Fishing Report

Winter lakes

Fourth of July and Hog Canyon lakes may be partially ice-covered the next few days as the result of near-zero night-time temperatures this week, frustrating anglers who figured they’d be fishing from boats by this time.

It’s nearly impossible, given the radical changes in weather, to predict from day to day what conditions will be like at the lakes on weekends. Ice was going fast when temperatures plunged again.

The upper end of Hog Canyon is almost certain to be ice-free. The volume of water entering the lake has been heavy enough to keep that end open.

Hog Canyon seems to hold plenty of 9- to 17-inch rainbows for excellent fishing the final month of the season.

If Fourth of July is ice-free, a lot of anglers will launch boats at the public access. The lake still has lots of 14- to 20-inch rainbows.

March 1 waters

Trout in Hog Canyon and Fourth of July are more plentiful and larger than nearly all the lakes that opened to fishing in the Columbia Basin today. However, many Spokane-area anglers, tired of fishing the two lakes, probably will drive to the Basin to fish in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and other lakes that opened today.

Lenore, southwest of Coulee City, always attracts large numbers of anglers, many of them fly fishers, after it opens March 1 to catch-and-release fishing. The Lahontan cutthroat range from 16-25 inches.

With the exception of a small area out from the spawning channel in the upper end of the lake, Lenore was ice-covered at mid-week.

The ice at the lower end, where most anglers fish, was too thin for ice fishing earlier this week.

When the lake is ice-free, mature Lahontans will be near the shoreline trying to spawn. Despite the fact they are in relatively poor condition, anglers line up where they concentrate and try to hook them. Those who want to hook non-spawning Lahontans stay away from the shoreline.

Upper and Lower Hampton lakes were ice-free Thursday, but there could be some ice along bays and edges for the opener, Greg Hughes, assistant refuge manager, reported. Several of the 10 lakes in the Pillar-Widgeon chain were open, but those nearest the cliffs on the east side were still covered with ice.

The Hamptons and Pillar Widgeon lakes were treated with rotenone in 1994 and planted last spring with rainbow fry.

It’s possible, however, cormorants and other predator birds ate a lot of the fry soon after the lakes were stocked.

Warden and South Warden were heavily planted with rainbow fry and some brown trout last spring. They probably will yield many limits of 10- to 12-inch trout, plus a few carryover fish. The upper end of Warden was ice-free earlier this week, but the south end was ice-covered.

Several lakes in the George area also opened today. They, too, were ice-covered, but the ice was thin. Most of the lakes hold 10- to 11-inch rainbows. Best will be Burke and Quincy. Dusty and Martha have growing populations of spiny rayed fish, but they’ll produce some small trout.

Upper Caliche has 11-inch rainbows; Lower Caliche, rehabbed last year, has 10- to 11-inch rainbows.

None of the impoundments in southeastern Washington has been stocked with trout. The recent floods damaged bridges and roads, making it impossible for hatchery trucks to get to the impoundments. The waters will be planted after the bridges and roads are repaired.

Spiny ray waters

Sprague Lake was still ice-free at mid-week, but could be partially ice-covered by this weekend.

A few anglers fished out of boats last weekend, but fishing was slow.

Ice on some North Idaho lakes firmed up enough this week for safe ice fishing. Anglers fished for perch at several lakes, including the Twins, Round and Shepherd.

Kokanee

Anglers are catching 25-fish limits of 8- to 9-inch kokanee through ice at Spirit Lake, Jeff Smith of the Fins & Feathers at Coeur d’Alene said.

They’re fishing 25 feet deep over 60 feet of water in the southeast end of the lake. Most are using maggot-baited glow hooks under Deadly Dick or bead chain spinners.

Lake Roosevelt

The big reservoir was too muddy for fishing below the mouth of the Spokane River early this week. Anglers said the San Poil arm of the lake was the only area where the rainbows and kokanee could see flashers and dodgers more than 2 feet away. However, fishing was poor even there.

Chinook salmon

Although Lake Coeur d’Alene is muddy, chinook salmon have been hitting trollers’ baits, Smith said. However, those who want to fish this weekend are keeping their fingers crossed. Ice around launch areas was too thick to launch boats.

Smith’s group hooked numerous chinooks near the surface trolling herring. They didn’t use dodgers or flashers ahead of the bait.

Smith said Fins & Feathers is offering guided trips on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Rates vary.

Steelhead

Tributaries of the lower Snake River could provide fair to good steelhead fishing if they are clear.

Jay Poe of Jay’s Gone Fishing said he believes there are large numbers of steelhead in the Grande Ronde from Boggan’s to the Washington-Oregon line. The river was high and muddy at mid-week, but could be clear by the weekend, he said. He recommended anglers fish near Cottonwood Creek.

Other tributaries, including the Tucannon, Touchet and Walla Walla, also could provide good fishing if they are clear.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department said anglers averaged 15 hour per steelhead along the lower Clearwater last weekend. The average was 21 hours in the upper river and 64 in the North Fork.

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