Spokane

Expect to find lots of rainbow trout when fishing the turnouts downstream of Tumtum, as well as smallmouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) also encourages northern pike harvest. In Lake Spokane (aka Long Lake), year-round statewide rules apply.

Because of contaminants and to protect redband trout, the Spokane River from Nine Mile Dam to Idaho is now one section with one set of regulations. There are selective gear rules, no bait, barbless hooks, and you can keep two hatchery rainbow trout per day; everything else is catch and release.

Washington and Idaho’s Department of Health recommend checking fish advisories. In some areas it may mean limiting certain types of fish eaten or not eating fish at all.

Coeur d’Alene

Fernan Lake, near Coeur d’Alene, is open for fishing all year. You can find bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass (in shallow, warm water April-May, moving out to deeper water in summer), catfish, yellow perch, rainbow and brook trout, and white crappie.

Sandpoint

Look for largemouth bass, catfish, white crappie, yellow perch as well as rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and brown trout at Cocolalla Lake. Round Lake has bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, bullhead catfish, largemouth bass, brook and rainbow trout. Unique to Shepherd Lake is tiger muskie, but you’ll also find largemouth bass, bluegill/pumpkinseed/sunfish, and yellow perch.

For all three lakes there are bag limits and restrictions for certain species.

Originally published as “Fish Found Near Your Front Door” in the May-June 2021 issue as a sidebar for “Fishing Close to Home” feature story.

[Feature photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – rainbow trout.]

Read more fishing stories in the OTO archives.

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Idaho: Andy Dux, regional fishery manager for Idaho Fish and Game, highly recommends using the Idaho Fish Planner website before you go. It offers easy access to fishing rules, facilities, what species you’re likely to find, a map and directions, as well as the stocking record for that water body. At the bottom of the page is a link to buy your license online if needed.

Montana: The state’s Fish, Wildlife, and Parks department also has online resources.

Zach McCall fishing at Rock Lake. // Photo courtesy Zach McCall (left); Cutthroat trout from the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. // Photo courtesy Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce; Father-daughter fly fishing on the North Fork (upper middle). // Photo: Amy McCaffree (lower middle); Sean Visintainer, owner of Silver Bow Fly Shop, with a redband trout from the Spokane River. // Photo courtesy Michael Visintainer.

Read more fishing stories in the OTO archives.

[Feature photo courtesy of the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce – Fly fishing on the North Fork.]

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This year Free Fishing Weekend is June 12-13. Anyone can participate and isn’t limited to Washington State residents. Anglers can access any lake, river, saltwater area, and other waterways in the state that’s open for fishing season.

People will also not be required to have a Vehicle Access Pass, which normally comes with a fishing license, nor a Discover Pass in order to access Washington State Park lands or Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife water access sites and boat launches. However, a Discover Pass will still be required in order to fish on public land and waterways managed by the federal Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Learn complete details for this event, including about the Two-Pole Endorsement, at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/free.

Around the Pacific and Inland Northwest, other Free Fishing Days this month include:

• Oregon, June 5-6
• Idaho, June 12, 2021
• Montana, June 19-20 (Father’s Day weekend)

To find more free fishing dates around the United States, visit takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/free-fishing-days/.

Photos: Derrick Knowles steelhead fishing on the Columbia River. // Photo: Jeff Holmes (top left); Spokane Riverkeeper Jerry White fly fishing on the Spokane River. // Photo: Derrick Knowles (top right); Urban fly fishing on the Spokane River. // Photo courtesy of Michael Visintainer (lower left); Black Crappie caught at Lake Spokane. // Photo: Randy Osborne; Fishing derby at Klink’s Resort on Williams Lake. // Photo courtesy Klink’s Resort.

[Feature photo by Randy Osborne, rainbow trout from Lake Spokane, near Tumtum.]

Visit the OTO archives for fishing stories with destination ideas and recommendations, fishing trips, and more.

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