Hunting & Fishing

Turkeys

With turkey hunting seasons in Washington and Idaho opening in eight days, the region’s hunters are making last-minute preparations to try to put tags on bearded birds.

Most turkeys have left their wintering areas, which, in many cases, are in the valleys near or on farmed land. They’re moving to their summer ranges and getting ready for mating.

The gobblers have gathered their harems and are fighting for their rights to mate. They’re very vocal now, periodically gobbling and asserting their authority. They accept challenges from other gobblers and answer hunters’ calls, revealing their locations.

Serious hunters have been scouting their favorite hunting spots the last week or so and have identified some of the biggest gobblers. If they hunt on private land, they have had permission to do so for several months, even as long as a year.

Neophyte hunters have been driving and using their calls to pinpoint flocks in turkey country in Stevens, Ferry, Spokane and Lincoln counties in the north and Whitman, Asotin, Columbia and Walla Walla counties in the south.

In North Idaho, the most productive area is in the Clearwater region, but there are plenty of turkeys in the Panhandle for good hunting.

The best time to hunt the turkeys will be on opening day April 15. Turkeys that have seen people the last several months aren’t as wary as they will be a few days after the opener.

For sporting goods retailers, turkey hunting has become a big source of income this time of the year. New turkey hunters buy camouflaged jackets, pants, gloves, face masks, calls and decoys. Experienced hunters upgrade their hunting equipment.

Turkey hunters also spend a lot of money on gas for their vehicles and at restaurants in the towns near turkey country.

Bear, Idaho

Numerous North Idaho hunters are scouting their favorite spots for black bear during the spring months. They’re getting ready for the opening of the spring season April 15, Justin Kimberling of the Fins & Feathers shop at Coeur d’Alene reported.

Much of Idaho’s Panhandle will be opened to spring bear hunting, he said. The bears are just coming out of hibernation and searching for food.

Only male bears are legal targets. Hunting with dogs is banned during the spring hunt to provide protection for the females with cubs.

Kimberling recommended hunters study the hunting regulations before hunting for bears during the spring season.

Salmon

Chinook salmon in Lake Coeur d’Alene have been hitting anglers’ bait and lures with regularity, Kimberling said.

He reported that guides Jeff Smith and Rick Caddy have been finding 4- to 7-pound salmon for their clients just about every time they go out.

The salmon are feeding on kokanee near the surface. The anglers troll helmeted herring and such lures as Pro King spoons and Rapalas.

The water is still fairly clear for this time of the year.

Trout, Washington

For trout fishermen, this is a bleak period. The winter fishing lakes are closed, fishing has been poor at nearly all of the lakes that were opened March 1 and the few spots that have been yielding good-sized trout are crowded.

Opening of the general season is still three weeks away.

Anglers, fishing from shore, have caught some big rainbows at the Potholes Reservoir, the Mar Don Resort reported. Both shore fishermen and boat anglers have been catching big trout at the mouth of the Frenchman Hills Wasteway.

The fast water of the Potholes Canal has been yielding some rainbows to 3 pounds.

The Pillar-Widgeon lakes were closed at the end of March. However, numerous seep lakes remain open.

Among the better producers have been Canal, Sage and Canal. Some brown trout in the 4- to 6-pound range have been caught at Sage.

Lake Roosevelt has been yielding some 14- to 20-inch rainbows.

Fishing has been slow at Coffeepot Lake.

Rocky Ford Creek, a fly fishing-only water, is continuing to attract good numbers of fly fishers. Hatching have been Baetis mayflies.

Spiny rays

Relatively balmy weather last weekend encouraged numerous anglers and their families to fish for perch, bluegills, crappies and bass at Sprague Lake and other lakes in Eastern Washington.

Monika Metz, co-owner of the Sprague Lake Resort, said adults and children caught lots of perch and bluegills and a few walleyes and 10-inch trout stocked last month. Most of the perch and bluegills were small; however, she said she saw a few 12-inch perch.

The Mar Don Resort reported that a few big walleyes have been caught at the Potholes Reservoir. However, walleye fishing has been slow.

Kimberling said the best spot to catch northern pike now is at Hayden Lake. Some fishermen, casting lures, have caught 5- to 10-pounders. They have been using Rapalas and Husky Jerks. The Sportsmen’s Park area has been a favorite.

Fernan continues to be the most productive Panhandle lake for perch and crappies, he said. However, a few fishermen have located schools of big crappies at Hayden.

Bass fishing has been fair to good at times at Chatcolet Lake, Kimberling said. Most anglers have been using jigs. Chatcolet is shallow and warms faster than most North Idaho lakes.

Trout, Montana

If the warm weather last week and early this week hasn’t resulted in a rise in river levels and the water is still fairly clear, fly fishing could be good this weekend.

The weather pattern is all important during the pre-runoff period every spring. If temperatures rise into the 60s and snow melts in the high country, the streams rise and turn muddy. If they remain low, the rivers produce fair to good fishing.

The best fishing last weekend was along the Bitterroot River, the Kingfisher fly shop at Missoula reported. Fishing was excellent and fly fishers took many trout on dry flies.

Insects hatching were skwala stoneflies, March Brown and Blue Winged Olive mayflies. Fly fishers used bullethead skwala patterns, Chernoble ants, Royal Stimulators, Black Stimulators, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams and Pheasant Tail Nymphs.

Fishing wasn’t nearly as productive along the Clark Fork, but some fly fishers did well on the patterns mentioned above.

Skwalas, Grey Drakes and Blue Winged Olives hatched along Rock Creek. Fishing was good last weekend.

If you’re near the Missouri River and the wind isn’t blowing, try your luck for a few hours. Midges are hatching and providing fair to good fishing.

Trout, Idaho

Several North Idaho lakes have been stocked with rainbows the last few weeks and now are providing fairly good fishing, Kimberling said. Among them are Fernan, Hauser and Round.

Trollers and a few bank fishermen have been catching rainbows and mackinaw trout at Lake Pend Oreille. The trollers have been working the mouth of the Clark Fork River and near the islands south of Hope. Bank fishermen have found a few spots along the Clark Fork where they can catch some spawning rainbows.

Whitefish

It’s getting late to fish for the big lake whitefish at the head of Soda Lake in the Columbia Basin. The whitefish have been concentrated at the head of the lake but soon will move away.

This sidebar appeared with the story: SEMINAR Angling tips

The region’s best fishing for fishing tips could be at the free Fish Fest seminars April 15 at White’s Outdoor, 4002 E. Perry Ave.

Seminars are scheduled to begin every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program taught by area guides, anglers and tackle reps, covers topics such as techniques for certain lures, walleye fishing, downriggers, tournament fishing, fly-fishing opportunities, Coeur d’Alene salmon and fly tying.

Casting demonstrations for kids begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Fly-casting demonstrations are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Info: 535-1875.