Kokanee can be found on Lake Coeur d'Alene

There's still plenty of kokanee action across Lake Coeur d'Alene, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

On the north end, he recommended dropping a line at Arrow Point, Bennett Bay or in front of The Coeur d'Alene Resort golf course.

Smith said he had no trouble snagging kokanee on the south end, too.

"They're about 30 feet deep in most areas, maybe a little deeper," he said.

Fishermen can troll with the usual items, he said, like a flasher and wedding ring, with bait like corn and maggots.

Smith said he prefers to use a double hook spinner with both hooks baited.

He hasn't heard much about chinook fishing on the lake, he added.

A fisherman recently caught a 15-pounder off Tubbs Hill, though, with a flasher and mini squid at a 40-foot depth.

Another individual caught an 11-pound chinook off Arrow Point, on herring.

"I can't say it's really good fishing for them, but really few people have been after them," he said.

Northern pike have been biting on Daredevil spoons or weedless spoons, he added.

Summer storms put a hamper on kokanee fishing, but when the weather breaks keep trolling lines on Lake Coeur d'Alene and you should land plenty of them, said Tina Padgitt, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Drag lines slowly, about a mile an hour, with wedding rings tipped with maggots, about 40 feet deep and up, and you should be able to land 10 or 11-inch beauties, Padgitt noted.

On Spirit Lake, still use glow hooks, tipped with corn to land them, she said.

Weather permitting, kokanee fishing should hold up the rest of the summer. Only during the storms do the fish not want to bite.

Meanwhile, the rest of summer fishing is holding up.

Pike and bass fishing is still going well, while small and largemouth bass are active in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden lakes. Keep throwing Crankbaits for smallmouth bass - anything that can get down 10 feet or so. Lines loaded with Lipless Crankbaits or Strike King 3 XD styles are really good bets to land fish.

Largemouth are swimming a little closer to shore, and hitting most any type of plastics, Padgitt said. Stick to aggressive patterns, or anything that looks like a crawdad pattern.

They're swimming around structures, 2 to 10 feet out, so throw lines around docks and rocks.

Northern Pike fishing has really turned on, too, mostly in Hayden and Coeur d'Alene lakes.

Dead bait is the best bet right now. More aggressive jerk and big Lipless Crankbaits in that 4 to 20 foot depth is working well too. Pike seem to be scattered all over the lakes, so don't focus on one spot.

Despite recent rain, Lake Coeur d'Alene remains a popular choice for kokanee and chinook salmon, said Steve Holweg of Cabela's.

"When you get a chance to get out between the wind and rain, do what you'd normally do this time of year," Holweg said.

Holweg said he also hears of positive reports for kokanee on Spirit Lake.

"I heard it's doing well since a lot of fish didn't harvest during ice fishing," Holweg said.

Hauser and Fernan are good choices for panfish right now. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass continue to strike on Hayden.

Crappie may be a little tricky to find this time of year due to spawning, but electronics should help, Holweg said.

Duane Sunell said Priest Lake is producing mackinaw at about 140 feet. Trolling on the bottom, jigging or drop-shooting are options.

Regarding rain, Holweg said he generally has better luck fishing after storms than before them.

The International Fly Fishing Fair will be held July 12-14 at the Spokane Convention Center.

Exhibit hall hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Cost is $5 for adults. Kids ages 15 and younger are free. There will be fly tying and casting demonstrations, programs and raffles. Information: www.fedflyfishers.org