Anglers wait for warmer weather

With ice fishing likely done for the season, anglers are left waiting for spring fishing to heat up.

Spring means bass season at just about all area lakes, but that hasn't started quite yet, said Tina Padgitt, Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

When it does, crankbaits will land smallmouth bass around the docks and rocks, while all sorts of rubber patterns, such as Senko worms, will land largemouth bass.

Until then, anglers can troll for salmon and rainbows, though that season will heat up when the weather does, too.

On Lake Pend Oreille, downriggers, Apex and rapalas are the best bet to catch rainbow trout. On Lake Coeur d'Alene, chinook tend to chase lines loaded with flies, mini squids or herring helmets.

Ice fishing on area lakes remains thin due to recent warmer temperatures, said Mark Hanson of Cabela's.

"Make sure you double check the ice because so much of it is melting," he said.

Hanson said he has heard that ice fishing remains an option on a few of the smaller lakes to the north.

"It takes longer to thaw on those, so there is still a little bit of ice fishing here and there," he said.

Ice fishing is still in a transition phase, said Dale Odenbaugh.

"We're in between stuff," said Odenbaugh, with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service in Coeur d'Alene.

Hardened waters are hard to find, he said. The best bet for ice fishing is in the Twin Lakes area, he said, and other lakes to the north.

Those dropping lines through the ice are still catching trout and perch, he said.

He recommended using an ice jig and a maggot "or three."

He has heard of Walleye fishing picking up on the Roosevelt in Washington, he added.

The majority of fishing there is done with a three-eighth ounce jig, he said, a fuzzy grub, a trailer hook and a nightcrawler.

"Take your time jigging, at 30 to 40 feet of water," Odenbaugh said. "Sometimes you can go shallower."

Folks are still catching whitefish at the Coeur d'Alene River, he said, around Kingston.

Just find a deep hole and drop in bead headed jigs, Odenbaugh said.

The chinook have also been active on Lake Coeur d'Alene, he added.

"It still seems the majority of the fish are caught on the north end of the lake," he said, suggesting herring and mini hoochies.

Northern pike are available in Lake Coeur d'Alene, too, Odenbaugh said. He recommended fishing around Cougar Bay.

"You're going to fish dead bait off the bottom, herring or smelt," he said.