Smallmouth, pike fishing is picking up

Pike and smallmouth fishing are picking up on local lakes, said Raleigh Turley with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Pike is doing well mostly on Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Chain Lakes, he said.

"Even though the Chain Lakes are really high, if you can get into them, they're really good," Turley said.

He suggested throwing weedless lures and spinner baits to nab some pike.

The fish tends to be found in flooded grass, he added.

Smallmouth bass are concentrated under docks on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Turley said.

"There have actually been some pretty big ones coming in here lately," he said. "Some are up to 4 or 5 pounds."

Tubes or Rat-L-Traps are best for snagging the smallmouth, he said.

Mackinaw and Kamloops are also biting on Lake Pend Oreille, Turley said.

"There's been some pretty darn big Mackinaw caught lately, a few over 20 pounds," he said, adding that some have been during the Captn's Table Trash Can Derby at the lake every weekend in June.

He suggested trolling deep with dodgers and flies or dodgers and squids to catch the Mackinaw.

Folks should troll the surface with Apexes and flies for Kamloops, he added.

"Pend Oreille is the only place you're going to find those guys," Turley said.

•••

It's summer, and good fishing is here to stay says Blake Becker of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Largemouth bass, pike and crappie are the best bet at any of the area lakes.

Bass are coming shallower, now that spawning season is beginning, so toss lines in Hayden, Fernan, Hauser and Twin lakes as well as Lake Coeur d'Alene about 8 feet out, rigged with Husky jerks, and jerk baits like rapalas.

Any sort of plastic or crank baits are working, Becker said, and the earlier the better.

And while any time of the day is getting results, anglers should hit the water by 3:30 a.m.

"It seems like they're hitting anything and everything you're throwing at them," Becker said.

Same goes for crappie and pike.

If you want the crappies, use 12-inch husky jerks from perch to firetiger for the jerk baits. Tennessee shad is the best color for those patterns.

For pike load the lines with rooster tails or Mepps with a rooster tail.

Pike are active in those same areas, especially chasing lines baited with rapalas such as X-raps, and husky jerks, shaded Tennessee shad or fire tiger-colored.

River fishing as unsettled as the weather

Area river fishing for the next few weeks or so will be up and down just like the weather and the resulting water levels, said Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden.

"The warm weather recently drove the rivers up," Frasca said. "It may take a month for the water to settle down. It'll be up and down for a bit."

Such conditions make river fishing spotty, he said.

The best bet is area lakes, Frasca said.

"The bass are starting to spawn on Hayden," he said.

Frasca recommends fishing the shallow bays, near the banks and close to the rocky points.

"Anywhere from 3 to 4 feet to 15 feet," he said.

Small worms, plastic tubes, jigs with trailers, spinner baits and crank baits are all good choices.

Pike fishing should also be good. Try a Husky jerk.

"Firetail is a good color," Frasca said.

Dead bait is another good bet.