Fishing the Inland Northwest
Aug 1, 2019 00:28:30 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
Retired four times, once from the Air Force, then several other oddball careers. Live near Spokane and (I'm told) some 74 local lakes. Fishing enthusiasm helped by a buddy with his own boat and a former submariner (which he insists is an advantage when trying to think like a fish). Have my own boat, too, a little skiff for lakes with poor-to-less developed launch sites. Not much of a fisherman, but I once wrote a book that might as well never have been published for all the (few) copies it sold, called "So You Want To Fish In Monterey Bay," thus confirming my lack of claims to success in this field. We have long winters up here, and cold. So lots of us old guys rebuild antique autos (check out any local summer parade for the envy-stoking results), and some of us garden, and some make wine, and some make fishing lures (I do). For the most part I copy successful spin-baits, but I'm still learning, so that some are more successful than others. Haven't sold any yet, but I am a pioneer in spending lots to experiment with spinning lures.
My wife encourages me in these piscatorial pursuits, by allowing me to buy a 'safe, new" outboard motor for an ancient aluminum skiff; then she bought me a fish-finder, which I'm trying to master as well. We have 29 kids, grands- and great-grands. Sometimes we have some fish to offer for Thanksgiving.
My wife encourages me in these piscatorial pursuits, by allowing me to buy a 'safe, new" outboard motor for an ancient aluminum skiff; then she bought me a fish-finder, which I'm trying to master as well. We have 29 kids, grands- and great-grands. Sometimes we have some fish to offer for Thanksgiving.
Aug 1, 2019 12:21:15 #
J. R. Sloan, you sound like a fun guy to fish with. Keep chugging along. You sound happy, and that is what counts.
Aug 1, 2019 13:48:43 #
Hello I fished Monterey bay for years I was always followed around for my stripers on top water .
Aug 1, 2019 15:29:52 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
Status Report: FishFinder installed, working and awaiting its maiden voyage. During my Turkish Language course at the Presidio, I specialized in rock cod and bonita (tuna). And a ling cod here and there.
Aug 2, 2019 19:22:12 #
GLA
Loc: WA State
Where are you fishing at near Spokane? I live nearby. I recommend Williams, Badger, Rock, and West Medical for trout. Liberty and Newman for panfish. Lots of choices. I also tie up my own spinning rigs, and I agree that there are lots of components to play with. It'd probably be cheaper to buy just the finished products I can use in a season at retail, but I enjoy being creative and catching fish on my own concoctions.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
Good Luck and Tight Lines
Aug 2, 2019 21:51:54 #
L.W.
Loc: Spokane Valley, Washington
Hello J.R. and the rest of you guys. I live in Spokane Valley. Fish mostly Newman Lake and Liberty Lake. Just because their close to me. I'm 79 years old .
Aug 4, 2019 20:36:51 #
20mules
Loc: Chesaw, Washington
Since you are in the Spokane Valley area you would be a little far from the many good fishing lakes in the Okanogan. So many creeks and rivers to fish here also. A lot of camping areas around the fishing waters, fresh clean air, sunshine, few crowds. Oh well, but good luck to ya.
Sep 23, 2019 01:29:52 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
Mostly fish in Stevens and Pend Orielle Counties, especially Waitts and Bead Lakes. Been around a bunch of others, but want to get down on the Snake and go after some catfish one of these days.
I too spend 'way more on supplies for my lures hobby than I ever expect to get back. Common symptom, I think.
I too spend 'way more on supplies for my lures hobby than I ever expect to get back. Common symptom, I think.
Dec 17, 2019 04:23:09 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
Buddy described above seems to have memorized the shorelines and bottom of Waitts Lake in Stevens County and loves to show me up with browns and rainbows in the 18-inch range trolling glo-green wedding rings behind a little smiley-faced trolling leader. Mostly he limits out; mostly I drink Dr. Pepper.
