Most fishermen on Tuesday were prepping to snag some kokanee, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

The size of kokanee in Lake Coeur d'Alene is going to grow over the next few weeks, he said.

"It's pretty good fishing now, and it'll just get better as we get a little cooler water and they get further into the spawning cycle," Smith said.

Folks have caught kokanee along the whole east arm of the lake, he added.

"From Arrow Point to Wolf Lodge, really," he said. "The pack of boats moves around in there."

He has seen others fishing around Mica, Carlin and Powderhorn bays, he added.

Smith recommended dropping a line around 30- to 40-foot depths. Almost any attractor will do, he said, with a snubber and wedding ring baited with corn.

The kokanee are visible on a fish finder, Smith noted.

"You see them on your graph," he said. "You can't say that for a lot of fish and the fish finder. Usually it just keeps you from hitting the bottom."

Smith has been catching quite a few chinook on Lake Coeur d'Alene, he added.

Few have been over 20 inches, though. Fishermen can only keep chinook over that length, he said.

"Some days I've caught 8 or 10, but most of them have been small," he said. "But they're hitting. You've just got to keep fishing and you'll get a keeper."

He suggested trying for chinook around 80- to 105-foot depths. He has been successful using an 8-inch flasher and mini squids, he said.

Smallmouth bass are still reliable in Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith said.

Bouncing a double or single-tailed grub off the bottom at a 25-foot depth is the easy formula, he said.

"I don't care what bay you go to or what shoreline, just go fish at the right depth. You'll probably catch some," Smith said. "That's what people love about them."

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Pat Way, of Orvis Northwest Outfitters, said fishing has been solid on local trout rivers. Post Labor Day fishing is some of the best in the area, he said.

"The cooler evening temps have picked things up in a big way," he said.

He recommended fishermen look for caddis, mahogany duns, ants, hoppers and October Caddis.

"Fishing throughout the day has been productive," Way said. "During mid-day switch to a small tandem nymph rig to find the big fish."

People typically don't fish small flies here, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't, he said.

Steelhead numbers are looking a little better this week, he said.

Area lakes are also starting to be more productive.

"Look to find nice smallmouth in 15 feet to 25 feet of water, and a slow presentation with a sinking line to get the job done," Way said.

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Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden recently fished the upper portion of the Coeur d'Alene River and found it to be "superb."

"Crickets and ants were the ticket," Frasca said, adding that hoppers were also used. "Most of the fish were 12 to 14 inches, but a couple were 18. We also lost three or four good fish."

Frasca said he was walking and wading during the outing and fished from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

He said fishing should only get better with recent cooler temperatures.

"The water is low and clear so you have to be stealthy, especially if you want to catch good fish," he said.

Frasca said he heard that the St. Joe is also fishing well with ants and hoppers.

"A big orange caddis is the ticket for that," he said.

Frasca said he also expects bass and pike fishing on Hayden Lake to pick up with recent temperatures in the 70s.

"They should come into more shallower water and be more accessible," he said.