Still time to warm up for derby

There's still time to warm up for the Nov. 3 and 4 Lake Coeur d'Alene Anglers Association members derby, said Jeff Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"This is your weekend to practice for that," he said. "If you haven't been out salmon trolling for awhile on Lake Coeur d'Alene, this will be a good weekend."

Smith said he has caught chinook at 80- to 100-foot depths. For tackle, he recommended an 8-inch flasher, 2 feet of leader and a mini squid.

He has heard of folks using Mexican Flag squids, the pink and glow and the black and glow.

"Troll that down deep," he said.

He has also caught chinook on herring helmet, he said, adding that an assortment of colors has been successful.

Smith predicted chinook will range around 8 to 12 pounds at the derby, he said.

He reminded that the harvest limit is two longer than 20 inches.

"If you put a day in, you should be able to find a couple of keepers," he said.

Kokanee fishing is winding down as more of them turn, he added.

"The colder weather seems to accelerate their progress," Smith said.

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Late-season bass fishing on Fernan Lake and most smaller area lakes is going strong, said Josh Cass of Cabela's.

"What they're throwing is white-colored lipless repalas," Cass said. "Light-colored bellies either silver or yellow."

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With cooler and wet temperatures, Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden said he suspects pike fishing will pick up.

"The rivers needed water, so that should help the pike fishing," he said, adding that blue-winged olives and streamers should work.

Meanwhile, Frasca said he heard that steelhead fishing near Lewiston has slowed down.

"The river came up and got muddy," he said.

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Pat Way, of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene, said area trout fishing has slowed with the cooler temperatures.

However, there is a short window from noon to 4 or 5 p.m. when fishing has been productive, Way said.

"Nymphing has been the most effective technique," Way said. "Small brassies and pheasant tails in a 16 or 18 size range should get the job done."

Look for Blue winged olives and mahogany duns as the water warms up later in the day, Way said.

"Steelhead fishing was off to a slower start than normal, but things have really picked up the last few days," Way said. "We are getting good Clearwater, Snake and Grand Ronde reports."

With lower than normal steelhead counts, it's easy to get discouraged but there are plenty of fish in the system, he said.

"We are still fishing floating lines and leaders and swinging traditional patterns," Way said. "Concentrate your efforts in low-light situations and cast, cast, cast."

Effective steelhead flies have been Signal Lights, Silvey's Spey, Purple Perils and Kilowatts, Way said.

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Area fishing shops report that, with frosty mornings now commonplace, anglers, if they're not hunting, are starting to buy ice fishing equipment. Shops encourage fishermen to not wait until the snow flies or the lakes are iced over to buy their remaining supplies because some items can be hard to find at that point.