Right now best time to go fishing

Jeff Smith is always fielding the same question. When is the best time to go fishing?

Well, it's right now, he said.

"You can usually figure the best fishing on Lake Coeur d'Alene is about during the elk hunting season," said Smith, with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service. "The next couple of weeks, before it gets too darn cold, even though most people are hunting, there's some good fishing."

For example, the kokanee that are just starting to turn are still worth going after, Smith said.

"There are plenty of ones that aren't far along you can keep," he said.

Most are on the east arm of the lake, he said.

Smith also caught a bounty of chinook on the lake recently, he said, adding that he caught a 9-pounder, 6-pounder, 5-pounder and handful of smaller chinook.

"You can keep two apiece over 20 inches," he reminded. "That trip, we caught three over 20 inches, and we only fished for a couple hours."

He suggested fishing at more than a 100-foot depth, using 8-inch flashers and mini squids.

He recommended dropping lines by Tubbs Hill or Carlin Bay.

"Either flashers or mini squids or herring," he said.

Pike are still biting, too. Smith suggested using spoons by the weed beds, around 12 feet of water.

"You can go to any bay on the lake and do that," he said.

A number of fishermen are migrating to the Clearwater and Snake rivers to fish for steelhead, Smith said.

"There are a lot of ways to catch 'em," he said. "If you go from shore, the simplest way is with a slip bobber and a small jig."

Some also drift shrimp, he said.

Fishermen need a steelhead card on top of a regular fishing license, he reminded.

He suggested fishing off the shore, for those who don't have a jet boat.

•••

Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene said fishing in local rivers has been solid.

"Although the window of good fishing has narrowed - to noon to 4 p.m. - trout are readily taking surface flies," Way said. "Blue-winged olives are the primary hatch with the cool, wet weather, but we are also seeing mahogany duns and October Caddis."

The cutthroats are evenly distributed throughout the system right now so it's a good opportunity to fish the lower Coeur d'Alene River.

"We caught some nice fish right off the Interstate (90) the other day," Way said. "Plenty of fish are being caught higher up the drainage as well."

Area lakes are giving up some nice pike on large streamer patterns, too, Way said.

Big bunny leeches fished on heavy 15- or 20-pound maxima leaders have fooled some pike, he sad.

"Steelhead fishing is well under way and things are looking up with rain and cooler temperatures," Way said.

Although the run is below average, there are plenty of steelhead in the system, he said.

"Fish dry lines with floating leaders and traditional hairwing flies," Way said. "Copper Tops, green-butt Hiltons and Signal Lights are the most popular patterns."

•••

Steelhead fishing on the Clearwater River near Lewiston continues to heat up, said Duane Sunell of Cabela's.

"They're fishing with bobber and jig setups and some are using Brad's Lighted Lures in the evenings," Sunell said.

Fly fishing on area rivers is still going "fairly well" on ants and hoppers, but some anglers have turned to the lakes.

Salmon can be caught on Lake Coeur d'Alene using wedding rings with maggots and corn, Sunell said.

Priest Lake has been producing kokanee that are 12 to 14 inches, a fisherman told Sunell. The angler was trolling using a bobber and corn.

On Coeur d'Alene and the Chain Lakes, try red and white Daredevils for pike.