lake coeur alene

[407bull]

I was on vacation at lake coeur alene Idaho last week, We tried to do some fishing but had no luck. Does any one have any suggestions for my future visits?

[TrophyTaker]

it's Coeur d’ Alene :wink:. and i have heard that trolling is the way to go.

[FearNoFishy]

This is my 'home town' lake so I know pretty much all about it as I have been fishing it since the early 90's. :)

First what are you trying to catch?

The main fish people fish for are Salmon, Pike, Bass and some Pan Fish.

The Chinook are landlocked and can be caught fairly well if you know where to go and what to do. It is NOT like the ocean and the tactics are a little different. We have tried doing the cut plugs there several times but they do not produce the fish. If you are trolling herring use a blue pack and a blue helmet. If you have never used a Helmeted herring hook up with someone who has so they can show you how to get it to 'roll' right. It is all about the roll and the speed you troll at, usually between 1.6 to 1.8. The depth they are at is all depending on the time of year. In the spring we catch right on the surface to 20 feet deep and then later in the year they will be at 70-100 feet deep. My biggest suggestion for those is to get a guide. Guiding in Idaho is different than in Washington (Im not sure exactly how Oregon runs their guide licenses) but Idaho only allows a certain amount for each lake. For CDA I think it is 4 or so and out of those only a couple are actually active and 'good' guides. The absolute best is Fins and Feathers. If you want there contact info either type in fins1.com or contact me. If Jeff can't get you on the fish well it just was not meant to be that day.
Don't expect a huge salmon like you may be used to over here. A BIG Salmon there is 17+ pounds. While they may not be big they sure are fun and good eating!

If you want chase Pike head into any of the bays with a weed line and throw big spinner baits. My favorite are made by a local tackle company called "Long Feather Lures" and are available at many local (to CDA) retailers. The one that seems to produce the most fish is a orange skirt and two orange blades. Check in with a local sporting good shop like Fins and Feathers to see how and where the Pike are biting when you go and your success rate will jump I would almost guarantee it. :)

Smallmouth are Smallmouth.. they are about the same as anywhere else as far as structure and rocky shorelines with a nice drop off. The whole north end of the lake is 'swarming' with Smallies. The best baits I have come up with for them are Yamamoto twin tails grubs.

Any other questions about Coeur d'Alene or any surrounding areas let me know.

..sidenote.. that fish head pic i have is of a Lake Coeur d'Alene Chinook Salmon.

[FearNoFishy]

If you want to get away for a little winter break the winter Salmon fishing on the Lake is usually pretty good and you can beat the scenary and attractions during the holidays in CDA. If you are thinking of going up let me know and Ill get you whatever info you need.

[Jimmy]

I was just up at Bonners Ferry on Friday and drove by Coeur d' Alene and Lake Pend Oreille lakes. I have to agree the scenery was awesome. I would like to target the large rainbows. Any suggestions or tips on the best time of year, baits and where to begin fishing on these huge lakes would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[FearNoFishy]

I was just up at Bonners Ferry on Friday and drove by Coeur d' Alene and Lake Pend Oreille lakes. I have to agree the scenery was awesome. I would like to target the large rainbows. Any suggestions or tips on the best time of year, baits and where to begin fishing on these huge lakes would be appreciated.

Thanks,

The Gerald (not sure if that's spelled right) Rainbow on Pend Oreille are a kick in the pants. Honestly I can not say I have caught that many because we primarily fished Coeur d'Alene for Pike, Bass and Salmon but I can tell you what I know and put you in contact with people who can give you current updates on them.

When we fished for them we usually used a fly made locally in N. Idaho. There are national companies that make them but the "Frisky Jenny" flies are way better hands down. They can be picked up at any sporting goods dealer in the N. Idaho area. We used those flys our a few hundred feet off planer boards or somethings off downriggers depending on where the fish were. Something I should mention, these are not normal little flies. I am talking about the flies that are 3 to 4 inches or so long and 2 inches wide.

There are a few hot spots to fish for them on Pend Oreille.. We mainly fished out of Bayview. If you launch there and basically go straight across the lake and fish by the cliffs you should do alright. That is just a general area though so find out more specific when you get there.

