Heavy rains, rapid rise make fishing nonexistent

After heavy rains and a rapid rise, trout fishing is nonexistent on the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers, according to Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters.

The water is high, murky and flowing much faster right now.

"That's certainly put the kibosh on fishing for the next few days," Way said.

Once the rain subsides, he said, anglers might be able to hook a few trout as the waters decline. Streamers and nymphs would probably be the best choice.

And if there's going to be any insect activity on local rivers, Way added, it will likely be blue-winged olives or small midges.

There's good news, though: Down on the Clearwater and Snake rivers, steelhead fishing is improving daily. The shift in the weather has worked in fishermen's favor, Way said.

"I think the next week should be really, really good down there," he said.

Right now the Clearwater is fishing better, but the Snake is catching up. Way said fishermen are hooking B-run fish in the Clearwater - steelhead that have spent more time in the ocean, and are much bigger.

"Most of the B-run fish will run 10 to 20 pounds in some cases," he said.

Traditional flies are still the ticket: green butt skunks, signal lights and kilowatts are attracting fish. Steelhead are hitting colorful, out-of-the-ordinary flies, anything that might draw a territorial or reactionary strike, Way said.

"Pattern-specific-type stuff is just not something to worry about," he explained. "For the most part, your fly selection for steelhead is not as big of a deal as it is for trout fishing."

Steelhead are coming upstream to reproduce, Way said. They spawn in the spring, sometimes in very small tributaries of the main rivers.

Pick off the pike while the going is still good.

Pike are going crazy in Hayden Lake and at the lower Twin Lakes, chasing bobbers and herrings about 10 or 12 feet deep, said Brad Zierer, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Who knows how long it will last, as the season slows dramatically when the weather chills. Meantime, it's still active.

Pike have been somewhat active in spots of Lake Coeur d'Alene, especially in the bays like Cougar Gulch or Kidd Island, chasing spinner baits or roosters tails.

But anglers know this time of year is a great time to go after steelhead on the Clearwater and Snake rivers.

That season is just getting under way, lasting until the early spring.

Anglers should go after them now with traditional steelhead fly patterns, such as swinging flies, signal lights or green but skunks.

Those patterns are typically sized four or six, and aggressive fish are active at sun up, and again at sunset.

Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe rivers

Fishing has slowed on the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers, but there are still some fish to be caught, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"Nymphing and running streamers through the deeper runs and holes can be lucrative," he said. "Wooley buggers, prince nymphs and copper johns can all be productive."

Area lakes

There are still fish to be caught in Hayden, Hauser and the Chain Lakes, Roush said.

"Smallmouth can be caught with Senko worms and spinner baits," he said.

Pike will still chase after a well-presented fire-tiger Husky Jerk, Roush said.