Susan and Don Houk operate Lake Charters Inc., on lakes Coeur d'Alene and Pend Oreille. Both licensed guides, they've been taking out clients since 1995, trolling for rainbows, mackinaw, chinook and kokanee.

Tonight at Mark's Marine in Hayden (14355 N. Government Way), the Houks will conduct a seminar called Trolling & Fishing Lake Pend Oreille, the first event of the 2011 Spring Seminar Series. The program will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

"(We'll discuss) mostly how to pull the flies, and what (Don) uses up there to catch the fish," Susan said.

Topics will include tactics, presentations and equipment for tracking down Pend Oreille trophies. The guides will cover lures, lines and trolling boards, and what setup works best in particular situations.

Susan will demonstrate how to tie Frisky Jenny flies, the famous bucktail streamers used by North Idaho trout and salmon anglers.

"My mother-in-law actually started (Frisky Jenny) back in the '80s," she said.

Mark's Marine will host fishing seminars every Thursday until April 14. The events are set up on the showroom floor, where there's plenty of space.

"This is something we've done for five or six years now," said Aaron Thykeson, accessories and parts manager at Mark's. "Depending on the seminar, we'll rig a boat for that kind of fishing. We always switch up the types and speakers. So just about the only one that's consistent from year to year is a sonar basics (seminar)."

Steve Binyon, the company's electronics guru, will run the Sonar 101 program next Thursday, March 17. On March 24, it's Walleye Fishing in the Northwest. And at every seminar, the dealership serves snacks for anyone who attends.

"We've always been big supporters of the local fishing scene," Thykeson said. "We kind of liked the idea to have a get-together with friends, customers, and kind of show tips and help people network."

Mark's Marine is a dealership, marine parts provider and service center. The company sells both new and used boats, and caters to area fishermen. Most of the anglers who shop at Mark's, Thykeson noted, enjoy fishing for bass or walleye.

Large and smallmouth bass can be found on Lake Coeur d'Alene, the Chain Lakes and elsewhere, while walleye fishermen usually head for Lake Roosevelt - behind Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River - and other spots in east or central Washington.

One week after the walleye seminar, Mark's will host a bass fishing event on March 31, featuring tournament angler Tony McCalmant. The first Thursday in April is all about fishing the Northwest, season-by-season. Then Jeff Smith, owner of Fins & Feathers tackle shop in Coeur d'Alene, wraps up the seminar series with Pike Fishing Local Waters on April 14.

"It seems to be a pretty popular thing for the public. Folks really enjoy it," said Mark's Marine owner Merlin Thykeson. "I think the most we've had is 150 people. Fifty to 70 people is a pretty average evening. It's well-attended."