Coeur d'Alene Lake
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Coeur d'Alene Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Coeur d'Alene Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueMedium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12')SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureDocksHooked 4 species of fish that day- Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, and Yellow Perch. Fished to shallows between docks, and retrieved to deeper water.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonSummerStructureHumps
5 Smally hookups, 4 landed- to 16", 1 Pike- lost at the boat.
- Species
Largemouth BassTechniqueSwim JigsSeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureLily Padsfishing the chain lakes with a swim jig is always a good place to start and find fish. you can switch around with trailers but a craw is usually best for me. water in the mid to upper 60's .
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructureBaitfish
fishing a drop shot in 20-30 feet is a good way to find bigger fish in the summer. I use my 2d sonar to find either schools of bait most likely perch or Kokanee or fish areas out side spawning pockets in that depth. Sometimes just a do nothing bait on a dropshot like a trd can get pressured bass to eat.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHover/Mid-StrollingSeasonSummerStructureBaitfishMultiple 40 fish days in the last few weeks mid strolling a jig head minnow with Lowrance Active Target has been the ticket this summer on CDA. In the early morning throwing a 4 inch scented jerkshad on a 3/16 to a 1/4 ounce jig head has been best and as the sun comes up and the fish suspend, throwing the great lakes finesse drop minnow on the 3/16 stealth ball head has caught several fish in the 4+ pound range. Dropping down to 6 pound leader can make all the difference, and the new Shimano mastiff FC is the best!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePoints
The bite is on fire right now on CDA! Caught over 30 fish and some really nice fish around the 4 pound range! I was throwing a small swimbait on the back of a Great Lakes finesse ball head or sneaky underspin. both those jig heads come with a razor sharp and strong Gamakatsu 604 jig hook. I have also been testing out the New Shimano Mastiff FC and the 6lb test was perfect for this application. Insanely smooth, strong, and great knot strength. My new go to finesse flouro.
- SpeciesLargemouth BassTechniqueFrogs/ToadsSeasonSummerStructureLily Pads
Summertime on CDA is one of my favorite times of the year to catch big bass on topwater! On this trip, we were fishing the southern part of the lake, and the chain lakes for largemouth bass in and around grass and lily pads. These fish were keyed in on perch and bluegill, so having a frog in a lighter belly with some orange was key. When I'm frog fishing in pads there are two frogs that I prefer, the Bobby's Perfect Frog and the Spro Bronzeye Frog 65. Both these frogs come through pads and grass matts well, but the key to get these fish to bite was walking the frog in openings in and around the pads. Both those frogs are great walking frogs that also are heavy enough to cast far and sit on matted grass well. A 7' 4" to 7' 6" is my recommendation for a frog rod around pads, because the longer rod allows you to cast farther and get a better hook set on those fish that bite that the end of a cast. Use a fast gear ratio reel to pick up slack quick and pair it with 65 pound braid and you are all set. You might also get surprised by a big 4 pound smallmouth like we did!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonSpring (Pre-Spawn)StructurePilings
Fish were in 3-10 ft of water of rip rap, wood, and pilings. Mainly smallmouth loving up with an occasional largemouth. Our one largemouth went 3.56 and 12.11 four fish total for day one. Sitting in 7th currently. Tried looking for a kicker largemouth but couldn’t put it together in 45 degree water.
