Fishing Report

Walleyes

Several Eastern Washington lakes and reservoirs are kicking out large numbers of walleyes. Among the best bets are Sprague, Roosevelt, Crescent and Soda lakes and the Potholes Reservoir.

Although a green algae bloom has developed at Sprague, walleye fishing has been excellent, said Monica Metz of the Sprague Lake Resort.

For example, she said, anglers in one boat hooked 30 walleyes, including five big keeper-size fish, during a few hours of fishing last weekend.

About one in 10 hooked by fishermen is a keeper - 18 inches long or more - she said.

Most anglers have been casting plugs and other lures in 7 feet of water fairly near the shoreline. However, some drift and troll lures.

Walleye fishing also has been excellent at the Potholes Reservoir and at Crescent and Soda lakes, Rod Meseberg of the Mar-Don Resort said.

Seven walleyes, including an 8-pounder, were caught off the Mar-Don Resort last weekend, he said. The largest reported taken was an 11-pounder, caught by Jessica Presler of Tacoma near Goose Island. The fish hit a Baby Hot Lips.

Meseberg said various parts of the reservoir produced walleyes. Even anglers taking part in a bass tournament during the weekend hooked numerous walleyes around the sand dune islands. Walleyes were also taken in the Crab Creek channel and the Lind Coulee arm of the reservoir.

Meseberg said the reservoir’s level has been dropping dramatically the last couple of weeks. By this weekend, much of the cover around the sand dune islands will be exposed and many fish, including bass, crappies and bluegills, will move to the main reservoir, becoming easily available to novice fishermen.

Unlike the reservoir, Lake Roosevelt has been rising. It’s nearly full and all ramps can be used. Fishermen have been hooking numbers of walleyes, as well as some rainbows and a few smallmouth bass, guide John Carruth of Davenport said.

Other spiny rays

Although bass fishing has been slow at most North Idaho lakes the last week or so, fishing for crappies has been excellent, Ross Fister of the Fins & Feathers shop at Coeur d’Alene reported.

He said some of the best crappie fishing has been at Swan, Black and Anderson lakes adjacent to the lower Coeur d’Alene River and at Hauser Lake.

Fishing for crappies and bluegills is expected to pick up a little at Sprague Lake now that there’s no longer a full moon. Fishing has been slow lately for the species.

Kokanee

Best fishing in the Inland Northwest for big kokanee is still at Loon Lake. If you decide to try for the 2- to 2-1/2-pounders, keep in mind the best fishing may be from sun-up to 8 a.m.

Once the water skiers and jetboat hot rodders are active, your boat will be rocked by waves.

Joe Haley of the Granite Point Resort said experienced kokanee fishermen have been boating two to six of the 18-inchers every morning before breakfast. Most are letting out five colors of leaded line to get down to the fish.

Still-fishing at night has been slow, Haley said.

Although fishing for big kokanee is best at Loon Lake, the fastest fishing is at Lake Coeur d’Alene. Fister said trollers have been catching 25-fish limits of 8- to 9-inchers nearly everywhere around the lake. He suggested anglers use 1-1/2-ounce banana lead and 80 feet of mono line or four colors of leaded line.

Still-fishermen are averaging five to six kokanee a day at Lake Mary Ronan, Gary Thomas of Camp Tuffit said. The fish are averaging 15 inches long, he said, adding: “They’re the biggest in several years.” Trollers have been catching some kokanee and rainbows.

Trout, Idaho

Most of North Idaho’s cutthroat streams are low enough for excellent fishing.

Both the upper St. Joe and Kelley Creek are low enough for good fishing. To get to the upper St. Joe, nearly all fishermen are driving by way of St. Regis, Mont.

The Green Drake hatch along the Henry’s Fork is over and Brown Drake mayflies, as well as Pale Morning Duns, are hatching in the ranch section.

Most of North Idaho’s lakes are yielding rainbows, but the best trout fishing is at Priest Lake. Fister said fishing for 3- to 9-pound mackinaw trout has continued excellent near Kalispell Island and along Mack Alley.

Fishing for macks also has been good at Lake Pend Oreille.

Trout, Montana

Montana’s Bitterroot River is finally low and clear enough for good trout fishing. Nick Battaglia of Grizzly Hackle International at Missoula said fly fishers, drifting the lower river, have been using imitations of golden stoneflies to entice the fish.

The golden stone hatch is now full blown along the Bitterroot. While most fly fishers are using golden stone imitations, some are casting caddisfly imitations when the small bugs hatch in large numbers.

The road up Rock Creek is closed and probably will remain closed for a while, Battaglia said. It was closed when a leak developed in a dam 30 miles up-river. The reservoir behind the dam is being lowered so the leak can be plugged.

The upper Clark Fork has been producing excellent fishing, but the lower river is still too high and a little off color for good fishing, Battaglia said. Fishing just below Missoula, he said, has been “red hot,” with fly fishers using #10 yellow Stimulators.

Fishing has been good along the Missouri River below Canyon Ferry Dam, guide Arnie Gidlow reported. However, it’s best when there is a cloud cover. The Pale Morning Duns are hatching in the mornings and caddisflies in the evenings. The river is running at 6,200 cubic feet per second, nearly ideal for float fishing.

Big salmon flies are hatching in the Reynolds Pass and Three Dollar Bridge areas of the Madison River, Dick Green, owner of Bud Lilly’s shop at West Yellowstone, said. Trout are taking big salmonfly imitations, as well as #10 and #12 caddis and Pale Morning Dun imitations.

Trout, Washington

The biggest reported trout caught in Washington during the Fourth of July weekend was a 19-pound, 3-ounce brown taken by Mark Stratton of Colbert at Loon Lake.

Stratton was still-fishing for kokanee at night when the huge brown took his baited glow hook, Haley said. He netted the fish after a half-hour struggle.

Trollers are catching lots of 10- to 12-inch net-pen-raised rainbows at Lake Roosevelt, but few of the carryovers, Carruth said. Very few kokanee have been caught.

Chinook salmon

Fishing for chinooks has slowed at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Fister said. Best time to fish is from dawn to 10 a.m. and in the evenings. The salmon are 50 feet deep. The north end of the lake is the most productive area.

Shad

Large numbers of shad are below Ice Harbor Dam, creating good opportunities for anglers. Most fishermen cast small lures in the fast water just below the dam.

More than 2-1/2 million shad are moving up the Columbia and Snake rivers to spawn.

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