Smallmouth bass biting in Lake Cd'A
Smallmouth bass are biting in Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Jordan Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.
"Most of them are fairly small, but they're getting anywhere from 7 to 15 inches or so," he estimated.
Most are chomping on tube jigs, he added, and can be found at shallow depths around 7 to 12 feet.
The lake is also a popular spot for northern pike right now, he said, which are being snagged with Johnson Silver Minnows.
Kokanee can be found on the north end of the lake, he added.
"They're anywhere from 10 to 40 feet," he said, adding that wedding rings are the best lure.
Fernan Lake is good for crappie and trout fishing, Smith said.
Screw grub will help nab the crappie, and wedding rings are good for trout, he said.
"Everything will start picking up as the weather gets nice," he said. "That will help all of it."
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A rainy spring is causing the Coeur d'Alene River to run fast and high for this time of year, but good river fishing can be had the higher you climb.
At lower elevations the river is almost un-fishable because more tributaries feeding into it increase the water's velocity, but at Tepee Creek, up by the McGee Ranger Station, the water is slower.
Anglers can catch cutthroat salmon there using basic dry-fly patterns such as sized 14 or 16 parachute adams or caddis patterns, said Brad Zierer, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.
The river should begin to calm down at lower elevations in the next couple of weeks, so anglers can come down there and cast the same patterns along the banks for the rest of the summer.
"It's only going to get better from here on out," Zierer said. "So long as it doesn't rain."
St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene rivers
The rivers have come back into shape and are fishing well, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.
Things should stay that way for a while as there is not much rain in the forecast for the next week or so.
Parachute Adams in a variety of sizes and patterns, pale morning duns and tiny mayflies are all getting good looks on the Joe and Coeur d'Alene. Nymphing is still effective and many fishermen are using princes, copper johns and dark-colored buggers.
"With the weather warming so quickly, we should see some large fish keying in on big stimulators and hopper patterns," Roush said.
Area lakes
Area lakes are fishing well, Roush said.
More people are chasing small mouth and having good luck on the Chain Lakes, Lake Coeur d'Alene and Hayden.
Small to mid-sized crankbaits, plastics and spinner baits are all very effective. Senko worms are outstanding and the pumpkinseed color are Roush's favorite.
Crappie, bluegill and pumpkinseed are still feeding on jigs, night crawlers and nymphs accented with maggots.
"There have been some big pike pulled out of the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene and there have also been lots of smaller pike being pulled out of the Chain Lakes," Roush said.