The sun is out and anglers should take advantage of it.

The warmer weather means fish, especially largemouth bass, are swimming closer to shorelines.

Largemouth are chasing everything in Lake Coeur d'Alene, so anglers can use a variety of crank and Jerkbaits or any type of plastic patterns.

Just be sure to cast lines in water 2 to 10 feet deep, around docks, rocks, trees or other wood structures where fish hide once it warms up.

"Sun is starting to shine so it's going to definitely push some fish to shallower water," said Blake Becker of Black Sheep Sporting Goods. "With warmer water start keying on structures."

Smallmouth bass are anywhere from 5 to 30 feet out.

Hayden and Fernan lakes are good spots for them, too, while crappie fish are really active in Hayden Lake. Use a 1/32 ounce jig head, with either a tube skirt or screw grub from white to red in color in 10 feet of water or less.

"Crappie are still a good bite," Becker said.

As are pike, so anglers should use Jerkbaits, smelt, any aggressive Spinnerbait or a Lipless Crankbait on any of the good pike waters like Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Fernan lakes. Try to use more lures over live baits as pike are starting to switch over to lures for the rest of the summer.

Bluegill are probably the easier panfish to nab right now. Any of the local lakes provide them so toss lines loaded with colored marshmallows, or small baits like 1/64 ounce jig heads.

Weather helps fishing heat up

It's game on for local fishing with recent warm temperatures.

"This is the time to get out - before the crowds," said Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden. "We've finally hit the season. With nice weather predicted, it should only get better from now on."

Frasca said both lake and river fishing looks promising.

"The (Coeur d'Alene) river is coming down a bit every day," he said. "It's not quite wadable, but you can fish from the bank or float the lower end. There are hatches coming off.

"There's lots of options."

Crappie, pike and bass fishing is good on Hayden Lake and the Chain Lakes.

"Crappie fishing is finally picking up with warmer water temperature," Frasca said.

Try rubber jigs or flies with crappie and 4-inch runner worms and plugs for bass.

Smallmouth bass haven't started to spawn, so it's a good time to fish.

"They're in shallow water and are pretty aggressive," Frasca said.

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Fishermen hoping to snag some crappie have plenty of options, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers.

Most are catching the fish at Hayden Lake, he said.

"They're really nice fish, you'll get them 12, maybe 14 inches," Smith said. "They're pretty thick."

He recommended using a bobber and jig, and added that white jigs seem to have particular success.

Crappie tend to collect under the lily pads, the docks and boathouses on the north end of the lake, he said.

"Start on the pads and go from there," Smith said.

He reminded that there is a six fish limit for crappie on Hayden Lake, and the fish must be more than 10 inches to keep.

Crappie are also populating all of the Chain Lakes, Smith noted.

Those lakes also boast plenty of northern pike, he said, which he suggested going after with smelt or herring.

The Johnson Silver Minnow Weedless Spoon or some floating plugs are also good ideas, he said.

The pike will likely be found in shallow water, Smith said.

Catch sizes tend to vary with pike, he added.

"You never know, they could be 2 pounds, they could be big boys," he said.

Folks are also casting lines for trout at Cocolalla Lake, Smith said.

He advised trolling a small Rapala plug or a fly, from the surface to about 15 feet deep.

"There's a mix of trout in there. There's some rainbows and some brown trout," he said.