Fishing chain lakes along CDA river

[Gotaway]

Hey all, my first post. I am planning a day fishing trip with my buddy along the chain lakes, any suggestions for catching bunches of fish there? Any lakes that have great fishing? Our first stop I think is Blue Lake. We will have a boat.

Fish on!
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[Kodiak1]

I understand the chains are fishing best for crappie. Jigs in pumpkinseed, yellow/white and purple are working well. I would check on current conditions at sporting goods stores either in St. Maries or Coeur d'Alene. Good luck
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[windriver]

I do not know much about Northern Idaho, but welcome to the forum anyway.

Windriver
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[Aluma165]

Just returned from camping at Heyburn S.P. We were in the Benewah C.G. on Lake Chacolet. Fished next to the tressel near the tunnel one evening. A few small boats were catching panfish. A neighbor in the C.G. caught catfish, perch and some small bass on nightcrawlers. Said a couple of the cats were 3 - 4lbs. Grandson caught a small bluegill on a #00 Mepps. I caught a couple of small bass on a No. 2 Mepps. Didn't have the right gear with me but I changed to a No. 3 Mepps Black Fury just before dusk. First and only cast nailed an 8lb. Northern Pike! My first Northern and the first fish on that spinner. Quite a fight on my light 6' rod with a vintage 304 Mitchell and 6lb. line. Luckily, the drag was set right and my line was braided Fireline. Good 4 or 5 runs stripping line until he finally tired. They fight well...
Drove by Blue Lake one morning on the way to the Cataldo Mission over on Interstate 90.
A couple of boats on the lake (it's fairly small) but no idea if they were having any luck.
I gave the Pike to a guy and his wife after he pulled up in his boat and helped me unhook it. I didn't anticipate needing pliers... He was fishing for bass with a floating frog with a funny name?
Said there were some good bass in Chacolet and he'd heard of N. Pike in the lake but had never seen one before mine.
Good luck. I'll look for your report.
Saw a massive bull Moose in the marsh near the highway. Great area. Very fishy looking lakes. Awesome scenery.
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[Gotaway]

Well the fishing on blue lake sucked, there were a few other boats out there and they didn't catch much either... however my buddy pulled in a 29.5" pike, so that make the trip more worth it. Tons of lakes up there, will have to try some of the other ones when I get more time. Some guys said the fishing is usually good, so maybe it was just a bad day for fishing. I would like to hit Black lake, it looks like it has fish.
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[Turkeyflacx2]

I realize the last post was a while back but for those interested in the chain lakes,Ive fished most of them alot.My personal favorite it swan.We usually float smelt with a bobber about 5-10 feet down and just let the wind drift the boat while we cast top water and spinner baits.Caught a couple pike on the smelt in the 12-20 lb range but some take up to close to 30lbs! Klarny and Black are also good along with Cour d'Alene in Cougar Bay.
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[iliketofish]

I'm glad to see a couple of northern Idahoans, on the site. It will be good to hear what is going on up north. I'm heading up to Post Falls the first week in Feb. Have either of you been down to the clearwater to fish for steelhead, or heard anything about the run so far? I'm planning on spending a day down there. Any info would be great.
Welcome aboard again.
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[Turkeyflacx2]

Hey welcome to Post Falls!Thats where I happen to live actually.Ive yet to hit the Clearwater or steelhead at all for that matter.I have flyflailed the St.Joe a few times though.I call it flyflailing because I reaaly have got to be the worst at it in history.
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[Mojo1]

The steelhead run is off this year in the Clearwater. I've caught a few fish each trip, but usually average much better fishing. My buddies that guide up there report low numbers as well, but they are catching fish. One report said that the Tribe announced most of the smolts in the Kooskia hatchery were killed a few years ago due to a problem with the pumping system. Nice to know that now...

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I thought I'd answer your questions...
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[iliketofish]

Thanks for the info. That's pretty lame about the fish kill a few years ago. do you have any advice on where to go or what to use? I've traditionally gone on the north and south fork, and used eggs yarn and a corkie, but I'd be open to trie new things and places.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up.
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