Outdoors with Jon Wilson

Editors note: Jon Wilson is an avid fisherman, hunter and hiker. His journeys center around the Inland Northwest and the Idaho Panhandle.

Spring is a great time to fish for spiny-ray (aka panfish) species in the Inland Northwest. Perch, crappie, smallmouth bass, and walleye awaken each spring as the water reaches and exceeds 50 degrees. Their delicately mild flavor, interesting life cycles, and seasonal habits frequently draw me to Banks Lake, Lake Spokane and Lake Pend Oreille in the panhandle.

Watching the setting sun cast a warm burgundy glow upon the stunning rock walls of the Grand Coulee, in which Banks Lake resides, even a slow day of fishing is quickly forgotten.

I usually stay at Steamboat Rock State Park and focus my fishing on smallmouth bass and walleye. Areas, where basketball-size boulders and broken rock descend on a moderate slope from shore into the water produce best for me in May.

Cast a 1/8-ounce jig tipped with a brown 3" Kalin's curly tail grub in calm conditions. Keep the jig near the bottom and look for bites as your lure passes through 8-12' depths. Also, try moderately diving cranks baits, again in primarily brown colors. The crankbaits work exceptionally well when the wind blows.

The Banks Lake walleye cruise depths of 15-35', suspended a foot or two above gently to moderately sloping bottoms of broken rock and gravel. Troll spinner and nightcrawler rigs behind bottom bouncers. A good rule of thumb is 1 ounce of bottom bouncer weight for every 10' of depth. Good locations are identified by boats slowly trolling .9 to 1.2 miles per hour and through the excellent lake maps found on today's sonar/GPS units. Be respectful if your prospecting takes you near other boats. I like Mack's Lures pre-tied spinner rigs and components, especially their Smile Blades.

Fishing was exceptionally good for both species last spring and I have high hopes for a repeat this year.

I lived near the shores of Lake Spokane for several years in the late 90s and still love it. Back then, my Saturday routine started with an early morning thermos of coffee I sipped while plying the weedy, brushy and rocky shorelines under the peaceful glow of sunrise. With coffee consumed and 8-10 nice fish in the boat, I'd return home to my often still sleeping family.

Crappie and smallmouth bass fishing can be excellent this month. Use the same gear as suggested for Banks for smallies. A 1/16 ounce jig and small curly tail grub suspended 3-4' below a bobber will charm the crappies.

I concentrate on the lake's east end, probing backwater areas for crappie and main lake weed lines and rocky areas for smallies, perch and the occasional walleye. Riverside State Park has nice campsites and a good boat launch.

My new favorite warm water stop is Lake Pend Oreille. The lake has a well-earned and impressive reputation for cold-water species, and its north shore, from Dover to Trestle Creek, forms outstanding spiny ray habitat. May and June are my top months for walleye, though my catch rate has been reduced from great to good by the Idaho Fish and Game department's effort to reduce the lake's walleye population. Look for places that will concentrate migrating fish as they move from east end spawning locations downstream as far as Priest River. The Long Bridge in Sandpoint is a well-known hot spot, where the lake narrows considerably. Significant points will funnel dispersed walleyes into concentrations, as will narrows.

Smallmouth and big perch

Perch fishing is excellent along weed edges in 12-25' depths. Smallmouth can be found on about every rocky shoreline. The Long Bridge, Oden Bay and Bottle Bay are great perch haunts. Troll a downsized spinner and worm rig near the bottom to find them. Trolling speed is once again .9 to 1.2 mph. Stop the boat and shift to jigs tipped with perch meat when a large concentration is found.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Idaho Fish and Game websites identify dozens of other lakes with outstanding pan fishing, including many with bank access.

Until next time, have a great and safe time outside in this place we call home.