Coeur d'Alene, ID

Fishing season is in full swing and it’s time to stake out your favorite spot. For this my husband and I go up to the Chain Lakes east of Coeur d’Alene. The chain lakes consist of about a dozen small lakes that feed off the Coeur d’Alene River and are great for catching northern pike and largemouth bass. Our two favorites are Rose Lake and Bull Run.

Most of the Chain Lakes have limited access and are easier to get to by boat, but Bull Run, Killarney and Rose Lake are an easy drive off I-90 at the Rose Lake exit east of Fourth of July Pass. If you have your kids with you make sure to stop at Bull Run and see all the turtles. Right now there are hundreds of them and it’s a lot of fun to try to catch them; almost impossible, but fun.

As far as fishing goes, Fish and Game is asking right now that you catch and release the largemouth and keep the pike in this area. You should always check Fish and Game regulations before fishing anywhere to get the allowable weights and limits for the fish you catch. They will also be able to give you some tips on what the fish are biting on.

While at Rose Lake we were told by several bird watchers that now is a great time to bring out your binoculars. There are Water birds, Raptors and all sorts of other native Idaho fowl around to set your eyes on. There are also some really accessible birding trails around Rose and Killarney Lakes. You can view maps for the trails and more information about bird watching here.

If you get hungry after a long day of fishing and it happens to be on a Tuesday you can get some great fresh fruit and other produce from Killarney Farms’ roadside stand at the Rose Lake Junction. Killarney Farms, which is located in Cataldo is a small organic farm that grows not only things such as berries, vegetables, and walnuts, but they also raise chickens and goats. If you aren’t there on a Tuesday, you can buy items from them at the Kootenai Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Whether you visit the Chain Lakes to fish, bird watch, or eat, you won’t be disappointed. The beautiful scenery and great sporting is one of the reasons why my family lives here in Coeur d’Alene.