There's still plenty to keep fishermen occupied while they wait for ice fishing to kick off, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

Water fishing is still worthwhile at Lake Pend Oreille, he said, where rainbow trout are biting on the north end.

He recommended trolling from the surface to about 20 feet deep, and running surface lines off planer boards. He also suggested using bucktail flies.

"You can catch all different sizes," Smith said. "You go with the hopes of a 15- to 20-pound giant, but you may have to settle for something less."

Folks are also still trolling for rainbow trout at Hayden Lake, he said. The fish tend to range between 5 and 10 pounds, he noted.

"I'd say the numbers are only fair," he said. "You don't get the upper end sizes you might at Pend Oreille."

He again recommended trolling the surface to about 20 feet.

Flies work on Hayden, too, he said, but Rapalas or Jointed Rapalas might work better.

Apexes could work too, Smith added, or even a double hook spinner with a nightcrawler on it.

Deep water fishing is still happening on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith said.

Salmon have been scattered throughout the lake, he said, adding that he has been fishing both at Arrow Point and Carlin Bay.

"All of our bites have really been in the 100-foot range, 97 to 110," he said.

He recommended using helmetted herring, though some fish have been caught on 8-inch flashers and mini squids.

Fishermen can keep two fish over 20 inches, Smith said.

"We've been catching lots over 20. You do get some keepers," he said.

Some are also still shore fishing at Fernan Lake for trout, Smith added.

Garlic PowerBait and nightcrawlers seem to do the trick, he said.

"It's something fun to do, quick and easy," Smith said, adding that there's a 6-fish limit. "They haven't been catching limits, but getting a couple fish a piece. If you get lucky, you get a couple more."

•••

Late December fishing is the same as early December fishing, which is to say nothing much has changed.

As has been the case all month, lakes haven't iced over, so the typical winter way of fishing isn't an option yet.

When they do freeze over and ice fishing starts - when exactly could be anyone's guess - go after pike with Tip-Ups, according to Tina Padgitt, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Anglers can keep trolling for chinook on Lake Coeur d'Alene, which made productive fishing in the fall, by dragging lines with herring or mini squids. During the fall, the best bet was to drop lines between 30 to 60 feet for the best results.

Anglers can still try and catch pike the non-winter way, casting from the banks of the Chain Lakes with a bait and bobber. Smelt would be the best bet there.

•••

Local trout fishing has slowed a bit with the cooler weather and has become a subsurface game on the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe rivers, said Pat Way, of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene.

"Tandem nymph rigs with a prince nymph and a San Juan worm below should get some looks," Way said. "Concentrate your efforts in slow pockets and fish mid-day."

Steelhead fishing, however, has improved and the rivers have dropped into much better shape.

"Sink tip flylines and dark-colored Spey patterns have been the most productive methods of getting steelhead," Way said.

There are some places that nymphing has produced fish, but with fewer fish in the system this year it seems that swinging allows fishermen to cover more of the river and therefore run into a few more fish, Way said.

"The most productive steelhead flies have been Hobo Speys, Bunny Leeches, Intruders and Extractors," Way said.

•••

If you can stand the colder temperatures, there's still some good fishing to be had on local lakes, said Steve Holweg of Cabela's.

"If there's open water, go ahead and try it," he said.

Holweg said it's too early for ice fishing, even though some lakes, particularly to the north, may have some ice cover.

"Just because you see someone on the ice doesn't mean it's safe; it just means they're nuttier than you are," he said, adding that anglers should do their own testing when the time comes. "Stay off the ice until we get more cold weather."

Holweg said if he was to venture out on a lake in a boat, he'd try a rod with Berkley power bait and the other with a nightcrawler.

"Or maybe a combination with marshmallows and worms to float the bait up a bit so the fish can find it," he said.

Holweg said Round Lake is a good winter fishery - with or without ice.