Fishing Report

Trout, Washington

High winds, low temperatures, rain and even some snow plagued anglers who fished many of the more than 40 lakes and streams that were opened to fishing Saturday.

Angler turnout, especially at the lakes on and near the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, was the lowest in years for a March 1 opener. The biggest turnout was in the Quincy-George area, where many anglers just sat in their campers while snow fell and the wind blew.

More than 50 fished lakes in the Quincy area, fisheries biologist Jeff Korth said, where 3 inches of snow fell Saturday morning. Fishing was slow at Dusty Lake, but the yearlings were 12 inches long and the carryover rainbows averaged 20 inches, with a few to 24 inches.

Fishing was good at Upper and Lower Caliche lakes, Korth said. Anglers averaged three rainbows each. The yearlings were 13 inches and the carryovers 14 to 18 inches.

Burke and Quincy were covered with rotten ice, but some anglers fished the lakes.

Korth said fishing was good at Lenice and fair at Nunnally. More than 50, most of them fly fishers, fished Lenice. Some reported hooking and releasing 10 to 15 rainbows running 15 to 18 inches. Thirty anglers were on Nunnally, where the fishing was slower.

Lenice and Nunnally, selective fishery lakes, were opened to fishing for the first time in March. They’ve been opened the third Saturday in April for several years.

Fishing was slow at Warden and South Warden, Korth said. No yearling rainbows were checked at Warden. The few carryover trout were 16 to 17 inches. Fishing was a little better at South Warden, where anglers caught a few 13-inch yearlings and 16-inch carryover fish.

Upper and Lower Hampton were ice-free, but fishing was slow, Korth said. No yearling rainbows were checked at Lower Hampton, but a few anglers caught carryover fish that were 16 to 20 inches long.

There were only 10 cars at the big parking area at Lower Hampton Saturday morning. In past years, there have been as many as 100 parked on the lot and the road leading to the parking area.

A little water was showing Thursday around part of the shoreline of Lenore Lake, which was opened to catch-and-release fishing Saturday. However, there wasn’t enough open water to fish. The popular lake holds giant Lahontan cutthroat.

Widgeon, Sago and Cattail were the only lakes in the Pillar-Widgeon chain that were ice-free, Korth said. Fishing was slow at the three lakes; ice wasn’t solid enough for safe ice fishing at the other lakes.

Wildlife agent Dan Rahn said some fishermen have been catching big whitefish at the inlet of Soda Lake.

Ice no longer is thick and solid enough at Hog Canyon and Fourth of July lakes for safe ice fishing.

In fact, several people, taking a chance at Hog Canyon, fell through rotten ice and took cold dunkings several days ago. However, there’s enough open water to fish.

Ice on Fourth of July became unsafe following high winds several days ago. It’s possible fishermen may be able to put small boats or rafts in the lake this weekend.

Kokanee

Fishermen are continuing to take 25-fish limits of 7-inch kokanee at Idaho’s Spirit Lake, Jeff Smith, owner of the Fins & Feathers shop at Coeur d’Alene, said. The ice is still more than 10 inches thick.

Spiny-rayed fish

Ice fishing is ending at most lakes in the Spokane region and the Columbia Basin. However, ice on lakes north of Coeur d’Alene in Idaho still is in good condition.

Both ends of Sprague Lake were ice-free early this week and the remaining ice was too thin and rotten for safe fishing. None of the Columbia Basin lakes where anglers had been ice fishing has ice thick enough to support anglers safely.

Some lakes in northeast Washington, however, still have enough ice for safe fishing. Among them are Eloika and Waitts.

It’s possible to launch boats at both ends of Sprague Lake. The water, though, is still too murky for good fishing.

The ice on most North Idaho lakes is still 8 inches or more thick and probably will be on the lakes for two or three more weeks, Smith said.

Fishermen are continuing to catch perch at Cocolalla, Round, Hauser, the Twins, Gamble and Shepherd between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint and at Perkins, Smith and Herman near Bonners Ferry.

Perch in Perkins are 8 to 9 inches long; those in Herman are a little larger, with some to 11 inches.

Steelhead

The Grande Ronde between Bogan’s and the Washington-Oregon border gave up some steelhead last weekend, but the fishing wasn’t nearly as fast as it has been, Jay Poe, owner of Hells Canyon Sports at Clarkston, said.

Few have been fishing the lower Ronde, he said.

Although the Snake River has been in fairly good condition, most anglers have either been fishing the Ronde or the lower Clearwater, he said.

Steelhead fishing was fair along the lower Clearwater and excellent along the river’s South Fork last weekend, the Idaho Fish and Game Department reported. Parts of the Salmon River treated fishermen exceptionally well.

Average hours per fish along Idaho’s rivers follow: Lower Clearwater, 13; upper Clearwater, 22; North Fork, 16; South Fork, 21; Salmon between Vinegar Creek and the South Fork, 5; Middle Fork to North Fork, 7; and Little Salmon River, 8.

Salmon

Despite the bone-chilling winds and low temperatures, trollers caught numerous 4- to 14-pound chinook salmon at Lake Coeur d’Alene last weekend, Smith reported.

The average size, he said, was between 5 and 10 pounds.

Most anglers trolled helmeted herring from near the surface down to 30 feet. However, numerous fishermen did well by trolling floating Rapalas. Most productive Rapalas were the J11S (silver) and the J11FT (Fire Tiger) plugs. A few hooked chinooks on Apex plugs.

Smith said the most productive areas were off Tubbs Hill and in Kidd Island and Carlin bays. Several launch ramps are free of snow and ice.

Trolling speeds are important, Smith said. Most who troll herring and jointed Rapalas troll at 1.8 to 2 knots. Those who troll one-piece Rapalas troll at slightly more than 2 knots.

Northern pike

Anglers are starting to hook a few good-sized northern pike in bays at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Smith said.

“This is the time of year when the pike move to shallow water in the bays to get ready to spawn,” he said. “It’s usually the best time to catch big pike.”

Nearly all fish herring or smelt under bobbers.

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