Trolling is the way to go on Lake Pend Oreille

Trolling at Lake Pend Oreille is the way to go to snag rainbow trout or mackinaw, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"Really you could catch a rainbow or lake trout, you don't know what's going to hit," Smith said. "It's been decent at both ends of the lake."

The fish are generally found shallow, he said, around 20 feet deep.

Smith recommended the Apex lure, and running multiple rods off planer boards.

Some are running bucktail flies off the boards, he said. Others are long-lining Rapalla plugs.

"The size range will be fairly broad," Smith said of the fish. "Most of them are fairly small fish. They're going from 2 to 20 pounds."

Pike fishing is still prominent on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith said.

A recent rise in the water pushed the fish back into shallow depths, he said, adding that fishermen can drop their lines in any bay on the lake.

"Just go into the shallow water," he said.

Most are casting weedless spoons or floating plugs, Smith added.

The average size caught is around 3 to 5 pounds.

Rose Lake is popular these days for reeling in bluegills, Smith said.

He suggested small jigs tipped with maggots.

"Most will fish under a bobber," he said.

•••

Despite the weather not being 100 percent summerlike, fishing is good.

Largemouth bass fishing is perhaps the best, according to Blake Becker, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

They've backed off from spawning grounds and are swimming in deeper waters, around 12 to 14 feet out. All the familiar waters are at play, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Twin and Fernan lakes. Go after them with crankbaits, especially mid-range divers. Red Eye Shads and spinnerbaits are both working well, as are Hollow Belly lures.

"Anything on the aggressive side," Becker said of what lures are the best, while line retrieval should be "slow to medium" speed right now.

Northern Pike are active as well, mostly in Hayden and Coeur d'Alene lakes.

Dead bait is the best bet right now. 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.

Don't change your approach when it comes to kokanee fishing.

Troll Lake Coeur d'Alene dragging lines loaded with wedding rings using 3 and half colors with an ounce or two of weight. Go slow, troll at less than one mile per hour. Crappies are hitting lines all over North Idaho, so keep throwing lines with smaller baits like 1/32 or 1/64 ounce crappie jigs tipped with a screw or tube grub. Stay shallow, casting in lines in water 2 to 10 feet deep.

Fishing improving on the Cd'A River

Fishing is improving up high on the Coeur d'Alene River from Tipi Creek on up, said Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden.

"There's lots of bugs coming off, the water is clear, but it's very hard to wade," Frasca said. "People need to be careful, and I'd recommend a wading staff. The water can be a problem."

Frasca said the river level is starting to drop again after spring rains.

"It's very good fishing with a raft or pontoon boat," he said. "And it should only get better and better, depending on how much more rain we get."

Frasca said the St. Joe River is still high and difficult to fish without a boat.

Bass are starting to come into spawn mode on Hayden Lake and anglers are starting to catch bigger fish.

"It's not just the smaller males, but it's the larger females," Frasca said. "You can catch a nice 3- to 4-pound smallmouth in the next couple weeks. You can drop shot it with a spinning rod or you can fish with wooley boogers and streamers."

Crank baits work well, Frasca said.

"Smallmouth like small bait," he said.

The fly fishing expo at the Spokane Convention Center will offer a variety of workshops July 12-14. It's put on by the Federation of Fly Fishers. Information: www.fedflyfishers.org

•••

Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene said recent rains have fly fishermen singing the blues.

The Coeur d'Alene River has dropped to 6,450 cubic feet per second, but still needs to come down some more for good fishing, he said.

The St. Joe River remains out of the question at 9,000 cfs, Way said.

"Not only has the fishing been tough, but at these flows, these rivers are dangerous," Way said. "We highly recommend not wading or floating the rivers at these levels."

Way said either himself or Mike Beard at the shop can provide updated stream information.

"On a brighter note, area lakes are giving up good bass and pike," he said. "Bass fishing has been solid on the Chain Lakes and Hayden (Lake)."

Big bunny leeches in black or olive have been fooling some nice largemouth, he said.

Top water fishing has been good if fishermen can get out early before the sun really hits the water, he said.

Poppers in black and purple have been the most effective.