Here are a few pictures from last weekend.  We were on a “secret” lake that had about 30 campers around it and about 100 fishermen.  Not really a secret anymore.

Finally I had a stellar day fishing this year.  I have been struggling over the last 4 months for some crazy fishing and finally it hit me over in Montana.

Yesterday, three on my friends, on an un-named lake in MT, put the hammer down on some great fish.  Over the period of about 5 hours we ended up landing 40 some rainbows.  The largest fish was around 26″-27″ and they were all fat.  I should have some pictures up tomorrow.

Local fishing has been picking up on Lake Pend Oreille for  Bass, Crappie, and Trout.  Rainbows are now on the surface and lots of fish are being caught on apexs and rapalas.  The Black Ant hatch is going to happen the next day it is 70 degrees and this is a prime time to catch some great fish on a fly rod.  Focus efforts around Kootenai Point, Contest Point, and Anderson Point. 

Good Luck and I will post some pics tomorrow.

Cal

…is the word.  All rivers are high and muddy right now.  With the cooler weather moving in for the weekend things might drop a little, but there is some rain expected.

Lake Pend Oreille has been fishing very well for Bass, Crappie, Perch and Trout over the last few days.  The surface temp is in the high 40′s to low 50′s in the main lake and up into the lower 60′s in the sloughs.  The Largemouth bass fishing is really picking up in the sloughs as well as the Crappie fishing.

Stream fishing will be on hold for a few days while things blow out… but it should be good again once the water comes down.

Lake Pend Oreille is warming up and the Bass are biting.  Here is a kid that caught a 4# Smallie dropshotting a night-crawler on a Zebco Spiderman Combo Rod.  This kid is stoked.

The water temp is around 47 degrees right now in the main lake with the sloughs being as much as 10 degrees warmer.  Largemouth and Smallmouth will be in the pre-spawn stages.  Slow fishing crank baits for smallies works well this time of year with brighter colors usually attracting more fish.  For Largies try fishing dark color Senkos, Lizards, Spinnerbaits, or Plastic Power-Worms low and Slow.  They will begin to move on their beds in the next few weeks.

Trout Fishing has been very slow in all the tribs including the Clark Fork River.  However, there have been reports of four Walleye being caught in the Clark Fork River with the biggest weighing in at 14 lbs!  This is just a few ounces off the State Record.

The Coeur d’Alene River has been fishing stellar for Cutthroat Trout.  With the warmer temps this week expect the river to bump up and fishing to slow down dramatically.

Good Luck out there and Have fun.

Cal

Calvin, Camille, and Landon just bought a new wall tent.  Now we can go camping in style and keep our waders dry with the wood stove!  The first run will be on the CDA river in May. 

Local Fishing has picked up in the creeks.  Cutthroat Trout and Rainbows are now in every tributary surrounding Lake Pend Oreille.  You can’t keep Cutthroat Trout in Lake Pend Oreille since they are one of the only Native Species left, however, you are allowed two once they leave the lake and enter the creek..?  Not sure why, but IDFG knows what they are doing I am sure of it…

Single Patzke eggs for gear fishermen have been working very well, while fly fishermen turn to beads once the fish are in the creeks.  Remember that Rapid Lightning Creek is CLOSED to all fishing until Memorial Weekend.  They are patroling and you will get a ticket so be careful.

Bass fishing in Lake Pend Oreille will pick up big time by the end of the week.  With Temps in the mid to upper 60′s by the end of the week the water temp is sure to go up and fishing will turn back on.  A 4 lb smallmouth in Lake Pend Oreille is on average 6-8 years old.  That is how long it takes to grow one of these great fish, so take that in mind next time you are about the eat one.  The smaller ones taste better anyway.  Crappie fishing is still hot down on the Pend Oreille River and Walleye fishing should pick up once the water hits 44 degrees.  That should be in just a few days.

Good luck out there!  Turkey and Bear season open Tomorrow.

The Clark Fork came up 4 feet on Saturday in less than 30 min….thus making fishing very difficult.  Fish have begun to move it, however, you will have to work for them even under ideal conditions.  Cabinet Gorge Dam is owned and operated by Avista.  They powerpeak the flows every time they need more electricity for the local area.  Just like a switch, they can raise and lower the river in a matter of minutes.  No wonder they can’t get any Kokanne to run up there to spawn.

The Upper Clark Fork is running over 10,000 cfs right now, making fishing very tough.  As the weather cools this week flows will stabilize and fishing should be very good. 

Lake Pend Oreille has been putting out some huge Smallmouth bass right now.  The surface temp is around 42.5 degrees in the main lake.  There are some sloughs down in the Pend Oreille River that are fishing very well for Crappie and Perch.

Pack River/Grouse Creek have finally come up and fish are being removed by everyone willing to accept the $15 check from AVISTA for each rainbow head.  But fishing is good throughout the entire system right now.

Good Luck and be sure to club every Wild Rainbow Trout that comes across your path to save the non-native Kokanee.

Uncle Bobby with a LPO Spring Mackinaw 

The Clark Fork River around St. Regis is fishing well during cloudy days.  The March Browns and Skwalas are on the water and the fish are looking up for a few hours during the heat of the day.

Lake Pend Oreille is putting out some great Smallmouth Bass right now.  Fishing slow and low is putting out some 4lb fish right now.  Spoons, Countdown Rapalas, and Jigs are working great right now.

The Local Black Ant Hatch has begun with the smaller carpenter ants emerging during the hottest part of the day.  Once the temp hits the 70′s, there can be some great fishing on the lake with ant patterns fished on the surface.

The sun is now out and the rivers are bumping up during the afternoon.   After fishing for three days I am convinced I am still too early….or there just are no more fish in Lake Pend Oreille….or I could be a bad fishermen.  We only caught one Brown Trout, one  Genuine North Idaho Sucker, and broke off two “fish” while we were out looking for some monsters.

The Clark Fork will go off this week.  With Temps in the 60′s during the day then freezing at night, the dry fly action in the afternoon will be stellar.  It is the week to get out there and catch the best Skwala action of the year before the river blows out.

The Johnson Creek Boat launch is now open….for jet boats and little boats only.  The water is only about 4″ deep in some places, but that is better then pushing your boat over rocks when the river drops.

Good Luck!