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Fall season still warm for fishing

| September 16, 2010 9:00 PM

Dry fly fishing on the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene rivers is as good as it has ever been, and should remain that way for at least the next few weeks, said Brad Zierer of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

The fall season is still warm enough that the fish haven't dived into the deeper holes, so cutthroats are chasing mahogany duns, heccuba mayfly patterns and October caddis.

When it gets colder, the fish dive down deeper, but until then, anglers should cast in the riffles in the middle of both rivers during the early morning or evening hours.

Both rivers are very wadable, so trekking through the low running currents shouldn't be a problem, Zierer said.

Lake Coeur d'Alene is the hot spot for salmon fishing right now, according to Ben Carney with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"Kokanee fishing on Coeur d'Alene Lake is doing amazing right now," he said.

Fishermen can catch their limit of six salmon pretty quick by trolling wedding rings around 15 or 20 feet, he said, using corn or maggots.

Chinook are easy to snag too, if folks troll around 80 to 100 feet with Mini Hoochies in the black and glow color.

"They (the fish) are pretty thick out there," Carney said.

Smallmouth bass are biting well on both Lake Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake these days, he added.

The fish can usually be found around 15 to 20 feet deep on rock shelves, he said. He suggested using tubes or Double Tail Grubs.

Trout are biting again on Fernan Lake, he said.

Most catches run about 10 to 15 inches.

He suggested casting out the bottom with a worm and a marshmallow.

"Green PowerBait has been working too," he said.

St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene rivers

Fishing is "excellent" on both streams, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"Most of the cutthroat are looking to eat on flies such as October caddis, the Parachute Adams, blue-winged olives and the occasional hopper," he said.

Some anglers have also had success while pulling streamers and leaches through certain holes and pocket pools, Roush said.

"The fishing is excellent right now because the rivers are seeing less pressure from both other fishermen and recreational floaters," Roush said.

Area lakes

Hayden, Hauser and the Chain Lakes are fishing well for anglers looking to hook up smallmouth bass.

"Northern pike are still occasionally being caught on the southern end of Lake Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Lake by fishermen using spinners and Husky jerks," Roush said.

The Pend Oreille River has been productive for both smallmouth bass and pike, Roush said.