Jul 25, 2020 15:09:42 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
General Comments about fishing places in the Inland Northwest (Columbia River-Snake River drainages, Lakes in Eastern WA and Idaho and any related comments): This edited material was sent in a PM in July 2020 in response to a question from another member on this site. (Edited to protect privacy, added to get a start on what I hope will be a wider source for info than now available to most members).
to: (Deleted)
sent on: Jul 23, 2020
Glad to help with some local experience, but to be sure it's not complete, because this is a large territory and these days we are limited pretty much to one-day-trips. This is my home territory (Spokane, WA) and my best buddy (both retired military) spend most of our fishing days on one of our two boats (depending on size of lake) trolling for brown trout or rainbows in one of our favorite 20 or so nearby lakes, though we are told there as many as 75 fishable lakes on the WA side of the border, east of the Columbia-Snake drainages. Due to licensing, we (mostly) stay in WA waters, but there are definitely large opportunities right across the nearby borders in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and British Columbia (when border is open there).
Starting in Spokane
You didn't specify in your letter, but if you want to shore fish with young kids or grandkids, Bear Lake is about 8 miles north of the Spokane city limits on highway 2, aka locally as the Newport Highway. Stocked annually with rainbows, has bluegill and bass near the reed shorelines. Also has a park, playground and primitive his-her outhouses. While watching bobbers, look too for bald eagles and ospreys fighting over the fish on the surface. No motorboats, rowboats and canoes launchable. Great fun place for families.
Some small lakes appear north of Bear Lake off Highway 2 before you get to the Pend Orielle river, (38 miles to Newport) most all shore fishing county lakes. Good for picnics and bobber fishing, but nice for just hanging out. Mostly panfish, some other species, too like rainbows browns and some pike.
Newport (WA) and Oldtown(ID) share the state line and have several public launches north/east of the Idaho border and southwest along the WA river shoreline. Trolling again, but the river depths are not as deep as local lakes; lots of islands and nearby inlets though. As we live in Spokane we hold WA licenses, so we don't spend a lot of time in Idaho lakes and creeks but be aware of a nearby dam on the ID side that holds a very large impoundment (Lake Pend Orielle) for all sports species. The Pend Orielle River flows west into WA from Newport then north to Canada, then returns to the Columbia and comes down south again into the Okanagan County drainage. This far west is a little out of our normal fishing range, but launch and some lodging facilities exist and are internet-search-able.
Nearest good trolling lakes near Newport are Marshall and Bead Lakes, reached by crossing the Pend Orielle into ID on the north end of Newport, then turn immediately left on Le Clerc Creek Road back into WA for maybe 5 miles to the right turn sign on Bead Lake Road to both Marshall and Bead Lakes. A good idea is to find the Sporting Shop next to Safeway in Newport and ask for current advice and local maps. But that said, my oldest son always goes to Marshall Lake to always get his limits. Rental boats available with bait and tackle (he comes in from TX, and travels light).
Several pretty popular lakes in Spokane-CD areas: Lake Couer d'Alene is a good deep-water (submarine training and testing, used to be there even, no joke). Lots of trollers there, some salmon, Northern pike, panfish and bass. Again check out some of the local shops and go to the Spokesman-Review newspaper website for local hot spots by type of fish. Same could be said for the Lake Pend Orielle drainage, which is the second largest lake in the area, but further north of both Couer D'Alene Lake and the Spokane River.
Spokane river is an active mostly trout but mixed fishery, that is both safest and most productive after the April snow runoff which can be pretty grim. It runs from South Couer d'Alene (ID) across Liberty Lake (WA) and East Spokane A couple of dams allow launching and there small motors are best. Lots of shore fishing available on the Spokane River, depending on small parks and pathways for which you'll need local maps (available online). Some folk fish right off downtown Spokane city bridges and sidewalks and in Couer d'Alene City parks.
Spokane River drains past the Little Spokane River NW of Spokane proper (at Nine Mile community near Sunnyside), and both it and the Spokane join to form a reservoir known (depending on how long you lived here) either Long Lake or Lake Spokane (the latter is the newer, PC name). Shallow where the two rivers meet, this 15-mile reservoir varies in depth to 60+ feet, so you can find just about anything from crappie and bluegill to smallmouth bass, to carp & catfish, to the trout you are seeking and some say Northern Pike. Fishing tackle needs to be picked carefully for this lake which has lots of fish, but they pick their territories as you might expect.
