Kokanee still congregating at Wolf Lodge, Beauty Bay
There are still enough kokanee congregated in Wolf Lodge and Beauty Bay to keep a crowd of fishermen busy, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.
"The Higgens Point boat ramp is filling up with boat trailers almost every day," Smith said. "They're just packed out there."
Reminding that fishermen can keep up to 15 kokanee, Smith suggested fishing at 40- to 45-foot depths.
"Any tractor troll with a wedding ring spinner, baited with corn and maggots will get 'em," he said, adding that he has also used a small dodger and a pink mini squid with corn. "Really it's getting it at the right depth, you'll get a setup that works really good, but it'll switch as you go."
The kokanee fishing should be good for another two weeks, he predicted.
Folks hoping to avoid the crowds can also reel in kokanee at Mica, Carlin or Powderhorn bays, he said.
Northern pike catches have picked up recently, Smith said.
He suggested fishing on the weedline at 10- to 15-foot depths, with spinnerbaits. Eventually, Smith plans to get more aggressive and use a 6-inch plug, he said.
"I haven't caught anything massive, massive, but I usually do in the fall," Smith said. "Sometime this month, you'll start seeing some of the really big ones make mistakes. They don't bite everyday or every time, but that's why they get to be 15, 20 pounds."
Smith recommended Hayden Lake to troll for trout.
"I would troll some plugs or spoons, down about 30, 40 feet," he said, suggested a 2-and-a-half mile-per-hour speed. "You should see fish from 3 to 10 pounds. They're pretty nice."
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Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters said it is definitely time for area fishermen to downsize their flies and tippets.
"Fish on the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers have been taking small dry flies very well," Way said.
He said blue-winged olives, mahogany duns and small ant patterns in a size of 18 or 20 have been effective.
"Look for big October Caddis from mid-morning through the afternoon," he said. "A foam Caddis with orange bellies in a size 8 or 10 has been producing some fish."
Other good news, Way said, is it's getting closer and closer to steelhead time.
"The counts over Lower Granite Dam have been solid," Way said. "We are just waiting for a little cooler weather and water."
Colder nights should boost fall fishing
The colder nights ahead should make fishing the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers even better, said Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden.
If you're fishing with dry flies, Frasca said October caddis, mahoganies, ants, crickets and hoppers are the ticket, Frasca said.
"Streamers should get better and better," he said.
Frasca said the lack of rain this summer and fall doesn't necessarily make fishing worse by itself, but it can make things a little trickier.
"The dry weather can make it tougher because the rivers get lower and clearer," he said. "That makes the fish get spookier."
Bass and pike fishing on the lakes should also improve with colder nights.
"The cool water should get the pike perked up to where they start feeding before winter," Frasca said.
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Steve Holweg of Cabela's said he hears good reports of fishing all over, including kokanee on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Hauser, Fernan and Hayden lakes, steelhead on the Clearwater River and salmon at Hanford Reach.
"Get out and fish because it's going really good," he said.
Holweg said dodgers with a wedding ring and maggots and corn are still working good for kokanee.
"Most of the fish are coming from the north end," he said. "Some of the kokanee on Coeur d'Alene are starting to turn red, but up to the point where they're getting really dark, take advantage of it."