Crappie bite is coming on

The crappie bite is starting to heat up on area lakes, including Cocolalla, Fernan and Hayden, said Bug Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden.

"The best bet with spinning rods is crappie jigs," Frasca said. "Put a bobber on and drag those about 4 feet deep."

Fly fishermen can try using leeches and streamers under an indicator. Minnow imitations may also do the trick.

Frasca said fishing on the Coeur d'Alene River and the lower St. Joe is also coming on.

"River fishing has been good," Frasca said. "We've had some hatches."

Flies and streamers are a popular choice. If you fish on top, also try midges or blue-winged olives.

Trollers should try spinners and nightcrawlers.

Idaho Fish and Game continues to stock area lakes, so there should be plenty of trout to be caught, Frasca said.

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Fernan Lake is keeping up its fine record of pan fish, including perch, crappie and bluegill, according to Dan Pierce.

"Fernan Lake is doing real good," said Pierce, with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Most fishermen are using crappie jigs, he said, tipped with a maggot or nightcrawler.

The Chain Lakes are also seeing a lot of pike biting, he said.

"(Fishermen) are using Johnson Silver Minnows, Daredevil spoons and Husky Jerk rapalas," he said.

Salmon is just adequate on Lake Coeur d'Alene, he said.

Folks are nabbing them with herring and herring helmets, as well as rapalas.

"(The salmon) are in the top 30 feet of the water column," Pierce said.

Fins and Feathers will be holding a pike tournament this weekend on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Entry is $50 per team. The top prize is cash, the amount depending on the number of entrants.

For more information, contact Fins and Feathers at: 667-9304.

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Largemouth bass and pike fishing are the best bet right now, said Josh Kinghorn, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Both are getting active in Hayden, Fernan, Hauser and Twin lakes, chasing the same patterns. Husky jerks and jerk baits like rapalas are working well so long as anglers use a very slow approach when reeling in lines.

Slow approaches are best because fish are pretty lethargic as the water isn't warm enough for spawning.

Plastics like worms and crawdad imitations work well all over too, Kinghorn said. Toss your line 10 to 15 feet from the banks. When water temperatures hit 55 degrees in May or so, shoot closer to the banks, like 6 to 10 feet out in the lilies and weeds.

Right now, Hayden Lake is about 49 degrees.

Pike are chasing husky jerks, either fire tiger or Tennessee shad colored on Hayden Lake about 6 to 15 feet from the banks.

"The season is just starting," Kinghorn said. "Barley move the line and wait for the bite."

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One door has closed for now, says Mike Beard of Orvis Northwest Outfitters - but another door is starting to open.

After a warm weekend on the Coeur d'Alene River - fly-casters were out in force, both floaters and shore fishermen - the local streams have blown out.

"The week started really good, but starting (Monday) we're into the runoff," Beard said. "The rivers are on their way back up."

No worries, though: just as the rivers are going south, area lakes are heating up. The water reached 50 degrees on Hayden Lake Sunday, which is a good sign for bass, crappie and northern pike.

Try tossing wooly buggers for bass and crappie, Beard advised. For pike, big bunny leeches should do the job.

"As the water warms, the warm-water species are going to move in tight to the bank," Beard said. "The trout, they'll probably stay within 10-20 feet (deep). I would start off the bank and work into it."

Trout on Round, Twin and Cocolalla lakes are slurping chironomids mainly, and also leeches or wooly buggers in warmer water.

Anglers should search spots where streams enter or drain from the lakes, Beard said.

Coffeepot and Amber lakes, in eastern Washington, are also fishing well.

River fishermen can still head east to the Clark Fork. Bigger than the Coeur d'Alene and the Joe, the Clark Fork isn't greatly affected by the current runoff.

"That has potential to stay good a little bit longer," Beard said.

In the morning, deep nymph rigs should draw strikes, he added. Tie on rubber legs, San Juan worms or pheasant tails. Try dry flies - Shwala stoneflies, March browns or blue-winged olives - later in the day.