Lower Twin Lake Rainbows, Bluegill and Crappies
A Day on Lower Twin
Rolled out of bed at 4:00 a.m., knocked out a quick workout in the basement gym, brewed a pot of coffee, gathered my gear, and was out the door by 5:00.
The drive to the boat locker was unusually peaceful. The normal southbound commuter traffic hadn’t yet begun, and I had the highway nearly to myself as the first light of day crept over the mountains to the east. It’s hard to beat a North Idaho sunrise when you have the road and the lake all to yourself.
After launching at the public dock, I struck up a conversation with another fisherman named Jim, a seasoned gentleman towing a fishing kayak behind his pickup. We spent a few minutes talking about Lower Twin Lake, and he shared stories of accidentally catching enormous northern pike while targeting other species. According to Jim, the smallest pike he’s landed here was 36 inches, while the largest stretched 48 inches and weighed over 20 pounds. It’s another reminder that you never quite know what might be swimming beneath the surface.
Today’s mission was entirely focused on trolling, varying my speed between 1.0 and 1.5 mph. That range proved to be the sweet spot for most of the day.
One lure in particular accounted for roughly half of the day’s catch: a silver-and-orange Mag Lip tipped with a piece of pink corn on the treble hook. It consistently produced fish throughout the morning. Other presentations worked as well, including several kokanee-style rigs, but the Mag Lip clearly led the pack.
By afternoon, I switched over to Arkie crankbaits, and one pattern stood above the rest—a silver and blue finish with a yellow accent along the side. Although I was primarily targeting bluegill and crappie, the rainbow trout seemed just as enthusiastic.
By the time I called it a day around 2:00 p.m., I had brought 17 fish to the boat: 12 rainbow trout, four bluegill, and one crappie.
During the slower stretches, I took advantage of the quiet water to detail the interior of the boat and organize my tackle boxes, making good use of every minute on the lake.
After loading up, I returned the boat to the locker and then made a drive over to Bayview to look at a property Austin had suggested. While intriguing on paper, it turned out to be extremely remote, tucked high up a mountain road, and ultimately wasn’t a realistic option. Still, it made for a pleasant side adventure.
Before heading home, I made a quick stop to check on Gusto. Everything was just as it should be.
Now, as I sit on the back deck at the condo with dinner behind me, the final golfers are making their way up the fifteenth fairway in the fading light. It’s one of those evenings that leaves you grateful for simple things: an early start, good fishing, a few new ideas, and another day well spent on the water.
