Chinook fishing heating up on Cd'A

Chinook fishing on Lake Coeur d'Alene appears to be heating up.

"I heard a couple nice chinooks were taken out of Coeur d'Alene last weekend that were in the teens (pounds)," said Steve Holweg of Cabela's. "For this time of year, that's a big fish. Generally, if you get an 8-pounder during this time, that's a big fish."

Holweg said at least one of the fish came out of Mica Bay.

"They seem to be shallow - 30 feet or less," he said.

The recent warmer temperatures appear to be spurring on great spring fishing.

"With water temperatures coming up, the bite should start to turn on," Holweg said.

Holweg said anglers may want to try spoons, squids and flies.

"If you're not getting a bite, try something until you do," he said.

Holweg said he has heard that fishing on Lake Roosevelt in eastern Washington is slowing down.

"The water levels are dropping, so that bite will be off for a few days," he said.

Holweg said he recommends staying off the ice on area lakes now.

"But that's just me," he said.

The shift in the fishing is beginning.

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Ice fishing is still possible on smaller lakes, but largemouth bass season will be heating up with the warmer weather.

That season usually starts initially on the smaller lakes. Huskie jerks, suspended and crank baits are popular before anglers should shift later in the season to more plastics patterns, such as plastic worms and crawdad imitations, said Josh Kinghorn, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Smaller lakes such as Fernan, Avondale and Hauser are the best places to start the season.

"Smaller lakes heat up faster," Kinghorn said, which causes the large mouth to swim up from the bottom ahead of their small mouth counterparts. "But we're still a couple of weeks out or so."

Yet, ice fishing is still in swing at Twin and Spirit lakes.

Kokanee are the best in Spirit Lake, and perch, trout and pike are active in Twin Lakes.

Use glow hooks, rigged with chunks of maggots for the best results, Kinghorn said.

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Open water fishing is back on the Chain Lakes.

"I'm not saying that it's on-fire fishing, but it's open. You can shore fish some of it," said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

The chilled water at the lakes promises pike, crappies and bass, Smith said.

"The water is still really cold, so it's early season fishing," he said.

Pitching weedless jigs or lipless crank baits is best for snagging bass, he advised.

Smelt or herring should have pike chomping, too.

"Some people fish under a bobber, some will put it on the bottom," Smith said.

The best bait for crappies is a bobber and small jig, he added, about 3 to 4 feet.

"Crappies will probably take some more nice days to get really active," he cautioned.

Lake Coeur d'Alene is seeing moderate salmon action these days, Smith said.

One fisherman weighed a 12.5 pound catch this weekend, he recalled.

"I think this weekend will be better, because of the waterflow," he said. "The water is coming up again now and that usually helps the bite."

Most salmon have been biting pretty shallow, he added, from the surface to about 30 feet.

He suggested using helmetted herring or plus, like a Rapala.

"I think your best bet is on the south end of the lake," Smith said.

Open water fishing is also available on Hayden Lake, he added.

Folks can troll for trout at shallow depths, he said.

"I would troll either with a spinner or with a nightcrawler, or a jointed Rapala," he said.

Pike can be snagged on Hayden, too, he said, with smelt or herring in shallow waters.