One of the many outdoor blessings we enjoy in the Idaho Panhandle is the abundance of lowland lakes that are available for public fishing. By my rough count, there are around 68 small, low-elevation lakes for anglers to choose from.

It could accurately be described as a "challenge" when one must decide where to go on any given day. These relatively small and shallow lakes hold a wide variety of fish species.

As the spring days get longer and the sun higher over these lakes; warm-water species such as bluegills, crappies, yellow perch and bass move into shallow water where the sunlight penetrates to the bottom. Sunlight hitting the lake bed warms the water, and the warmer water temperatures cause the fish to feed actively and aggressively.

Beyond the warm-water species, many of these lakes contain rainbow trout. Trout stocking started April 7 and fish continue to be planted at area lakes.

A stocking schedule is posted on the Idaho Department of Fish and Game website.

There are many holdover hatchery rainbow trout that were planted in previous years that have eluded anglers. Holdover rainbows can be caught this time of year all over area lakes, not just in the shallow water where the warm water species are lurking. Hatchery-produced rainbows that were planted last year and managed not to get hooked have grown considerably since being planted at 8-10 inches in length. These fish provide excellent fishing opportunity and are great to take home for dinner within the numbers the daily limits allow.

While the best fishing on area low elevation lakes is typically found in May and June, anglers who switch tactics and fish deeper water can have excellent results throughout the summer.

Fish and Game has taken great strides to simplify fishing regulations in recent years. In addition, fishing rules booklets are now in effect for three years, resulting in fewer changes to keep track of. The current regulations cycle covers 2013-2015.

The publication has also been reorganized and is now very easy to follow. If you are new to fishing, or, just new to the water you want to fish, you should pick up a set of rules at one of the hundreds of license vendors. Regulations are also available online.

On page 11 of the current regulations booklet, there is a short guide that tells you how the publication is designed. Take a quick look at this page and it becomes easy to understand how to check the rules for specific waters.

Go to the section on the region you plan to fish. Colored tabs on each page make this easy to do.

Immediately below the region designation are the fishing season dates for that region, followed by the limits for all species in that region. The next box lists in alphabetical order any waters in that region that have specific regulations. If the water you are planning to fish is not listed (and most are not), you are done. Go fish! If the water is listed, the next few pages explain the rules for that particular water.

If everything falls into place and you land a big one, you can go to page 58 and check on the state record for the species of fish you just caught. If you qualify and submit your paperwork, you could see your name in the next regulations book as a state record holder.

Those who are new to fishing may want to check out our "Take Me Fishing" trailers that travel around the state. The trailers are brilliantly colored with fish illustrations, and the "Take Me Fishing" logo. Every trailer is stocked full of fishing equipment that is all set up and ready for anglers to give fishing a try...and no license is needed during the event if you sign in at the trailer.

The Panhandle trailer has been scheduled for 16 dates at popular lakes throughout North Idaho in May and June. A new schedule in the form of a bookmark has been distributed to area schools with information about the program and dates and times where you can find the trailer. Check with your youngster to see if they brought a bookmark schedule home from school. Dates are also on the Fish and Game website under the fishing tab.

Inside the trailer are rod holders full of fishing rods all rigged up and ready to be signed out for the event. If you want to try fishing but don't have the needed equipment, this is your opportunity. Bait is provided and we can help you get started with some good tips on how to cast, detect a bite and land a fish.

The "Take Me Fishing" events are open to everyone. Your age and state of residence do not matter. The first event is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at Cocolalla Lake.

Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator in Coeur d'Alene for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.