Hunting+Fishing
Steelhead and salmon
Salmon anglers will get another four days of fishing today through Monday in all waters open to salmon fishing in Idaho. Fishery managers are informing anglers that this will be the final four days of salmon fishing in the lower Clearwater River and North Fork Clearwater River fisheries. About 500 chinook, including jacks, are being counted each day at Lower Granite.
On the Snake River near Starbuck, anglers fishing “The Wall” at Little Goose Dam report catching in inordinate number of jacks along with the larger adults. This stretch of the Snake is schedule to stay open until June 30, but the downriver catch will ultimately have an affect on the closing date.
Kalama River anglers are still catching spring chinook and a few summer-run steelhead, but effort and catch has slowed on the Lewis River. Both Bonneville Pool levels and Wind River flows have been low and fishing erratic.
Spiny ray
Walleye fishing on Banks Lake ranged from fair to good last weekend, with many tournament anglers taking limits both days. The next event of the Washington State Walleye Circuit will be held on Moses Lake, June 2-3. Prospects are good for a high-volume tournament.
A few anglers have reported good walleye fishing recently at Sprague Lake in 6-10 feet of water. Fish slow with slip bouncers and a Smiley Blade and nightcrawler. Most of the fish caught were 16-19 inches.
On Lake Roosevelt, anglers are finding excellent walleye fishing north of the Kettle Bridge. Smallmouth bass are abundant throughout the Columbia and Snake river systems.
Long Lake is giving up some jumbo crappie and perch, but they can be difficult to find. An occasional pike is caught. The closest launch to the best fishing water is at the site of the old Nine Mile Resort. On Eloika Lake, the perch and crappie are numerous but not as large. Bass fishing is excellent there.
Bass anglers on Silver Lake in Spokane County are seeing a fair bite. They caution those unfamiliar with the lake to be wary of prop-eating structure hiding under the thick milfoil on the southeast end.
Lake Coeur d’Alene pike are on the prowl and anglers throwing spoons and plugs are finding them along shorelines. Largemouth bass are also lurking on beds in shallow water.
Trout and kokanee
Guide Ray Bailey said his clients are taking a lot of rainbow and a few kokanee on each trip to Lake Roosevelt. Most of his fishing has been in and near Swawilla Basin. The kokes, which are running 2 pounds and larger, are hitting in the top 10 feet of water. Info: (509) 647-5801.
West Medical fly fisherman are still finding lots of action casting chironomids into deeper water. Most fish are 11-14 inches, but there are a fair number to 21 inches, plus some “bruisers” that will test the strength of your tippet.
Browns Lake by Usk has been fishing well on top, and Medical Lake has been fair with trout chironomids and leeches deep. Sean Visintainer at Silver Bow Fly Shop said a scouting expedition early this week found the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene to be in good shape for the Idaho Saturday opener. He also said the St. Joe is a little high but should be fishable.
Of the many put-and-take lakes south of Spokane, Williams, Fishtrap and Badger are the hottest. To the north, Diamond and Waitts are good bets for rainbow limits.
Loon Lake kokes averaging 10 inches are cooperating for trollers, but the night bite has not yet begun. Earlier this week, Arlington, Wash., resident Pete Sobczuk caught a 19-pound mack trolling a Sutton Spoon.
On Deer Lake, Gwen Augustine caught a pair of 4-pound trout this week – one a laker and the other a rainbow. Anglers are catching all the 8- to 10-inch plants they want.
Conconully Reservoir is booting out fast limits of rainbow, many running 16-18 inches. Try still-fishing with eggs or Power Bait on the north end.
Koocanusa Resort and Marina in Montana reports good kokanee fishing and improving rainbow fishing. The winner of last week’s kokanee competition weighed in 20 fish that tipped the scales at 8 pounds, 10 ounces. Largest trout was about 8.5 pounds.
Coeur d’Alene anglers trolling the south end are picking up many 10- to 12-inch kokanee.
Other species
Anglers on charter boats in the ports of Chinook and Ilwaco averaged a legal sturgeon kept per every three rods last week, while private boaters averaged one per every six rods. Catches have picked up in recent days. About one in every three fish landed was a legal size fish.
Shad are again pouring over Columbia River dams. The run hasn’t peaked by any means, but there are enough fish for excellent angling.
The Palouse River is the best spot for large numbers of channel cats, but some are also being caught in the Snake proper near Rice Bar and the grain elevators. These fish run mostly 4-6 pounds with an occasional one to 10 pounds.
Hunting
Controlled hunt applications for deer, elk and antelope will be accepted at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game until June 5, and antlerless deer hunting opportunities abound. To encourage more hunters to apply in the Salmon Region, applicants will be eligible for both a regular deer tag and a controlled hunt.
For information or landowner contacts, contact Bret Stansberry at 208-756-2271.
The Idaho turkey season ends today, but the Washington season runs through the end of the month.