Pike fishing prolific on area lakes

Pike fishing is prolific, thanks to high water levels, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"A lot of guys are pike fishing around the whole Coeur d'Alene system," Smith said.

Any of the Chain Lakes will offer up fair pike fishing, he said, notably Killarney and Thompson lakes.

Most are bait fishing with smelt or herring, though some are throwing lures like Husky Jerk Rapalas or Rattlin' Raps.

"If you've got two poles, you can do both," Smith said.

Catches in the Chain Lakes range between 2 and 10 pounds, he said.

Lake Coeur d'Alene has also provided some hefty catches.

"Pick a bay on Coeur d'Alene Lake, there are guys fishing pike there right now," Smith said.

Pike of all sizes are being caught on the lake, he said, adding that the largest seen this season was 28 pounds.

Fishermen are reeling in crappie, as well, especially at Fernan, Cave, Hauser and Rose lakes, he said.

Smith recommended using a bobber and small jig.

"A lot of guys will tip with maggots and cast off the shoreline or go out in a boat," he said.

Salmon fishing is still prevalent on Lake Coeur d'Alene, and Fins and Feathers will be hosting its annual Spring Chinook Derby on April 14 and 15.

"There's enough fish being caught to make it interesting," Smith said.

Entry is $20 per person, with first place $1,000.

He recommended relying on helmeted herring or Rapalas. He recommended the Deep Down Husky Jerk.

"Fire Tiger or Hot Tiger have been the best," he said.

He noted that someone recently caught a 17-pound salmon in Rockford Bay.

"This 17 pounder looked like a freak," he said. "I'm sure he wished he would've saved that for the 14th, it would've been a winner. But where there's one, there's more."

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Brutal weather had put bass fishing on hold.

In fact, only seven boats of the 42 boats competing at The Strike King/Black Sheep Ice Breaker Bass Tournament Sunday managed to catch bass, but perch, pike and panfish can still be caught.

Lake Fernan is especially active, said Blake Becker, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods. Perch are going after lines with little jigs, sized 1/32 ounce, with a screw grub. They're down about 3 feet below surface.

Pike are active most everywhere, Becker said. Dead baits, even jerk baits, or anything with a flash to it grabs their attention.

"They're certainly firing up," Becker said about pike, the fish that usually is among the first to become active in the spring.

Weather is always key, and when it warms up bass fishing will be in full gear, Becker said. It's only a matter of time. Though in Lake Coeur d'Alene, boaters braving the elements should be aware of driftwood, logs and dead heads floating the waters, having washed down from flooding rivers.

Fishing heats up all over

Spring fishing appears here to stay with several lakes heating up, said Duane Sunell of Cabela's.

On Lake Coeur d'Alene, chinook salmon can be caught at 30 feet with a helmeted herring and Rapala, Sunell said.

Salmon is also being caught on Spirit Lake. Try a Wedding Band spinner and maggots.

Pike fishing on the channel lakes and Hauser Lake is coming along. Spinner baits and spoons are starting to work, but some anglers are still using smelt and a bobber, Sunell said.

Sunell said more fishermen are headed to Priest Lake for mackinaw.

"They're jigging for those with swim baits or trolling with a split Rapala," he said.

Sunell said he recently fished the Clearwater in the Grangeville area for steelhead, but said activity is winding down.

"The water came up, but we brought a couple home," he said, adding that about 20 natives were landed.

On the Washington side, Sunell hears that fly fishing is going well on Amber Lake with black Copper Johns doing the trick, while Liberty Lake and Newman Lake are popular for trout and panfish.