Steelhead fishing going OK despite low count

Steelhead fishing on the Clearwater and Grand Ronde rivers is going "so-so" despite low fish counts, said Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden.

"I wouldn't say that it's great, but I wouldn't say that it's terrible, either," Frasca said. "As long as you want to put on indicators and nymphs, you can catch some steelhead."

Frasca said the fish counts are down this year compared to the past few years.

"There was a fish kill a couple years ago, and that's why they're low," Frasca said. "I'd say they're down about 40 percent, so naturally there's going to be less fish caught."

Frasca said he expects steelhead fishing to gradually improve into February and March.

Meanwhile, another option is to troll Lake Pend Oreille.

"Trolling with a streamer is possible for someone with a boat," Frasca said.

Frasca said it's still a little too early for ice fishing on area lakes because temperatures haven't been low enough for long enough.

"However, some of the smaller lakes may be fishable (for ice fishing) soon," he said.

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Still no ice.

That means anglers should keep fishing for trout and perch from the shoreline or troll for salmon for the best winter fishing, said Dale Odenbaugh, of Fins and Feathers in Coeur d'Alene.

"It'll go clean through the winter," he said. "But the ice shouldn't be too far away."

When lakes do ice over, anglers should drop lines with jigs and maggots to catch just about anything, from bass to bluegills to trout.

Until then, keep casting from the banks or trolling Lake Coeur d'Alene.

At Fernan and Hauser lakes, use crawlers and Powerbaits to catch trout and perch. They're swimming all over, so cast lines as far or shallow as you like.

"They're pretty good there," Odenbaugh said.

Pike fishing is going well too. Use smelt or herring on the Chain or Twin lakes or any of the bays on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Anglers can troll for Chinook dragging mini squid or herring at depths of 60 to 100 feet. Sometimes the best bites are early in the morning, sometimes it's the afternoon. Trolling works on Lake Pend Oreille too. Pulling apexes between 40 to 80 feet should land rainbows and mackinaws, he said.