The waves marched from the south, steep and white-capped, funneled through the narrow channel on the north end of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Roger Blackstone's 24-foot boat, Fish Whisperer, was made for such water. The rugged vessel, built in Washington and designed for the open sea, motored along the lake's western shore on Tuesday morning. She swayed along at a good clip, bucking the foamy swells, slicing the stubborn wind.

Not far from Loff's Bay, Blackstone cut the engine and turned the Whisperer around. The overcast conditions weren't perfect for salmon fishing - clear skies and calm seas would've been more promising - but the skipper wanted to give it a try.

"Out here, some days it's dark colors, some days it's bright colors," said Blackstone, rummaging through a box of lures. "Everybody has their own favorite."

He set up two flashers and two artificial squids, and pushed a silver herring onto a treble hook. Stepping across the rolling deck, he placed the rods in their holders and lowered the downriggers to varying depths - one squid at 80 feet, the second at 64, the herring at 40.

"I've caught the biggest fish on bait, over the years," Blackstone said.

The trolling motor coughed in the stern as Blackstone set a northerly course. Fish Whisperer trundled along at just under 2 knots, rocking side-to-side as waves swept under the hull.

The 40-year-old fisherman, a Marine Corps veteran and chairman of the Lake Coeur d'Alene Angler's Association, has hunted the elusive chinook for many years. After hundreds of hours on the water, he knows the tactics and techniques that lead to big fish.

Next week, Blackstone will enter the 27th Annual Big One Chinook Derby on Lake Coeur d'Alene, the largest LCAA event of the year. For the past 15 summers or so, Blackstone hasn't missed it.

"I've never made the top 10," he said. "I'd like to make the top 10."

The Big One starts Monday, Aug. 4, and runs until Thursday, Aug. 7. The angler who lands the biggest fish of the tournament wins $5,000. Second place bags a $3,000 prize, and third place takes home $1,000.

Daily prizes will be up for grabs, too.

"It's almost like a new little derby every day," said Susan Houk, owner of Frisky Jenny Flies and secretary of the LCAA.

Up to 500 anglers and 250 boats could participate this year, Blackstone said. Lakeside weigh stations will be located at Hutton's Marina, Carlin Bay Resort, Sun Up Bay Resort and Gate Way at Harrison.

Last year's winner, Dan Rife, hauled in a 24.3-pound chinook. He caught the silver-sided monster on a bait rig.

As a prelude to the derby, Black Sheep Sporting Goods hosted a free Salmon Fishing Seminar on Friday night. Blackstone was a featured speaker - he towed Fish Whisperer to the Black Sheep parking lot - along with Susan Houk, her husband, Don, and two-time Big One Derby winner Benita Galland.

The anglers offered some friendly tips.

"When a big fish hits, he's gonna test your gear," Blackstone told the audience. "And when that time comes, you don't want it to fail."

Don and Susan co-own Lake Charters Inc., a guiding service on lakes Coeur d'Alene and Pend Oreille. An experienced chinook fisherman, Don talked about his salmon equipment - squids, flashers, leaders, dodgers, downriggers; all the tiny pieces of gear that work together to hook fish.

He showed his method for rigging bait - a tight roll is best, he said - and discussed his favorite trolling setups. When an angler asked a question, Don usually knew the answer.

"Everybody does things a little bit different out here," he said. "Throughout much of the year, the fish are scattered from one end of the lake to the other."

Many of the Big One's big ones, the anglers noted, are captured in the middle or southern sections of the lake.

By this time of year, the chinook might be stacked up near the mouths of the Coeur d'Alene or St. Joe rivers, preparing to swim upstream and spawn. Derby anglers are allowed to fish all of Lake Coeur d'Alene, including Tribal waters to the south (a Tribal license is required).

Chactolet Lake is off-limits, however.

Idaho Fish and Game began stocking chinook in Lake Coeur d'Alene in 1982, according to Regional Fishery Biologist Melo Maiolie. The intention was to control the burgeoning kokanee population, and improve the kokanee fishery.

As it turned out, IDFG established a successful chinook fishery in the process.

In 2009 and '10, Fish and Game released 20,000 young chinook. Ten thousand were released this June.

The lake now harbors both hatchery and wild salmon. Stocked fish have a clipped adipose fin and a coded wire tag in the snout.

"In general, the kokanee population is doing real well now," Maiolie said. "The kokanee population is the feed for the chinook population. We expect to see some good fat chinook."

IDFG will monitor the Big One Derby and collect the heads of caught hatchery fish.

"We're trying to see what makes the best stocking strategy," Maiolie said. "It's definitely a healthy fishery. It's doing well. I know a lot of people really like it."

Local salmon anglers like Blackstone, Don and Susan anticipate a successful Big One Derby next week. Who knows, there might be another 24-pounder in the offing - or maybe, just maybe, an even mightier chinook.

Fish Whisperer trolled northward, the lures streaming behind her. The wind died down and the weather warmed, but no fish struck.

The salmon were cagey that morning.

"You never know when you'll get a big hit," Blackstone said. "It just kind of steamrolls ya."

If you go

Tickets for the 2011 Big One Chinook Derby, Aug. 4-7 on Lake Coeur d'Alene, are available at Black Sheep Sporting Goods, Wholesale Sports and Fins & Feathers Tackle Shop. Anglers may fish as many days as they choose.

For more information on the derby, contact Roger Blackstone at 755-4614 or log on to www.lcaaidaho.com.