have caught while trolling on the south end of the lake," Roush said. "Pike are still holding in the weed flats on both lakes."

Try fishing the ice lines with slip rigs, he said. Keep your smelt or herring just above the weeds and wait for a tug. You can always pass time by casting out a husky jerk. There are some small mouth starting to eat on nightcrawlers from 30 to 40 feet deep.

Steelhead

Steelhead fishing has remained consistent over the last few weeks, Roush said. Things will start to slow down soon, so be sure to find a way to get out on the water in the next month.

Fish the Ronde, Snake and Clearwater with large nymphs, Roush said. There are still a few fishermen swinging flies, but this generally does not produce as many fish. Egg patterns are also popular right now.