Hunting+Fishing: Trout and kokanee
Rock Lake is kicking out some huge brown trout, said Rick Hedding of Spokane. He said he recently fished there, casting stick baits against the bank near boulders and points, and had two fish break 8-pound test line.
A few large kokanee are coming from Lake Roosevelt. Trout anglers in 16-20 feet of water are catching most of them.
On Banks Lake, walleye anglers catch a lot of trout on jerks and cranks. Those targeting the trout are trolling Wedding Rings.
Amber Lake trout have moved out of the shallower water into depths of 15-30 feet. The fish are numerous and in excellent shape. Dark-colored leeches have been effective this week
Diamond Lake is almost a sure thing for limits of 10-inch rainbow trout. Troll Needlefish or still-fish with eggs or worms south of the public access in 30-40 feet of water. A lot of 14- to 18-inch brown trout are also being taken at Diamond.
Waitts Lake has been good for rainbows from 11 inches and larger and brown trout from 16 inches and larger. Curlew Lake is great for rainbows again this year. A possible state-record tiger muskie, one that exceeded a 48-inch-long tape measure, was caught there recently by a bass fisherman who released it
Bayley and McDowell lakes on the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife Refuge have produced catches of rainbow up to 25 inches.
At Twin Lakes near Inchelium, Bob Canody at the Log Cabin Resort said he is seeing the best fishing in six years. A smattering of brook trout is coming in, but rainbow to 7 pounds and some nice largemouth are also showing. Info: (509) 722-3543.
Trout fishing has been good at Conconully, Wannacut and Spectacle. Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area has been good for rainbow and brown trout running 12-20 inches. Pearrygin Lake near Winthrop and Jameson Lake in Douglas County both continue to provide good catches of rainbow for both shore and boat anglers.
At Fins and Feathers in Coeur d’Alene, Jeff Smith said he trolled Bennett and Squaw Bays on the north end recently and found a lot of kokanee from the surface to 15 feet. The fish, which ranged 9-12 inches, were spread out, but he said he was surprised by the consistency of the bite, which is generally better on the south end this time of year.
Skipper Bill’s owner Bill Bongers and a large group of friends made a trip to Lake Koocanusa over the Memorial Day weekend. He reported excellent Girard rainbow fishing, with trout landed up to 15 pounds.
Salmon and steelhead
The Snake River chinook fishery at Little Goose Dam is still going, and fishing has been good off The Wall, said Verna Foley at Darver Tackle in Starbuck. She adds that a lot of jacks are coming in.
The spring Chinook salmon season closed Wednesday on the mainstem Clearwater River from the railroad bridge at Lewiston upstream to the Cherrylane Bridge, and on the North Fork below the Dworshak Dam. The season on the Lower Salmon River-Hammer Creek closes after Saturday. The good news is that fishing remains open until further notice on several waters, including the Upper Snake River from the Dug Bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam, and the Upper Mainstem Clearwater River. It will also be open from the Orofino Bridge upstream to the Kamiah Bridge. Clearwater Drifter guides out of Orofino have been limiting two to three people each day, but they are working hard for each fish.
Elochoman and Grays River, along with Lake Scanewa, have been opened for hatchery spring chinook and hatchery steelhead, effective last Saturday.
The mainstem Columbia River from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to the I-5 Bridge will remain open today through June 15, as will the waters adjacent to Ringold Springs Rearing Facility. Only the hatchery side of the river is open – bank fishing only. Ringold Springs Creek is closed.
Chinook salmon 4-8 pounds are biting in East Point and Windy Bays in the south end of Lake Coeur d’Alene in 40-60 feet of water. Helmeted herring have been most effective.
Spiny ray
The Moses Lake spring walleye tournament this weekend will see 120 two-man teams compete. Fishing on Moses has been good.
Jump-Off Joe Lake in Stevens County seems to be giving up more spiny ray than trout lately. Some nice largemouth catches have been reported this week.
Anglers are catching small pike from the Pend Oreille River near Newport. Silver and Newman lakes have both produced tiger muskies in the 40-inch class this week. Dark crankbaits and spinners have been effective. Fish the weeds.
Walleye fishing on Lake Roosevelt has been good in the Kettle Falls area but poor to the north. The boat ramp at China Bend is still unusable. The best success has come pulling spinners in water ranging from 10-50 feet. The Spokane Arm of Roosevelt opens again to walleye fishing today.
Banks Lake is fishing great for walleye and bass, and perch and crappie are everywhere, said Dave Altier at Coulee Playland Resort. The annual Memorial Day bass tournament attracted 100 boats and resulted in almost 2,885 pounds of bass being weighed. Tony Lind of Chelan won the three-day tournament with 37.14 pounds. The best walleye fishing has been south of Steamboat Rock near the poplar trees.
Fly fishing for bass is gaining popularity on Coeur d’Alene Lake. Anglers are using leeches and Wooly Buggers around docks. On Hayden Lake, bass anglers are also finding fish.
The Grande Ronde River opens today for trout and smallmouth, and fishing is expected to be excellent. The water is dropping rapidly. Fish up from Boggan’s Oasis for trout and down for bass.
Northern pike in the Coeur d’Alene chain lakes are banging spinnerbaits, floating plugs and weedless spoons in 8-10 feet of water. Water temperature is 61 degrees – perfect for an aggressive bite. On the main lake, no new weed beds are showing yet, and you have to move around to find fish in shallow water.
The Okanogan River remains muddy, but some nice smallmouth are being caught on grubs, cranks and spinner baits in the darker colors. Wapato, Roses, Dry and Antilon lakes are all producing fish.
The Snake and Columbia rivers are loaded with smallmouth bass, but the bite has been hot and cold. Dworshak Reservoir in Idaho is still good. There have been rumors of some nice walleye catches on the Snake near Texas Rapids.
An angler fishing Diamond Lake for bass this week was surprised to catch a mess of 10-inch crappie around the docks. He said he also had fair success on perch in 30 feet of water. Nice-sized crappie were also reported at Horseshoe Lake.
Other species
Tens of thousands of shad are passing Bonneville Dam daily. Fishing has been excellent. You don’t need a lot of fancy tackle for shad. A lot of anglers do just fine fishing a bead and a hook.
The Palouse River channel cat bite is still on, and they are also showing more in the Snake River.
Hunting
If you don’t tag your spring gobbler by the end of today, you’ll have to wait until fall. By all indications, it was an excellent spring season.