One other beautiful outbound road from Spokane north is highway 195, an extension of Spokane's North Division Street, which goes first to cross the Little Spokane River upstream of the local golf course, on 10 miles to the City of Deer Park and then 15 miles or so to first, Deer Lake resort turnoff, 5 miles more to several Diamond Lake access roads, 10 miles (or so) to Jump-off Joe Lake turnoff, and then maybe 6 miles to Waitts Lake turnoff to the town of Valley. From Valley another 4-5 miles gets you to the Waitts Lake community itself and a public access with three small resorts with cabins and RV parking, stores with bait and food and tackle. Waitts has proven the most reliable for my fishing buddy to catch his limits (and sometimes mine--mostly I clean the fish). Our catch is state-stocked rainbows up to the 2-1/2 lb. range, but we've caught browns up to 3 pounds. Our typical catches are in the 14-16 inch range. Lots of wildlife to watch in this area while trolling awaiting fish bites.
Almost all the lakes mentioned here are state-stocked at some time with rainbows, some more regularly than others. There are a string of lakes not mentioned here south of Spokane, starting with East and West Medical Lakes, Silver Lake, Fishtrap Lake, Clear Lake and some others associated with the Crab Creek drainage.
these are a little outside our range, so we suggest you'll need a map from shops, Fish and Game offices, and some are available on the WA Fish and Game website (sketchy, but with depth profiles on some).
Another bunch of sites north of Reardan WA’s exit from Highway 2 North and West along the huge Columbia reservoir, have a range of larger fish from trout to walleye and Northern Pike and lots of panfish in between. Launches and facilities are plentiful and productive.
Farther south out of Spokane from the Cities of Colfax and Pullman you will run into the Snake River, with nearby access inlets from the Idaho Border westward along the Snake River toward Dusty WA, where salmon, catfish, walleye and other mixed species appear in appropriate habitats. Much of this route along the Snake River is in dam impoundments with launches and facilities identified on Fish and Game road maps. Again, these locations get a little out of our range, but along the Columbia Snake and Columbia there are lots of popular launch sites, small stores, casinos and related touring-fisherfolk amenities.
I think this is about the best I can do to provide you general places to start your adventures in the Inland Empire of the Pacific Northwest. With this little bit of a local rundown, you should have a great selection of places to get the fish of your choice.
J.R. Sloan, NE WA
New business consultant
Highly successful granddad
James R (J.R.) Sloan, LtCol USAF (Ret)
Spokane, WA USA
(jrsloan3@hotmail.com)
to: (Deleted)
sent on: Jul 23, 2020
Glad to help with some local experience, but to be sure it's not complete, because this is a large territory and these days we are limited pretty much to one-day-trips. This is my home territory (Spokane, WA) and my best buddy (both retired military) spend most of our fishing days on one of our two boats (depending on size of lake) trolling for brown trout or rainbows in one of our favorite 20 or so nearby lakes, though we are told there as many as 75 fishable lakes on the WA side of the border, east of the Columbia-Snake drainages. Due to licensing, we (mostly) stay in WA waters, but there are definitely large opportunities right across the nearby borders in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and British Columbia (when border is open there).
Starting in Spokane
You didn't specify in your letter, but if you want to shore fish with young kids or grandkids, Bear Lake is about 8 miles north of the Spokane city limits on highway 2, aka locally as the Newport Highway. Stocked annually with rainbows, has bluegill and bass near the reed shorelines. Also has a park, playground and primitive his-her outhouses. While watching bobbers, look too for bald eagles and ospreys fighting over the fish on the surface. No motorboats, rowboats and canoes launchable. Great fun place for families.
Some small lakes appear north of Bear Lake off Highway 2 before you get to the Pend Orielle river, (38 miles to Newport) most all shore fishing county lakes. Good for picnics and bobber fishing, but nice for just hanging out. Mostly panfish, some other species, too like rainbows browns and some pike.
Newport (WA) and Oldtown(ID) share the state line and have several public launches north/east of the Idaho border and southwest along the WA river shoreline. Trolling again, but the river depths are not as deep as local lakes; lots of islands and nearby inlets though. As we live in Spokane we hold WA licenses, so we don't spend a lot of time in Idaho lakes and creeks but be aware of a nearby dam on the ID side that holds a very large impoundment (Lake Pend Orielle) for all sports species. The Pend Orielle River flows west into WA from Newport then north to Canada, then returns to the Columbia and comes down south again into the Okanagan County drainage. This far west is a little out of our normal fishing range, but launch and some lodging facilities exist and are internet-search-able.
