Getting Settled in Idaho

I am finally moved into a house and I've gotten out on the water twice in the last couple weeks. It's gorgeous up here in North Idaho and I'm slowly figuring out the fishing. I'll reiterate the offer: If any NCKA happens to be in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene area, look me up. I'd be happy to take you out for a North Idaho catch!


Here's my report, slightly modified from the NWKA posting:
This weekend I launched for the first time in Lake CdA and had a good day of paddling and fishing. I launched out of the Mineral Ridge boat launch into Wolf Lodge Bay around 0645 with the goal of finding smallmouth and pike. I paddled approximately 5-6 miles in my journey today and found some great habitat. Water is still a bit cold ~53 degrees, but the fish are there.

I can now say that I have caught fish in Idaho! After about 45 minutes of patrolling the shore line I found a nice point that I could tell was rocky and dropped of quick. I threw my x-rap over the point and started slashing it past the drop off. Bendo, fish on!

I boated my first Idaho smallie. All of the fish were about this size for me today, with the largest going 12". Not a big fish by any stretch, but it told me that I can figure it out with a few more trips.



In my exploration I found a sweet little honey hole by paddling through a culvert under the highway to a small bay on the other side. I later learned that when the water is just right the bass boats can make it in there. Not today though. I had to lay my rods flat and duck to get in there. BTW, there are some lunkers in there! When the water warms up just a bit more I'll be headed back in there. Hopefully I'll have some monster pics to show. As it was today I nailed a couple smallies in there and scared a few turtles.

The entrance:


The bay:


The terrified turtle:


On the way home I stopped in at the local tackle shop and learned that while I'm on the right track I need to adjust a few tactics. Their resident pro was in and was very helpful. We'll see if I can improve the catch next time.

No pike on this mission, but I know where they live and I'll get one shortly I'm sure.

glad you are getting settled in jay and finding time to get out on the water, thanks for the report and pics, and hope to see more from idaho, cameron

FnJ,

I used to do a lot of pike fishing in upper New York state and the two most productive pile lures I ever used were BIG spinnerbaits (like 3/4- to 1oz.) and big crankbaits fished deep along ledges and weedbed dropoffs. Pike are cool and hit like freight trains with big teeth! Standard tubes and spyder jigs for the smallmouth when the water is cold.

Pictures would be greatly appreciated......

Tight lines~!

rob
jrsyboy

Glad to hear you're moved in Jay and able to explore new fishing ground.
Thanks for your first fishing report from Idaho. Looking forward to those
big pikes you'll be catching real soon.

Jedmo

Way to go, looks like you're adapting quickly...always fun learning new waters.

-beenfishin

Jay, thanks for the report...cool.  Hey, are those Western Pond Turtles up there?

Dave

Jay, thanks for the report...cool.  Hey, are those Western Pond Turtles up there?

Dave

Thanks Dave, unfortunately I don't know much about turtles to be able to answer that. 

Good to hear from you. Your FB avatar is better. 

Good to hear from you. Your FB avatar is better. 

Thanks Howard! You mean this avatar?   

That was at the Klamath River last fall.

That's the one. When I received your Friend Request, I initially thought some spammer had ripped off Theresa's account and modified it. Then I thought...that guy looks familiar. Never knew your real first name beforehand.  Lake Coeur d'Alene looks as beautiful as Theresa described.

good to see, read, hear from you Jay,,,,,,do the smallies up there, fight just as hard as the one down here do?
Keep'aclickin and postin!!

glad to hear you settled in Jay.  keep em coming

Good to hear your making Spokane your home. My 2 brothers live there and I love that place. The lake is beautiful and sometimes tricky. Great trout lake also. My brother Terry was a Constr.super on the resort there. He now owns the Hockey Armor sportinggoods store in Spokane. Stop in and say high and he can give you tips on the fishing in the area. Enjoy!
  Randall

Thanks guys! You'll definitely hear from me when I get it figured out.

Good to hear your making Spokane your home. My 2 brothers live there and I love that place. The lake is beautiful and sometimes tricky. Great trout lake also. My brother Terry was a Constr.super on the resort there. He now owns the Hocky Armor sportinggoods store in Spokane. Stop in and say high and he can give you tips on the fishing in the area. Enjoy!
  Randall

I'm actually living just barely across the city boundary into Hayden, ID, but still real close to Spokane. I'll keep an eye out for your brother's place. 

YAAAAAAAA! Missin you guys here. Come back for Albion. Nice smallie  Jay.