Dry fly season to kick into gear
The Coeur d'Alene River is running clear and cold, and because of the dry winter, is already at mid-June levels, said Brad Zierer, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.
That means dry fly season will be kicking into gear soon, and anglers will be able to land cutthroat trout using stonefly patterns sized 10 to 12 in the next three weeks or so.
"It's a short season," he said of the stoneflies.
After that, summer dry fly season will be in full gear - a little earlier than usual, Zierer said.
"The season is going to be about a month ahead, that's my opinion," he said, referring to the mild winter. "The river is already running around mid-June levels."
Meantime, anglers can fish the river using prince nymphs and green drakes, he said.
•••
"The steelheading has been good, but it's been crowded, especially if you happen to go on a weekend," said Pat Way, of Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene. "If you can avoid that, we suggest midweek."
The Clearwater fish are bigger right now, Way said, but they've been in the system a long time.
Most anglers are still nymphing for steelhead, using egg patterns or big prince nymphs or in tandem, he said.
Both the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers are giving up trout.
"We have a small stonefly out right now, the numera, a size 16- or 18-range," Way said. "16 is probably the best."
They're landing trout with small midge patterns on the surface, he said.
"For nymphing it would be a Pat's Rubber Leg with a San Juan," Way said.
Most of the lakes in Eastern Washington are ice free and recently opened, offering other opportunities to catch trout.
Way suggests sinking lines with leech patterns in the lakes.
"If guys are excited about fishing, they should be. We've never had such a non-winter," Way said.
•••
It's what salmon fishermen have been waiting for.
"We're going into my favorite time of year for 'em," said Raleigh Turley of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.
Salmon are starting to grow plentiful in Lake Coeur d'Alene right now, Turley said, most moving toward the surface around 30 to 40 feet.
Most fishermen are trolling herring or deep diving rapala plugs, Turley said.
"It's definitely better down toward the south end of the lake, I think the water's warmer down there," he added.
Pike are also picking up on the lake around Harlow Point and Wolf Lodge, as well as on the chain lakes.
The fish tend to bite on smelt under bobbers, Turley advised.
"This is just the best time of the year to go get them," he said. "There's a lot of four to 6 pounders, but every year we're going to see a couple 30 pounders come in."
Still, about 90 percent of the shop's business is for fishermen headed to Fernan Lake to snag some trout, he said.
Biting on marshmallows or power bait, most trout are running 12 to 16 inches, he said.
"This time of year we're getting a lot of holdover planters from last year, so they're a little bit bigger," he said.
Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe rivers
It's been one of the warmest winters on record, so there should be spring-type feeding habits occurring earlier this year on local rivers, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.
When heading out onto the river, be sure to have some Golden Stone fly patterns, as fishermen have seen some small hatches happening already, Roush said. There have also been some small mayflies coming off onto the water in the heat of the afternoon.
"A very small pale morning or pale evening sun will usually fool them," Roush said. "The staple for most fishermen is still going to be nymphs in a variety of patterns. Be sure to pack a few copper johns, bead head princes and olive wooley buggers."
Area lakes
Ice fishing is finished in the Coeur d'Alene area, but there is good fishing to be had for shore and boat fishermen, Roush said.
Shore fishermen have started throwing out dead smelt and herring under a float on Lake Coeur d'Alene and have had some good hookups with over-sized pike. Hayden Lake has also been producing a few pike, but the average catch is much smaller this year in comparison to the last few.
"On the chain lakes, some fishermen have been slow twitching Husky Jerks and having moderate success," Roush said. "Chinook on Lake Coeur d'Alene are starting to feed more aggressively."
Rainbow trout still abound in Fernan Lake, and Idaho Fish and Game will start its 2010 stocking programs soon.
Steelhead
There is still some solid steel-heading to be found on the Grande Ronde River, Roush said. Crowds have thinned out a bit on the upper river.
Few fishermen are swinging flies these days. Most successes have come when fishing a nymph/egg rig with a sink tip, Roush said.