Nearest good trolling lakes near Newport are Marshall and Bead Lakes, reached by crossing the Pend Orielle into ID on the north end of Newport, then turn immediately left on Le Clerc Creek Road back into WA for maybe 5 miles to the right turn sign on Bead Lake Road to both Marshall and Bead Lakes. A good idea is to find the Sporting Shop next to Safeway in Newport and ask for current advice and local maps. But that said, my oldest son always goes to Marshall Lake to always get his limits. Rental boats available with bait and tackle (he comes in from TX, and travels light).
Several pretty popular lakes in Spokane-CD areas: Lake Couer d'Alene is a good deep-water (submarine training and testing, used to be there even, no joke). Lots of trollers there, some salmon, Northern pike, panfish and bass. Again check out some of the local shops and go to the Spokesman-Review newspaper website for local hot spots by type of fish. Same could be said for the Lake Pend Orielle drainage, which is the second largest lake in the area, but further north of both Couer D'Alene Lake and the Spokane River.
Spokane river is an active mostly trout but mixed fishery, that is both safest and most productive after the April snow runoff which can be pretty grim. It runs from South Couer d'Alene (ID) across Liberty Lake (WA) and East Spokane A couple of dams allow launching and there small motors are best. Lots of shore fishing available on the Spokane River, depending on small parks and pathways for which you'll need local maps (available online). Some folk fish right off downtown Spokane city bridges and sidewalks and in Couer d'Alene City parks.
Spokane River drains past the Little Spokane River NW of Spokane proper (at Nine Mile community near Sunnyside), and both it and the Spokane join to form a reservoir known (depending on how long you lived here) either Long Lake or Lake Spokane (the latter is the newer, PC name). Shallow where the two rivers meet, this 15-mile reservoir varies in depth to 60+ feet, so you can find just about anything from crappie and bluegill to smallmouth bass, to carp & catfish, to the trout you are seeking and some say Northern Pike. Fishing tackle needs to be picked carefully for this lake which has lots of fish, but they pick their territories as you might expect.
One other beautiful outbound road from Spokane north is highway 195, an extension of Spokane's North Division Street, which goes first to cross the Little Spokane River upstream of the local golf course, on 10 miles to the City of Deer Park and then 15 miles or so to first, Deer Lake resort turnoff, 5 miles more to several Diamond Lake access roads, 10 miles (or so) to Jump-off Joe Lake turnoff, and then maybe 6 miles to Waitts Lake turnoff to the town of Valley. From Valley another 4-5 miles gets you to the Waitts Lake community itself and a public access with three small resorts with cabins and RV parking, stores with bait and food and tackle. Waitts has proven the most reliable for my fishing buddy to catch his limits (and sometimes mine--mostly I clean the fish). Our catch is state-stocked rainbows up to the 2-1/2 lb. range, but we've caught browns up to 3 pounds. Our typical catches are in the 14-16 inch range. Lots of wildlife to watch in this area while trolling awaiting fish bites.
Almost all the lakes mentioned here are state-stocked at some time with rainbows, some more regularly than others. There are a string of lakes not mentioned here south of Spokane, starting with East and West Medical Lakes, Silver Lake, Fishtrap Lake, Clear Lake and some others associated with the Crab Creek drainage.
these are a little outside our range, so we suggest you'll need a map from shops, Fish and Game offices, and some are available on the WA Fish and Game website (sketchy, but with depth profiles on some).
Another bunch of sites north of Reardan WA’s exit from Highway 2 North and West along the huge Columbia reservoir, have a range of larger fish from trout to walleye and Northern Pike and lots of panfish in between. Launches and facilities are plentiful and productive.
Farther south out of Spokane from the Cities of Colfax and Pullman you will run into the Snake River, with nearby access inlets from the Idaho Border westward along the Snake River toward Dusty WA, where salmon, catfish, walleye and other mixed species appear in appropriate habitats. Much of this route along the Snake River is in dam impoundments with launches and facilities identified on Fish and Game road maps. Again, these locations get a little out of our range, but along the Columbia Snake and Columbia there are lots of popular launch sites, small stores, casinos and related touring-fisherfolk amenities.
I think this is about the best I can do to provide you general places to start your adventures in the Inland Empire of the Pacific Northwest. With this little bit of a local rundown, you should have a great selection of places to get the fish of your choice.
