Fly-fishing could heat up soon on local rivers

It's not quite springtime, but the fly-fishing on local rivers might be heating up soon.

The Coeur d'Alene River is at 1,390 CFS and holding fairly steady, said Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters. If they play it right, anglers could catch a few trout this week.

"I think that there's definitely a window in the next couple of days," Way said.

He suggested tandem nymph rigs on the Coeur d'Alene - a prince nymph above, a San Juan worm below. Fish that setup in slow, deep water.

The St. Joe is still choked with ice, Way reported, so it's probably not worth a trip just yet. He also scouted the Clark Fork recently, but it looked pretty icy, too.

"It was absolutely jammed up with ice," Way said. "Boy, you sure didn't want to be floating it that way."

Rocky Ford Spring Creek, in Washington, is still fishing well in early March.

"There are some nice fish over there," Way said, but the rainbows are pretty cagey. Streamers will work in certain situations, but small imitations will also draw strikes - scud patterns or zebra midges, in size 20 or smaller.

"There are moments of dry fly fishing over there, but it's typically a real short window," Way said.

Later in March and on into April, more insect activity is expected, Way said. Fishing will likely improve as stoneflies and small mayflies emerge.

"We expect some good pre-runoff fishing in the next couple of weeks," Way said. "It's just on the cusp, but people are starting to kind of chomp at the bit."

In steelhead territory, the big rivers are in flux. The changing conditions are challenging, and the Clearwater is starting to get crowded.

"It's kind of a day-to-day basis," Way said. "It's not always gonna be perfect."

Anglers would be wise to check the flows before heading down. For up-to-date fishing information, call Orvis at 667-2707.

•••

Ice fishing season is still holding strong.

Before lakes melt and smallmouth bass season kicks up in the spring, anglers are catching plenty of trout, perch and pike dropping lines through the ice.

On Fernan, even catfish are being caught, said Josh Kinghorn of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Use catfish nuggets such as chicken liver or chunks of raw bacon, a size 6 treble hook and a barrel or egg sinker, sized 0 or 2, and let the line drop to the bottom.

At the Twin Lakes, Trout are chasing bait holder hooks with worms or maggots. Pike are going after dead perch, dead smelt or herring. Don't use bobbers, just drop the line down to the lake bottom.

At Kelso Lake, perch and trout are going after the same set up.

Kokanee at Spirit Lake are still active, Kinghorn said.

"It's still going pretty good actually, the more I'm talking to people," Kinghorn said.

Use a glow hook and bead chain, add a maggot, and drop the line in.

Ice fishing still abounds.

•••

Kokanee are starting to bite at Spirit Lake, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"They haven't been biting good all winter, but a few guys are starting to catch some," Smith said.

He suggested using a glow hook baited with maggots, suspended around 25 to 30 feet.

Lots of fishermen are casting for perch at Lake Cocolalla, he added. The same lure will work, he said, only at the bottom of the lake.

Round Lake is prime for snagging a mix of perch and rainbow trout, Smith said.

"They're small rainbows and medium-sized perch," he said. "The trout you can use night crawlers, and the perch, just like anywhere, use glow jig and maggots."

Lower Twin Lake is also good for catching perch, he said.

Pike are still biting at Hayden and Upper Twin lakes, he said, suggesting smelt or herring.