Kokanee fishing picks up

Kokanee fishing is picking up on Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

While the fish have long been congregating at the south end, Smith said, they're finally scattering throughout the rest of the lake.

"Which is good news," Smith noted. "It costs a lot to go all the way to the other end."

He recommended fishing from the surface to about 30 feet deep.

The fish have been small, he added, about 8 to 10 inches.

"With a little work, your 15 fish limit is pretty attainable," Smith said.

He recommended a slow troll, about one and a half miles per hour.

"The whole key is finding the depth range," he said.

Most are being caught on the east arm of the lake, he added, like Bennett and Beauty bays.

"Just find where the schools are and get after them," he said.

Pike are still found in the back of the lake's bays, Smith said.

He suggested throwing some weedless spoons or floating plugs, especially in the late afternoons and early evenings.

If that doesn't work, he added, move to 10 to 12 feet of water and use heavier spoons or Husky Jerk Rapalas.

"Most of them are going to be 3 to 6 pounds, but you can expect some 10- to 20-pound fish, too," Smith said of the pike.

Bass have been more intermittent in the lake, he said, due to the inconsistent water temperatures.

"They don't know whether to spawn or not spawn," Smith said. "As we get some warmth, we should see a lot of bass around the docks and shorelines."

At that point, try using tube jigs or Senko worms, he said.

The fishing rate should change quickly once the weather improves, he added.

"Where there's nothing, nothing, nothing, the next day when the conditions are right, go to the shoreline and it will just go bang, bang, bang," Smith said.

•••

Mackinaw fishing on Priest Lake remains a good choice for anglers, said Duane Sunell of Cabela's.

"Drag near the bottom at 130 to 200 feet," Sunell said.

Sunell said Priest River, like some other rivers, is still high, but he still recently had good luck trout fishing with a spinner and nightcrawler.

"You can pull some nice ones out of the deep holes," Sunell said.

Kokanee fishing on Lake Coeur d'Alene and Spirit Lake is also promising.

"They're not real big, but you can catch quite a few," Sunell said.

For crappie on Hauser Lake, try a white jig with either PowerBait or a worm.

Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are still being caught on Hayden and Coeur d'Alene, Sunell said.

Sunell said he hears that salmon fishing is also going well on the Clearwater out of Lewiston.

Overall, despite recent rain, Sunell said there's great fishing to be had throughout North Idaho.

"Every time I've gone out, I've done quite well," he said.

Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene said "Things are certainly looking up for local fly fishers."

The Coeur d'Alene River is below 3,440 cubic feet per second at Enaville and should continue its downward trend, he said.

"Fishing has picked up rapidly," Way said. "Wading conditions are still tough and we advise caution no matter what stretch of river you are fishing."

Insect hatches have been prevalent and the fish are taking notice, he said. Way recommended keeping an eye out for blue-winged olives, pale morning duns and several species of stoneflies including salmonflies and yellow sallies.

The upper Coeur d'Alene River is better wading right now, but experienced rowers can float the lower stretch, he said.

There is an impassable log jam at the Bumble Bee bridge and this portion of the river is not to be floated until the obstruction is clear.

The St. Joe River also dropped, but not low enough to offer good fishing opportunities just yet.

Area lakes continue to give up good bass, pike and spiny rays.

"It finally looks like we have turned the corner with all of this weather and water," Way said.

•••

Summer is here, and kokanee fishing is at its best.

It's simple standard, said Tina Padgitt, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods, troll lines at 25 to 30 feet deep on Lake Coeur d'Alene and Spirit Lake dragging a wedding ring. Keep it slow, around a mile per hour or less.

Good kokanee fishing should continue the rest of the summer, she said.

For those who want to keep closer to the shoreline, keep going after bass.

Largemouth bass are swimming around 12 to 14 feet out in familiar waters, like 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.

Nothing's changed on the northern pike front since last week. They're still active, 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.