J.R. Sloan, NE WA
New business consultant
Highly successful granddad
James R (J.R.) Sloan, LtCol USAF (Ret)
Spokane, WA USA
(jrsloan3@hotmail.com)
Jul 29, 2020 19:09:49 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
GLA wrote:
Where are you fishing at near Spokane? I live nearby. I recommend Williams, Badger, Rock, and West Medical for trout. Liberty and Newman for panfish. Lots of choices. I also tie up my own spinning rigs, and I agree that there are lots of components to play with. It'd probably be cheaper to buy just the finished products I can use in a season at retail, but I enjoy being creative and catching fish on my own concoctions.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
Good Luck and Tight Lines
See the summary, printed below. Sorry I took so long to reply, been tied up with lures and gift boxes for veterans. Hope you'll add your recommendations to others in the area for places and times to go to the lakes you listed earlier, what works, what doesn't!!
Jul 29, 2020 19:20:16 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
20mules wrote:
Since you are in the Spokane Valley area you would be a little far from the many good fishing lakes in the Okanogan. So many creeks and rivers to fish here also. A lot of camping areas around the fishing waters, fresh clean air, sunshine, few crowds. Oh well, but good luck to ya.
Thanks for the response; any places particularly good for end of summer, especially walleyes or Northerns??
Aug 8, 2020 15:33:28 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
Just for grins, my submariner buddy (WHO REALLY DOES THINK LIKE A FISH) skunked me again yesterday, browns and rainbows up to his limit.
Just for survival, he gave the fish to my wife, who is now making something called "salmon candy' out of the filets. Never tried it, so we'll see.
His wife doesn't care much for fish nor fishing. Can you imagine?
Just for survival, he gave the fish to my wife, who is now making something called "salmon candy' out of the filets. Never tried it, so we'll see.
His wife doesn't care much for fish nor fishing. Can you imagine?
Nov 21, 2020 18:32:16 #
J.R. Sloan
Loc: Inland Northwest (WA, OR, ID)
Overdue report on "Fish Candy": Well, it's a real thing. Take a look online for recipes---there are several out there.
--these recipes are for canning the fish. Because of the risks involved in canning fresh meats,
--Follow the recipes closely. Some are USDA-approved, good guidelines there
--Make sure you have the right equipment (pressure cookers, steamers, like that.)
Basically, start with fish fillet (filets?) (we used frozen brown and rainbow trout from last season's results)
... prepare the brine as directed, having salts and seasoning available
...prepare the fish filets, as clean as possible, then in the brine to soak
...pack the fillets in sterilized glass jars (we used 4-oz canning jars) per the packing instructions
... No need to pack the meat in tightly, make it loos & easy to get out of the jars later.
...seal and can per the recipe's instructions.
What do you get? Using trout, we got some very nice coiled filets that worked really nicely for snack-on-crackers, and some really nice light fish sandwiches. Using trout, there was no need to be worried about bones, they weren't noticeable. We used light dressings (no mustard for a mild fish like trout.) Very mild taste, but pleasant, and not at all what you'd expect from something called "candy".
Verdict: pretty fair beer or cocktail snack, good as a side for a greens salad, Texture is firmer than canned tuna, but easily eaten with a fork off a plate. Worth a try as a survival experiment, or as a way to store excess fish (is there such a thing?) before the next season begins to fill up your freezer.
--these recipes are for canning the fish. Because of the risks involved in canning fresh meats,
--Follow the recipes closely. Some are USDA-approved, good guidelines there
--Make sure you have the right equipment (pressure cookers, steamers, like that.)
Basically, start with fish fillet (filets?) (we used frozen brown and rainbow trout from last season's results)
... prepare the brine as directed, having salts and seasoning available
...prepare the fish filets, as clean as possible, then in the brine to soak
...pack the fillets in sterilized glass jars (we used 4-oz canning jars) per the packing instructions
... No need to pack the meat in tightly, make it loos & easy to get out of the jars later.
...seal and can per the recipe's instructions.
What do you get? Using trout, we got some very nice coiled filets that worked really nicely for snack-on-crackers, and some really nice light fish sandwiches. Using trout, there was no need to be worried about bones, they weren't noticeable. We used light dressings (no mustard for a mild fish like trout.) Very mild taste, but pleasant, and not at all what you'd expect from something called "candy".
Verdict: pretty fair beer or cocktail snack, good as a side for a greens salad, Texture is firmer than canned tuna, but easily eaten with a fork off a plate. Worth a try as a survival experiment, or as a way to store excess fish (is there such a thing?) before the next season begins to fill up your freezer.
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