What's there: Trout, landlocked coho salmon, bass, crappie, tiger muskie and perch.

Description: Cascade rewards those who learn its secrets. It can be frustrating to fish because some anglers can fish all day and come home empty-handed, while others load up on large trout and perch.

The lake has a growing reputation for smallmouth bass fishing, and there always seem to be good populations of 3- to 5-pound trout lurking. Favorite tactics for trout include bait fishing from the bank and trolling.

One of the best times of the year to catch large trout is right after the ice thaws. Find a sandy beach and toss out a worm and marshmallow.

Perch have rebounded in the last few years and can provide lots of fish for dinner.

Getting there: Take Idaho 55 north to Cascade.

Drive time: About 1.5 hours.