Bass, pike and kokanne fishing still active

Keep after the kokanne.

The last report called for trolling lines on Lake Coeur d'Alene slowly, about a mile an hour, with wedding rings tipped with maggots, about 40 feet deep and up.

Nothing's changed, so keep using that approach and you should be able to land 10- or 11-inch beauties.

According to staff at Black Sheep Sporting Goods, use glow hooks, tipped with corn to land them on Spirit Lake.

Smallmouth bass are active in Hayden Lake, too. Cast lines off docks, loaded with Senko worms, and you should be able to land them. Pike fishing, using Daredevil lures, should also land you some good catches on Hayden.

Largemouth bass are still active in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden lakes, too.

Keep throwing Crankbaits for smallmouth bass, anything that can get down 10 feet or so. Lines loaded with Lipless Crankbaits or Strike King 3 XD styles are really good bets to land fish.

And Northern Pike fishing has started with a bang.

Dead bait is the best bet right now, mostly in Hayden and Coeur d'Alene lakes. More aggressive jerk and big Lipless Crankbaits in that 4- to 20-foot depth is working well, too. Pike seem to be scattered all over the lakes, so don't focus on one spot.

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"Fishing regionally has been fantastic," said Pat Way, of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene. "Both Idaho and Montana streams have been productive."

The Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe have been fishing well in the mornings and evenings for dry fly activity, he said. When the sun gets high, nymphing and streamer fishing has been producing some fish.

"Watch for caddis, pmd's, ant patterns and small hoppers," Way said.

After several tough years of poor fishing due to the dam removal in the town of Bonner, Mont., the Clark Fork seems to have made a miraculous comeback, Way said.

"The key to good fishing on the Fork is to get there and on the water early - sunup early," Way said.

Big bushy dry flies with a pheasant tail dropper have been the best bugs on the Clark Fork, he said.

Other options include area lakes where bass fishing remains solid, he said.

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Bass and pike fishing on the Chain Lakes near Rose Lake is going well, said Jerry Brown of Cabela's.

"We had a real good experience," Brown said of his recent outing.

Pike were caught on several baits, but Spinnerbaits seemed to work the best, he said.

Bass were hitting on a Yamamoto worm.

"We caught and released about eight pike and seven bass, and they were all nice-sized," Brown said.

Brown said the Chain Lakes, which consist of Cave, Killarney and Medicine, are also a popular choice for panfish, including perch, bluegill and crappie.

"Killarney seemed to be the best for us," Brown said.

Some anglers have found mackinaw fishing on Priest Lake to be promising.

"They're either jigging, drop-shooting or trolling," Brown said. "They're catching them all three ways."

In eastern Washington, sockeye salmon are hitting in the Brewster area.

"Pink or red seem to be the hot colors (for bait)," Brown said.

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Fishermen still have time to prepare for the Big One Chinook Derby on Lake Coeur d'Alene in early August, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Two pre-derby seminars have been scheduled, Smith said, one at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Black Sheep, the other at 5 p.m. on July 28 at Toblers Marina.

"It's geared toward Coeur d'Alene salmon, what you should be doing during that tournament," Smith said.

The chinook in the lake seem a little behind schedule this year, he acknowledged.

"Fishing for salmon has been spotty," he said.

What has been caught lately has been at 40- to 50-foot depths, he said, on mini squids or herring.

"As we get closer to the tournament, these next couple of weekends, we'll get more boat traffic out on the lake," Smith figured. "Hopefully we'll see some fish being caught and that'll get us all fired up to get out there and give it a shot."

Smith said he has been fishing for pike most days on the lake, which has proven steady.

He has snagged pike at most bays on the lake, he said, including Wolf Lodge, Kidd Island, Rockford and Windy.

"You earn 'em all out there. You have to throw a lot of casts," Smith warned. "But if you keep pitching, you'll get some to bite."

He recommended fishing in 8- to 14-foot depths. He's caught pike using spinnerbaits, spoons and Husky Jerk Rapalas, he said.

"You get mixed sizes," he said. "You get 3 pounders, 8 pounders, you never know."