Hunting and fishing

Fly fishing

This is a good time to fly fish the smaller tributaries within the Methow River drainage. Boulder, Falls, and Eightmile creeks are all within easy driving distance from Winthrop and provide good fishing for eastern brook trout and generous limits. Northcentral Washington’s small creeks are generally underused and most have an abundance of small trout that hit on bushy dry flies.

In Idaho, fly fishing remains good on both the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe rivers.

Trout and kokanee

Fishing has picked up for trout and kokanee on Lake Roosevelt. Hit areas from Swawilla Basin all the way up to the Spokane Arm using a Dodger and an Apex Kokanee Killer.

Some of the high-elevation lakes on U.S. Forest Service property in northeast Washington are stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout and should be good fishing destinations. In Ferry County, try Davis, Ellen, Empire Swan and Trout lakes. In Stevens County, try Gillette, Heritage, Sherry, Summit, and Thomas lakes. In Pend Oreille County, try Carl’s, Cook’s, Frater, Halfmoon, Leo, Mystic, Nile, No-Name, Petit, South and North Skookums and Yokum lakes.

Sprague Lake fishing has picked up again. No large trout were reported this week, but a lot of fish between 12-16 inches were caught.

Dworshak Reservoir kokanee fishing has been excellent up around Grandad. The Canyon Creek bite is not as fast, but it’s a lot closer. Most fish caught are fat and healthy in the 12- to 13-inch range. There are also smaller fish that should provide good fishing into the fall when the larger fish begin spawning. Most fish are in the 12- to 20-foot range, and the bite is best in the morning.

Loon Lake kokanee both delighted and perplexed night fishermen this week. For some, it was fast limits, but others scrambled to find a couple of fish. Kokanee fishing has been steady on Lake Coeur d’Alene with the best action on the south end of the lake. The kokanee are around 10 inches. Kokanee fishing has also been good at Spirit Lake with plenty in the 9- to 10-inch range.

A report out of the Priest Lake area indicates that mackinaw have been responding enthusiastically to jigging, drop-shotting and trolling.

Salmon and steelhead

A thermal barrier apparently is stalling summer-run steelhead from moving up the Snake and over Lower Granite Dam. Counts over the dam have been dismal in the past 10 days, but many more are poised to come when conditions are right.

The fall steelhead harvest season opened Wednesday on a 2-mile stretch of the lower Clearwater River from its mouth to the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge near Lewiston. The limits on these waters are two per day and six in possession. The rest of the Clearwater and the Middle Fork, North Fork and South Fork rivers are open for catch-and-release only until Oct. 15. So far, steelhead counts at Lower Granite Dam are low.

The Clearwater River main stem, and the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork Clearwater and the Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam will close to chinook salmon fishing Sunday. The Upper Salmon River in the Ellis area and near Stanley close to chinook harvest the same day.

Summer steelhead are abundant in the lower Columbia River and fall chinook opened Wednesday from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/ Washington border above McNary Dam.

Spiny ray

Lake Roosevelt smallmouth are in the shallows early. Rattletraps and swimbaits are effective there, then move deeper with tubes and drop shot rigs once the sun is high.

Banks Lake remains high and water temperatures fluctuated wildly this week, which makes fishing harder. Stick close to the weed lines. Smallmouth are scattered in various depths and are relating to multiple structure types. Smallmouth in the south end of the lake are relating to rocks where they can pick off crawdads. Up north, they seek out deeper weed lines and feed on perch fry. They seem to prefer smaller baits.

Anglers are finding walleye scattered throughout Banks Lake in water as shallow as 5 feet and as deep as 40 feet. Areas to target walleye include the south end near Highway 2, Goose Island, Million Dollar Mile and Barker Flats.

Reports from Idaho Panhandle tackle shops indicate pike fishing on Lake Coeur d’Alene is good, especially in the bays around the lake. Spinnerbaits are the most popular lures. Look for the fish in the deeper weeds. Hayden Lake is good for both largemouth and smallmouth. Use crankbaits.

Bass anglers are taking a lot of smallmouth bass at Dworshak Reservoir by throwing jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines. Go deep with jigs for larger bass – right on the bottom in water as deep as 60 feet.

The Coeur d’Alene chain lakes (especially Cave, Killarney and Medicine lakes) are hot for panfish – including perch, bluegill and crappie. Most Inland Northwest lakes with multiple species are equally good. Fish close to shore, but expect to catch fish in deeper water. Instead of just a hook and worm, tip a small lure such as a Ratso with worm to keep the fish from swallowing the hook.

Hunting

General hunting season for black bear opened Wednesday in many Washington Game Management Units and on Aug. 15 or Sept. 1 in others. Check your regs. In eastern Washington, black bear hunting started Wednesday in Game Management Units 244-247 and 249-251 as part of the East Cascades hunt zone, and will begin Aug. 15 in the Okanogan hunt zone, which includes GMUs 203 and 209-243. Hunters are allowed two bears during the general season, but only one bear can be taken in eastern Washington.

In Idaho, all units open for bear Aug. 30. Unit 1 is archery-only until Sept. 14.

Contact Alan Liere at spokesmanliere@yahoo.com.