Warmer weather improves area fishing

With warmer weather gradually coming on, fishing is improving on local lakes and streams, said Bud Frasca, owner of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden.

"It's getting better," Frasca said.

With Idaho Fish and Game slated to stock area lakes this month, although the stocking schedule has been delayed and is subject to change, the lakes will be a good option.

"Everything is starting to happen," Frasca said. "Bait fishing for pike has picked up on Hayden, Coeur d'Alene, the Chain Lakes and Fernan."

After the Coeur d'Alene River was lowering to fishable depths, it has risen again with recent rain. However, there are spots where fish can be caught, Frasca said.

"The river is high, but it's fishable in places," Frasca said. "It takes getting down to the bottom with weighted nymphs."

Frasca said fish that have been in the hatchery and just stocked in a lake have white-gray meat, but can be just as good in a frying pan.

"The osprey eat them, so people might as well, too," Frasca said.

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The three fish in season right now are crappie, largemouth bass and pike, said Josh Kinghorn of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Pike are really active on the Chain Lakes, going after husky jerks, mepps or spinner baits. That formula is successful around the different bays on Lake Coeur d'Alene, too.

Largemouth bass are starting to swim up from the bottom, making them easier to land. Use jigs, Rapalas and crank baits for them, with suspended baits like husky jerks. Work your line really slowly with senko worms or football jigs on the end to attract them. They're active at the Chain Lakes, too.

Crappie fishing, using crappie jigs and bobbers and a glow nib or maggot, is good from the banks of Fernan Lake.

Ice fishing is all but over, Kinghorn said.

"It's getting to be where it's going to be fishing from only boats or banks," he said. "Largemouth, pike and crappie, those are the three best things out there right now, hitting."

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Salmon fishing was decent this past weekend during the annual spring Chinook derby held by Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"I thought we'd see something a little bigger than what we got, but it wasn't bad, really," said Jeff Smith of Fins and Feathers.

The winner of the Lake Coeur d'Alene derby was Dan Lenz of Coeur d'Alene, who caught a 12-pound, 6-ounce salmon. Second place went to Mike Cordon, also of Coeur d'Alene, who weighed in a fish at 11 pounds, 13 ounces.

Third place went to Coeur d'Alene resident Lindy Lemberg, with a catch of 11 pounds, 3 ounces.

Most of the 180 participants fished with helmeted herring or a Rapala plug, Smith said, adding that most of the bites were shallow and at the south end of the lake.

"The same thing should hold true for the next couple weeks of fishing, I'm sure," he predicted.

The best bites were in the afternoon, he added, around 3 p.m.

Folks have been fishing on Fernan Lake like crazy, Smith said.

Most are sticking to the east end to nab pan fish like crappies, bluegill and perch.

Most are using rocket bobbers and small jigs, he said.

"And then some people will bait that with maggots," he said.

Trout fishing is also doing well on Fernan, he added, after the lake was recently stocked a couple weeks ago.

"There are plenty of fish out there," Smith said.

Bait fishing for northern pike is also big right now on Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Chain Lakes, Smith said.

"You can fish most of the bays in Coeur d'Alene, or any of the Chain Lakes," he said. "Killarney is real popular."

Fishermen are using smelt or herring, some fishing it under a bobber or on the bottom.

"I think people will be doing that pretty hot and heavy these next couple weeks," he said.