I have done it in the past and not gotten in trouble so the best place I would recommend to find out the fishing report is Fins and Feathers. The web address is www dot fins1.com They do not update their website that often but a phone call will get you the information you need. 208-667-9304. If you need some more info let me know and Ill do my best. Thanks.

[Jimmy]

FearNoFishy

Thanks a lot for the info :applause: When I was in Idaho I stop by Cabela's on the way home and bought a side planer. I hope to use next year when Oregon anglers get to use two rods per person on lakes. I looked at the Frisky Jenny Flies website and I will have to get a couple of flies for next season. By the way if anybody gets a chance to visit Sand Point be sure to stop and eat at Second Ave Pizza. It is the best pizza I have ever had. :food:

[HiTide]

I fished there last Aug. while attending a wedding near CDA. Came all the way from S. coast of OR. Three of us got a guide thru Fins & Feathers and did very well on kokes (but only 12 - 13" fish). We really wanted to go for the Big LL chinook we heard CDA is known for but we were told that high run off from snow melt made the chinook leave the lake and go into the tribs. Sounds kind of strange, but who knows.
We were favorably impressed with Fins & Feathers and their guide. I would consider a return trip if the chinook fishing comes back. Maybe not this time of year in the blizzards.

[FearNoFishy]

I fished there last Aug. while attending a wedding near CDA. Came all the way from S. coast of OR. Three of us got a guide thru Fins & Feathers and did very well on kokes (but only 12 - 13" fish). We really wanted to go for the Big LL chinook we heard CDA is known for but we were told that high run off from snow melt made the chinook leave the lake and go into the tribs. Sounds kind of strange, but who knows.
We were favorably impressed with Fins & Feathers and their guide. I would consider a return trip if the chinook fishing comes back. Maybe not this time of year in the blizzards.

I wonder who told you that or if there was a miscommunication somehow because I have never heard of that before. The Kokanee in CDA are only generally 12-18 long, every once in a while you get some bigger ones but it all depends on the time of year.

Don't go there thinking you will hook into a 30 pound Chinook. The strain of Salmon that in the lake now just don't get that big anymore. Fish and game first introduced Salmon from the Great Lakes into CDA and for the first few years they did get really big fast but as the food source stabilized and Fish and Game switched the type of Chinook Salmon they put in the lake the fish are smaller. A good fish there is 15 pounds, but don't let they deter you from going after them they are blast. :twocents:

I went and looked at the site and here is what Jeff Smith (owner and primary guide) said.

"When people call and ask, when is the best time to come and fish for Chinook? November is one of the time frames I will mention. Year in year out some of the best catch rates of the year come in November. They may not be the largest fish of the season but good action most days. The landlocked Chinooks will go from 2-10 pounds and for the most part be in the main body of the lake around Carlin and Loffs bays. Unlike fall Rainbow fishing on Pend Orielle lake which is on the surface we fish deep all fall and winter for the Chinooks. The depth range is usually 80-100 feet out in about 110-120 foot of water. The flasher and mini-squid rigs really shine this time of the year even outfishing herring. The most common set up is an 8 inch flasher about 24 inches leader to a mini-squid. If you use an 11 inch flasher stretch your leader out to 36-40 inches. The black/glo flasher and the green prism flasher are our two best, as far as mini-squids go lately its been Spumoni or black and glo. I would have a Mexican flag and a grateful dead squid rigged as well. I have caught a few fish on a dodger herring but its mini-squid time for sure!!
The Gene Fink Winter Chinook derby dates are set for December 5-6 2009 I’ll have the flyers out 1st of November or call the Fins for more info."

[Rick on Rogue]

FearNoFishy

Thanks a lot for the info :applause: When I was in Idaho I stop by Cabela's on the way home and bought a side planer. I hope to use next year :food:

Jimmy, which side planer did you get?

[Jimmy]

Jimmy, which side planer did you get?


I got a offshore OR12L side planer. I sent several emails to side planer companies and the CEO of offshore side planers sent me a couple of emails back on what model he recommend for my style of fishing. He also gave me some tips on how to use it. Great customer service. :applause:

[FearNoFishy]

You will have to let us know how those boards work. I have only ever used board by "frisky jenny" http://www.friskyjennyflies.com/trolling-boards.html Have had absolutly no complaints. Let me know what you think of those boards.