Fishing

River Fishing

The Silver Valley has a host of world-class fly fishing opportunities. Most folks know about the excellent native Westslope Cutthroat Trout fisheries of the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene and the Saint Joe, but that is just scratching the surface of the fishing holes the area has to offer.

The Saint Joe is a designated Wild and Scenic River, and when you see it you will agree. It has wildness and scenery around every bend. The river is also full of fat, healthy Cutthroat trout. From the Silver Valley, getting there is easy via Highway 3 and Saint Maries. In the summer, you can also get to the upper river by travelling south from Wallace over Moon Pass. Once you get to the Saint Joe, access doesn’t get much easier. Drive along until you see a good spot, pull off at one of the many highway pullouts, and you will be in business.

Closer to home, the Coeur d’Alene river system also has premier fly fishing opportunities. The famous North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene has a lifetime of water to fish. Because of If the main river is popular with float tubers in the summer, head to the Little North Fork, the South Fork, or one of the many tributaries that drain into the Coeur d’Alene River to find your own stretch of water.

Lake Fishing

If catching trout in a glassy lake beneath an alpine peak sounds appealing, hike the 2.5 miles up to Stevens Lakes, below craggy Stevens Peak. It is stocked with colorful, aggressive brook trout. For an easier trip that still has some beautiful views, the Glidden Lakes above Burke are worth checking out. There you will find both rainbows and brookies.

For those interested in lake fishing, the Coeur d’Alene River chain of lakes offer many options for the warm water angler. Large-mouth and small-mouth bass along with northern pike, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, pumpkin seeds and bullhead catfish can all be caught in any one of the chain lakes that are accessible by boat from the Coeur d’Alene River. 
 
Coeur d’Alene Lake offers the same species as the chain lakes as well as Chinook salmon, Kokanee salmon, cutthroat and rainbow trout. Coeur d’Alene Lake is fast becoming one of the best small-mouth bass fisheries in the nation. One of our local boys is now a professional bass angler on the B.A.S.S. circuit and he still loves to come back and fish his home waters.
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