Crappie, largemouth bass active in area lakes

Water temperatures have warmed up, and that means pre-spawning season has started and crappie and largemouth bass are really active.

Action is everywhere for fishermen from Fernan to Hayden Lake, said Brad Zierer of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Crappie fish are chasing lines baited with crappie nibblers, around three or four feet off bank shores, from morning to evening.

"It's simple fishing, Zierer said. "Pretty much everywhere the crappies are on. It's heavy action. The water temperature has hit that magic number of 56 degrees, and they're all coming in."

Largemouth are also active just off shore, chasing spinner baits and sinco, plastic worms.

The active lake fishing should tide fishermen over until this weekend, when the hatch is expected around the rivers, which should kick in dry-fly fishing season.

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The south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene is the best bet for kokanee these days, said Jeff Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Even running only about 10 inches long, the fish are staying shallow and biting fast on wedding ring fishers with corn or maggots, he said.

"It's fun, you can catch a lot of them," Smith said. "Anywhere past the south end, really."

Some of the waters belong to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and require a separate license, he cautioned, which can be purchased at Fins and Feathers.

Lake Pend Oreille is also a hotbed for mackinaw right now, he added.

Some fishermen are trolling with eight-inch flashers and mini squids, while others rely on flat fish plugs.

"The catch rates have been really good. Fish size will go from 2 to 10 pounds," he said. "You can keep six of 'em, so you can really bring a nice batch of fish home."

The Chain Lakes are best for pike at this point in the season, he said.

"It warms up a little quicker there than say on Lake Coeur d'Alene, so the fish are a little more active down there," he said.

Casting spoons, spinner baits or Rapalas will do the trick, he said.

"About any of the Chain Lakes (will do)," he said.

Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe rivers

The Coeur d'Alene River has been dropping steadily and the fishing has improved greatly, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"It looks as though this nice weather is going to carry over into most of next week, so grab your rod and get out on the river," he said. "Fish will be looking to the surface and should be feeding on blue-winged olives and stone flies."

Many fishermen are still fishing sub-surface, however, and having solid results, he said.

Buggers, copper johns, streamers and pheasant tails are the staples for fishermen who prefer to fish below the surface.

The St. Joe River is also fishing quite well, Roush said. Focus on the lower sections of river and use the same techniques as the Coeur d'Alene.

Area lakes

Fishermen are having a blast while fishing North Idaho lakes, Roush said.

Pike, chinook and kokanee are being pulled out of Lake Coeur d'Alene with regularity. Hauser, Hayden and Fernan are producing healthy numbers of bass, pumpkinseed and crappie.

"Most people are throwing small jigs, plastics in a variety of patterns, nightcrawlers and mid-sized crank baits for large and smallmouth bass," Roush said. "Fishing is also picking up on the Pend Oreille River for pike."