pike fishng cda lake

[outdooraddict]

ive been on the chain lakes, and fished minimal on cda lake for bass. I have minimal experience targeting pike, I live in liberty lake and its just a short drive to cda for me. was wondering if anyone shore fishes for pike  or bass in the bays or if anyone has any tips for me. never thought much about it until just the other day, I never realized the quality of pike fishery it has turned into

[Jburke]

I've never done it from shore on CDA but have from boat a bit this last year.  In the short amount of time I've fished it, I've not had much luck fishing real close to shore.  Could have just been the time of year I was there, but the areas I've fished, Sun Up Bay and farther south I haven't seen a lot of weed growth close to shore anywhere that looked accessible via shore fishing. Can't hurt to give it a shot though for sure.  I'd probably check out Chatcolet at the south end for shore fishing.

[outdooraddict]

I was looking at wolf lodge bay by the boat ramp, the kokanee and  come spawn in that bay I think, just not sure where the weeds are or depths

[Jburke]

Oh gotcha. I haven't fished that area yet.

[daddysprad]

This is a link from NW fishing reports.  These guys catch some pike, you may be able to contact them through the site:

http://www.northwestfishingreports.com/Reports/Details/55372

[Henrydog]

I'm a trout guy, but a couple times of year when its hot and I just want to drink beer get a sunburn, and look at the Bikini hatch and catch a couple of smallmouths I hit Cd'A

 I have caught 3 pike out there by accident.  One was directly across from the Resort by the old saw mill in 50ft of water, the other 2 were down by Harrison.  All 3 I was drop shooting in 35-50ft.  Again I don't know much about warm water fisheries but all 3 where in fairly deep water. 

I have targeted them on the PO river around Ione years ago when they where all over in there.  They always sat on the deepside of the weedline.

[Ridgeratt]

I know they have been caught in the backwaters around cataldo mission also.

[nwwanderer]

Tribe has been hammering them, changes certainly trying to help the native fish

[Machias]

If you want to catch BIG pike, fish dead baits near weeds along structure or dropoffs.  Big pike expend very little energy chasing fish.  They are MUCH more scavengers that most people realize.

[Yelper Guy]

Catch a perch and use that for bait. I've heard it works well.
The pike will be looking for warmer water to spawn as we enter spring.
Warmer water is closer to shore in most cases.

[Ridgeratt]

Catch a perch and use that for bait. I've heard it works well.
The pike will be looking for warmer water to spawn as we enter spring.
Warmer water is closer to shore in most cases.

We used to fish them in Montana this way skin the perch so meat was exposed and then drifted on a slip float. Float along the weed edges in the current. 

[idaho guy]

I don’t think perch are legal bait in Idaho although I think a lot have been used! Sunfish too we have had good success slip bobber and using smelt instead of perch etc

[Skillet]

  Smelt under a slip bobber in Cougar Bay just as the ice broke up was the ticket for big pike back in the day.

[Machias]

Any good oilly bait will work.  I used to catch some real nice ones on semi-frozen mackrel or herring.  Rigged up on a steel leader with 2 hooks, one nicked into the tail and one right beside the dorsel fin.  Once they pick up the bait, resist the urge to set the hook.  They will take the bait a short distance, turn the bait and start to swallow.  I hooked one over in the UK once, set the hook and thought crap I snagged a log.  No movement, I pulled back and it felt just like when you slowly pull a log out of the mud.  Then I see this "log" slowly rise up and then mouth opened and gills flaired, shook his head!!  WAHOO!!!!  Fish On!!! 24 pounder, 43 inches long.

[Ridgeratt]

Field Reports: $10 bounty offered for Roosevelt pike

Then there is this option as well.

FISHING – A $10 a head reward on northern pike caught in Lake Roosevelt will be offered by the Colville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Program starting May 1.
The reward is part of the effort to reduce the number of the nonnative predators moving into the Columbia River system. The Colville Tribe has earmarked up to $10,000 for paying the bounties. The Colvilles also are working with the Spokane Tribe and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to gillnet and remove pike in the Kettle Falls area.
To qualify for the reward, the pike must have been caught in the main stem Columbia River from Grand Coulee Dam upstream to the U.S.-Canada border, the Spokane River upstream to Little Falls or the Kettle River.
Anglers age 17 and older must fill out a card with information on their catch, remove pike heads according to directions and drop off the heads in freezers at Kettle Falls Marina or at Noisy Waters gas station northwest of Kettle Falls off US 395.