Smallmouth bass and pike are hitting hard on Hayden Lake. Smallmouth are chasing one-eighth to one-quarter ounce jig heads and four- to five-inch single, curly-tail grubs.

Pike are biting rainbow rapalas of various sizes, rooster tails and size 3 to 5 mepp agulias with deer hair skirts.

Largemouth bass have slowed a bit on Hayden, but are plentiful in the Benewah area of Lake Coeur d'Alene. They are biting at various plastic crawdad and regular crawdad lures using crawdad patterns, as well as watermelon with red flake and straight black senko worms.

Pike are also in the Benewah area of Lake Coeur d'Alene and are biting at the same lures as in Hayden.

According to Josh Kinghorn, water levels are still a little low on both lakes, but Lake Coeur d'Alene will be more affected than Hayden. He said the low water levels are minimally affecting the fishing.

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Catches remain much the same on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Fishermen are still snagging smallmouth bass with twin tailed jigs, said Jordan Smith of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"They're around 10 to 15 feet of water right now, around any docks or rocky shorelines," Smith said.

Northern pike are still chomping on spinnerbaits, too.

"They're in probably 4 to 6 feet of water in the back of the bays by the weeds," he said.

Both fish are still prevalent in Hayden Lake, Smith added.

"For the bass and pike on Hayden, do the exact same thing as on Lake Coeur d'Alene," he said.

Largemouth bass can be found at Hayden Lake as well, usually hidden around weeds or lily pads.

Many fishermen are using plastic frogs or a 5-inch senko, he said.

Fernan Lake meanwhile has trout and catfish to offer.

Trout are biting on nightcrawlers or small spinners, Smith said. Catfish are being snagged by a treble hook with a catfish bait.

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"Both our local rivers, the Coeur d'Alene and the St. Joe, are giving up some nice fish," said Pat Way of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene.

The terrestrial season has begun, with grasshoppers, beetles and ants starting to show up, he said.

"We're also getting some decent evening caddis on both rivers, and sporadic Pale Morning Dun hatches," Way said.

The Clark Fork River in Western Montana is still fishing, but Way thinks it's better fishing in the morning.

"Maybe take a nap at lunchtime and go back out in the evening," Way said. "I highly suggest getting up there now, because the flows are dropping, not that you're not going to be able to fish, but it's going to get progressively tougher."

St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene rivers

The Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers are both fishing well, said Mark Roush of ROW Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"Terrestrials are already showing up in force so be sure to have a box full of hoppers and beetles," Roush said. "Fish are still eating on nymphs and anglers are having luck with princes, johns, buggers and streamers."

Unless you enjoy fishing sub-surface, there is no reason to fish that way, Roush said.

Fish are also eating well on small mayflies, pale morning duns and parachute adams in a variety of sizes and colors.

"Be sure, if time permits, to get out on a weekday rather than a weekend," Roush said. "The vinyl hatch is getting pretty thick on Saturday and Sunday."

Area lakes

Many fisherman have taken advantage of the recent beautiful weather to fish, Roush said.

"Bass and pike are still actively feeding in many of our local lakes," he said. "The small-mouth bite is solid right now on Hayden Lake. The chain lakes are still producing some nice largemouth and pike. Sunfish and bass are still chasing lures on Hauser."

Red and green spinners, pumpkinseed Senko worms and the ever-faithful nightcrawler are all good options for landing bass, Roush said.

Shore anglers are still pulling out a lot of fish from Fernan.