The Coeur d'Alene River has lowered a lot in the last two weeks, meaning anglers don't have to climb high to find slower, wadable fishing water.

In most cases, waders aren't even necessary, as anglers can cross the streams in just boots. Mayfly hatches are still active, so those patterns are most successful. The river has dropped around 6 inches a week lately, and the fish are in deeper pools. Anglers might have two or three more good weeks of river fishing this year, said Brad Zierer of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

On Lake Fernan, largemouth bass are still in season. They're chasing 4-inch senko worms, the darker colored patterns like pumpkin black, because the water is darkening with so much pollen in the air. They're 6 to 10 feet off the shore, while smallmouth have moved on since their spawning season is over.

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Smallmouth bass and northern pike are still prevalent on Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Jordan Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

He suggested pursuing the bass around rocky shoreline and docks, around 8 to 15 feet.

"They (fishermen) are using mostly twin-tail jigs," Smith advised. "They're also still using some tube jigs."

The pike tend to stay hidden in weedy spots at the backs of bays, he said, but will chomp on spinnerbaits.

A number of kokanee salmon are being caught on the lake, too, he added, mostly around Beauty Bay and the south end of the lake.

"They've been pretty small, but they're catching lots of 'em," Smith said, adding that fishermen are relying on small wedding rings with a Jack Lloyd spinner.

Fernan still has ample supply of trout and bass, Smith said.

The trout are usually snagged with worms, a marshmallow and a small Panther Martin lure.

The bass tend to be at the far end of the lake, he said, and are biting on 4- or 5-inch Senko worms.

"We weighed one (bass) a few days ago, I think it was about 4 and a half pounds," he said.

Folks are also catching smallmouth bass on Hayden Lake, Smith said. The best lures are the same as on Lake Coeur d'Alene, either twin tail jigs or tube jigs.

Northern pike at Hayden Lake can also be snagged with spinnerbaits, he added.

Folks are catching mackinaw at Pend Oreille and Priest Lake, Smith said, typically by trolling with an Apex lure.

"They're anywhere from 50 to 80 feet deep or so," he said.

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The water is still plenty cold for wading on the St. Joe, Coeur d'Alene and Clark Fork, says Mike Beard at Orvis Outdoor Outfitters.

All those rivers have been fishing well, he said.

Terrestrials - hoppers, ants and the like - will be the top bait.

"I think a lot of the bigger fish have holed up in their summer places," he said. "You have to hunt for them."

But there have been plenty of 12-inch and 14-inch cutthroat taken recently, he said.

Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers

After months of rainfall and high waters, the rivers are in full swing and ready for fishing, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

Green drakes and stone flies are still getting some looks from cutthroat. Pale morning duns and other small mayflies generally will trigger a few bites this time of year.

Mid-sized stimmy patterns should also get a few looks.

"We will start to see more and more fish feeding on terrestrials soon," Roush said. "Be sure to pack hoppers, beetles and ants in your fly box."

Area lakes

Area lakes are producing healthy catches of bass, crappie and trout, Roush said.

"Night crawlers are always the best options for shore fishermen," he said. "Pike will seem a bit scarce this time of year, but can be lured into a strike while using a sporadic retrieve from fire-tiger husky jerks."

Bass will be most likely to take a look at plastics pulled slowly across sandy bottoms on Hayden and Fernan lakes.

Don't forget to cast out a few rapalas for any fish that are hungry, Roush said.