Pike fishing going well on area lakes

Bud Frasca, of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden, said pike fishing on Coeur d'Alene and Hayden lakes is going strong.

"That's where I'm focusing my attention," he said.

Frasca said the time of year and recent warmer weather patterns make for the perfect situation for pike.

"The water is cooling off so they're gorging themselves before they hibernate for the winter," Frasca said. "For the next couple weeks - before it really gets cold - pike fishing should be really good. This is a great time to catch a big pike."

Frasca recommends fishing the bays, shallower water and any place where a creek comes in.

Artificial lures, Husky jerks and spinner baits are working well, along with streamers if you're fly fishing.

Bass fishing is going "halfway decent" in area lakes, Frasca said.

He said any lake stocked with trout should still allow for trolling opportunities for flat fish.

Frasca said the Coeur d'Alene River has risen due to recent rain and isn't fishing quite as good as it was.

"The river won't be muddy, but it's come up so it won't be as good," said Frasca, adding that the warmer weather has also helped because bugs such as blue-winged olives are hatching.

Frasca said he's heard that steelhead fishing has dropped some with higher waters on the rivers to the south.

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Steve Holweg of Cabela's said anglers are expecting steelhead fishing to heat back up in the coming days with colder temperatures ahead.

Steelhead supplies remain a hot-selling item at the store.

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Recent rains have bumped the trout waters, but fishing remains solid, said Pat Way, of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene.

"Streamer fish throughout most of the day and keep an eye open for Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany Duns," Way said.

Steelhead fishing has been normal, he said.

"A few hours per fish, but there has been a lot of quality wild steelhead this year," he said. "On average, I would say we are catching fewer, but bigger steelhead than the last two seasons."

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There's still plenty of activity out on Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Dan Pierce with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"The bluebacks are still biting," Pierce said. "They're real easy to catch."

He recommended fishing for blueback on the east arm of the lake, at Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay.

The blueback range between 8 to 12 inches, Pierce said.

The chinook are also biting from Arrow Point to about mid-lake, he said.

"It's pretty good," Pierce said of chinook fishing. "There are a lot of smaller ones."

The chinook tend to be found around 80- to 105-foot depths.

Pierce recommended using an 8-inch flasher with mini squids, or helmeted herring.

Pike are still good for fishing on Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Chain Lakes, Pierce added, along the weedlines.

He recommended spinner bait or jerk baits.