Northern pike a big draw at Lake Cd'A

Northern pike are a big draw at Lake Coeur d'Alene these days, said Jordan Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"Some of the big bays," Smith said of where to drop a line for pike. "Cougar Bay, Carlin Bay, Squaw Bay, anywhere, really."

He suggested using Daredevil spoons and spinner baits.

The pike range from 3 to 15 pounds, he added.

Kokanee fishing is also picking up on the lake, he added.

"They're still best on the southern end of the lake," Smith said of the kokanee, adding that some have also been snagged in front of Carlin Bay.

Most fishermen are successful using wedding rings, he said, with corn and maggots for bait.

Smallmouth bass are also biting in Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith added, recommending split-tailed grubs.

The Coeur d'Alene River is doing well for cutthroat trout, he said.

"A lot of guys are fly fishing on the lower end," Smith said.

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Most are relying on salmon eggs and flies like Renegade and Stimulator, he said.

"Now is the time to take advantage of the high water," said Mike Beard, with Orvis Northwest Outfitters. "With higher flows and cooler temps than normal the fishing has remained excellent even through the hot weather and the increase traffic on the river."

Floating the St. Joe will remain the best way to access the river for another week or so, but there are spots to wade-fish now that the water is down below the willows, Beard said.

The Coeur d'Alene River remains the best for wading, and anything above Prichard should be very accessible on foot, he said.

There are a lot of floaters in the mid-river sections of both rivers, so those places are best fished late or early to avoid the masses, he said.

Fish have stayed very health and active so fishing has been great using a big attractor like a chubby Chernobyl, mutant stone (purple, gold, red), stimulator, humpy or adams through the riffles.

Beard said that once fish start getting a little pickier the best hatches have been Pale Morning duns, blue wing olives, golden stones and yellow sallies.

"Starting to see signs of caddis bouncing around and the terrestrials - ants, beetles and hoppers - should start moving fish very soon," Beard said.

Kokanee bite strong on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Kokanee fishing on the south end of Lake Coeur d'Alene is going well.

Jerry Brown of Cabela's said he recently hooked and released about 40.

"I caught mine at 40 feet," said Brown, adding that most were 8 to 10 inches.

Brown said sockeye salmon fishing on the Columbia River near Wenatchee and cutthroat trout fishing on the Coeur d'Alene River are also going well.

The St. Joe River is still running a little high, but more anglers are getting out on the stream, Brown said.

With the recent hot temperatures, Steve Holweg of Cabela's said fishing early is key.

"Fish early or fish late," he said. "But the problem with fishing late is that there's only an hour or two of cooler temperatures before it gets dark."

Holweg said the store has gone through a lot of nightcrawlers in recent days, so fishing must be strong.

"The last time I was here we had 15 to 20 boxes and this morning (Tuesday) there were two," he said.