PEND OREILLE LAKE, Hope Idaho: I have a week in Hope, Northern Idaho with a 17 ft boat and slip next September. I have never fished there. I am looking for any advice for Pend Oreille...

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I have a week in Hope, Northern Idaho with a 17 ft boat and slip next September. I have never fished there. I am looking for any advice for Pend Oreille Lake or close by that addresses September fishing. Pike, walleye, trout, bass, char and big crappie are all potential targets. I do not plan to kokanee fish except as a time filler if trolling for larger fish. I do have down riggers if that is the key. My partner is in that big fish stage of his fishing career.
My favorite target after years of salmon and salt water guiding is just having fun. I have never hooked a burbot, so a new fish on the bucket list would be nice. I am also posting for another driving trip to Alaska in June. REMEMBER - Take a kid fishing

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

bapabear wrote:

I have a week in Hope, Northern Idaho with a 17 ft... (show quote)

Welcome to the Forum, bapabear. We have a few guys from Idaho on the Forum, maybe they will jump in. I hope you have your ducks in the row for the AK. trip by now.

L.W. Loc: Spokane Valley, Washington

Northern pike, lake & rainbow trout, smallmouth bass.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

All is good unless the Coronavirus throws a wrench into things

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Flyguy, I will have my fly rod.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

L.W. wrote:

Northern pike, lake & rainbow trout, smallmouth bass.

Welcome to the Forum, L.W., thanks for the help

Ted A Loc: Eastern Washington

You're making me envious. Wish I could join you on both trips.

Guess I'll just have to be satisfied with the Columbia and Snake rivers.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Ted A wrote:

You're making me envious. Wish I could join you on both trips.

Guess I'll just have to be satisfied with the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Those are great locations. I normally go to CJ Strike on the Snake in Idaho. It is one of my favorite reservoirs.
I moved here to Blaine, WA to fish salt water. Unfortunately the entire area has been all but shut down to fishing. You now have better fishing and bigger fish on the east side than we have (available) on the west side.
Fortunately, my grandson is still at the bluegill, perch, stocked trout stage. He also loves sole, crabbing and sharks (dog fish) REMEMBER-Take a kid fishing

Dbass4856 Loc: Smelterville idaho

You will be close to Denton slough which is a great place to fish for bass, crappie and pike.as well as walleye in a little deeper water outside the bay. You can drag rapalas for the big rainbows in the same area and the clarkfork river comes in there also. Good luck and have fun!

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Dbass4856 wrote:

You will be close to Denton slough which is a great place to fish for bass, crappie and pike.as well as walleye in a little deeper water outside the bay. You can drag rapalas for the big rainbows in the same area and the clarkfork river comes in there also. Good luck and have fun!

Thanks. Any specific advise for pike lures that time of the year for that area?

Dbass4856 Loc: Smelterville idaho

I haven't fish pol for pike but did plenty of fishing for them in coeur d alene lake. My go to lures for pike are 1oz willowleaf spinner baits in white,chart/wht and chart for bright days and blk with gold blades for overcast days. 1oz red/wht daredevil. And 3/8 oz. perch crankbaits that dive to 8 ft. Look for patches of cabbage weeds in the 6-10 ft depths. Fish the outside edges of these weed beds. They often run in stringers with a gap of 6-20 ft between them. Vary your retrieve speed. If you feel the lure quit throbbing and your line goes slack. Set the hook! Pike are followers and will sometimes follow your lure to the boat and hit at the last second. Rig a couple rods up with a different lure. If you get a hit but miss it. Change rods and cast right back in the same place. Often they will hit that lure. Good luck! Hope this helps.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Thanks, It does. We are looking at Coeur d Alene Lake first opportunity we get. Any suggestion for best pike month? There is nothing more fun in fresh water fishing than a surface strike from a pike.

Dbass4856 Loc: Smelterville idaho

Aug and sept were biggest fish months for me. Tho I haven't tried it yet I saw a utube vid for high speed trolling for pike in august. I looked but didnt find the vid again. I forgot what they lure they trolling. I just remember they were trolling at 5-6 mph with the big motor and catching pike.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Dbass4856 wrote:

Aug and sept were biggest fish months for me. Tho I haven't tried it yet I saw a utube vid for high speed trolling for pike in august. I looked but didnt find the vid again. I forgot what they lure they trolling. I just remember they were trolling at 5-6 mph with the big motor and catching pike.

Thanks. That sounds like it would be fun to try. I expect any plug or spoon that will work at that speed would be good. It sounds like a dare devil might be in order.

Dbass4856 Loc: Smelterville idaho

Very well could be what they were using.