Idaho anglers enjoy fishing for trout, and anglers in the northern part of the state are no exception. The Panhandle region offers a variety of trout fishing opportunities—some are well known, but others not so much. For many, talk of trout fishing brings to mind places like the Coeur d’Alene River, St. Joe River, or maybe Lake Pend Oreille. But did you know many of our small, low elevation lakes around the region also offer good trout fishing? Trout, including both rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout, are stocked in many of the area's lakes with the intent of providing opportunities to catch and harvest fish. Two of the lesser known trout waters in the region include Cocolalla and Spirit lakes.
Cocolalla Lake offers a unique blend of fishing opportunity for cutthroat trout, brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout. Catch rates are highest for brown trout that are 12-20" long. Cocolalla is one of the few low elevation waters in the region where cutthroat trout are stocked, with about 20,000 fingerlings stocked annually. Cutthroat also offer good catch rates and 16" fish are pretty common. Brook trout tend to be a bit smaller on average, but also offer good catch rates.
Don’t overlook Spirit Lake if you’re considering a trip to one of the Panhandle Region’s front country lakes. While Spirit Lake is better known for its kokanee fishery, anglers can enjoy some excellent trout fishing throughout much of the year. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game stocks around 25,000 cutthroat trout fingerlings into Spirit Lake each year to support the fishery. A recent survey showed that many of the stocked cutthroat trout are growing to 20 inches or more! The Spirit Lake troll fishery is diverse and there is also good opportunity to catch a few brook trout or a nice rainbow trout. Although rainbows are far less abundant than cutthroat trout, fish in the 4 to 8 pound range are occasionally caught.
To target trout in lowland lakes, try trolling close to the surface and near the shoreline with some traditional pop gear, like a 4/0 dodger or ford fender, and a wedding ring spinner tipped with a little night crawler. Additionally, trolling a variety of spoons near the surface can also be quite productive. Either of these setups ought to do the trick. And remember, unlike many regional waters where cutthroat cannot be harvested, these two lakes allow for cutthroat trout harvest under the general trout limit. Good Luck!