Since I moved over here (retired) 4 years ago I have been doing my best to learn the Chinook fishing on Lake Coeur d' Alene. Heck, it even took me a couple of years to spell the name without looking it up.

I love Chinook fishing anywhere, and I have no problem spending long hours or days trying to catch one. Fishing the lake in a lot of ways is similar to fishing in the salt, but there are a lot of idiosyncrasies to the lake, time of year, speed, and bait selection, to be successful.

Trying to get out during all of these different periods has been a challenge because of ailing parents that are far away and I am just flat busy in retirement. But, every chance I get I am on that lake, even if I only have a couple of hours. One of the things I love about this fishery is that it is not an early morning fishery. Most of my fish come in the afternoon.

I fish by myself about 90% of the time. To tell you the truth, I kind of prefer it, unless I am with one of my longtime fishing buddies from the coast. I got a couple of Okuma short downrigger rods to make bringing the fish to the side of the boat for netting easier. I even rehearsed the netting and rod handling in advance and have not missed a fish when I am alone.

Well, I am starting to catch fish now on a regular basis. This is not a fast and furious fishery, but it has its days and I never get tired of looking over the lake and surrounding scenery. The fish are excellent eating and rival any salt water caught chinook for taste.

Thought I would share a couple of recent pics. Not great photography by any means, but I get the pic and get the gear back fishing fast. The first fish is an 8 pounder and the other a 12 pounder I got fishing for two hours on two separate days recently.

Still fish on the coast, in fact just about got my 2015 Buoy 10 trip together.

Nice fish. I've seen people out with their sideplaners. How deep are you fishing them this time of year? What type of gear?

I am in the area frequently but have never fished that lake, always wanted to though. I almost moved there about 20 years ago.

Mike

Put a Folbe rod holder on the rail just ahead of or behind your DRs. Much easier to get out than trying to push the rod out of the Scotty holder on the boom. Makes life a lot easier and you're not leaning out over the rail/side.

In the Spring when the St. Joe and Coeur d' Alene rivers are puking mud into the lake from the runoff the fish move into the upper 10 feet of water so the planers are necessary to get the gear away from the boat. Lot of guys got have big planer boards that run out of a mast. I bought a couple of Sidewinder planers . For a plastic planer board they work great. Fishing is actually very good at this time running Rapalas off the planers and or dragging a helmeted herring about 150 feet behind the boat.

This time of year I am fishing 80 to 90 feet in about 125 feet of water. If you get out this way give me a shout and I will take you out.

Back in the late 70's I worked out this way, but left for the Seattle area to make more money and have a career. I said to myself that I could always come back here to retire and so I did.

Your right on that account. A lot safer when your alone. I always got my auto inflate vest on, but the water is getting cold now and will be real cold come December. No more leaning over.

Now those are upriver brights!!! Cool report as I had no idea there where such quality chinookies in that lake!

Or are they land locked??

Either way that looks like a pretty cool fishery!

Nice fish. They are landlocked. one of my friends fishes that lake regularly. Never thought to ask Tommy if they smell like ocean kings. Do they?

Yes, but without the hint of salt.