Hunting & Fishing

Winter lakes

For the first time in several weeks, ice on Fourth of July and Hog Canyon lakes should be thick enough this weekend to support anglers safely.

More than a foot of snow on the access roads, however, could present problems for fishermen. Some will park their vehicles near the mile-long access road to Hog Canyon and ride snowmobiles or cross country skis to the lake.

The access road into Hog Canyon Lake will not be plowed this winter. A Bureau of Land Management official said the agency does not have funds for plowing.

The access road to Fourth of July is only a half mile long, but it, too, could present a challenge to anglers who don’t have four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Sub-zero and near-zero temperatures this week thickened ice covers at the two lakes, but anglers should keep in mind that snow blankets may have prevented the ice from thickening very much. Snow is a good insulator.

Fourth of July and Hog Canyon haven’t been fished much the last few weeks because of the weather. For a time, anglers fished in open water; then low temperatures put thin ice layers on the water. Now, snowstorms make access difficult.

Other lakes where anglers could be fishing through the ice this weekend include Silver and Clear, which hold good-sized brown trout.

Ice should be thick enough on some Columbia Basin lakes for safe ice fishing. Mar Don Resort says ice fishing is resuming on Potholes Reservoir for the first time in two years. Several of the lakes southwest of Warden Lake are expected to provide fair trout fishing.

Remember, don’t make holes larger than about 10 inches in diameter. They can skim over and be dangerous to anglers who follow.

Lake Roosevelt

Good-sized kokanee and rainbows will be the target of most who fish Lake Roosevelt the next week or so. Best fishing has been in the lower end of the reservoir, particularly the Keller Ferry area.

The kokanee and rainbows are near the surface; consequently, most anglers are trolling with monofilament line. They’re using baited flies and spinners behind small dodgers.

Walleye fishing has been fairly good, with some knowledgeable anglers hooking limits.

Steelhead

If you can stand the cold weather, now is a good time to fish for steelhead. Fishing was excellent along some of the Snake River’s tributaries last weekend and could be good the next few days.

The North Fork of the Clearwater provided some of the fastest fishing in the region. The Idaho Fish and Game Department reported 63 anglers averaged 6 hours per steelhead during the five-day period ended Sunday. The North Fork was high and clear; temperature was 40 degrees.

Fishing along the lower Clearwater from Lewiston to Orofino was good during the same period, with 19 anglers averaging 11 hours per fish. The river was high and murky; water temperature was 38 degrees.

The Touchet, Tucannon and Grande Ronde rivers and Mill Creek continued to provide outstanding fishing last weekend.

Fisheries biologist Art Viola said 39 anglers averaged 3.7 hours per steelhead along the Touchet; eight averaged 7.5 on the Tucannon; 38 averaged 8.1 hours on the Ronde; five averaged 4.25 hours on Mill Creek; and eight averaged 12.2 hours along the Walla Walla. Most who fished the Ronde drifted and plunked bait from Bogan’s to the Washington-Oregon border.

Whitefish

Boat and shore anglers are continuing to catch good numbers of 13- to 15-inch whitefish along the Columbia River between the Vernita Bridge and Priest Rapids Dam. Most fishermen drift maggot-baited flies along the bottom.

Spiny rays, Washington

The upper end of Sprague Lake probably will be dotted with ice fishermen this weekend. Sub-zero and near-zero temperatures apparently have made the ice thick enough for safe ice fishing.

Nearly all anglers will walk out on the ice from the Harder access area at the east end of the lake. The Sprague Lake Resort is closed.

Fishing could be fair to good for small perch, bluegills and crappies.

Ice fishing, Idaho

“Everybody’s been looking forward to putting out tip-ups at the chain lakes,” said Jeff Smith of the Fins & Feathers Shop at Coeur d’Alene. “Until now, the ice hasn’t been safe.”

Smith said Killarney and Thompson lakes probably will be the most popular this weekend. Most of the northern pike they’ll catch through the ice will be 2 to 6 pounds, but a few heavier pike probably will be caught.

Anglers can put out five tip-ups each when fishing through the ice.

Smith said most anglers will use 30- to 50-pound-test dacron line with steel leaders. They’ll bait Swedish bait hooks or large triple hooks with smelt or herring and fish in 5 to 10 feet of water.

Smith said he expects several other lakes to be popular with anglers this weekend. Most popular will be Fernan, Hauser, Round and Cocolalla, for perch, and Rose, for perch, bluegills and crappies.

Several small lakes north of Sandpoint will also attract ice fishermen, he said.

Priest Lake

Launching a boat at Priest now is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Smith said most anglers interested in catching mackinaw trout will wait until launch ramps are free of snow and ice.

Spokane River, Idaho

Bait fishermen are catching 14 to 22-inch rainbows and brown trout along the Spokane River from Post Falls Dam to the Washington-Idaho line, Smith said.

Most are drifting or plunking shrimp or nightcrawlers in the deep holes. They’re fishing from shore near Corbin Park, below Pleasant View and behind Jacklin’s Seed.

Coyote hunting

Don’t be confused by the wording of the coyote hunting rules in the 1996-97 Washington Hunting Regulations pamphlet that arrived at license dealers last week.

The reference to a Sept. 4-Feb. 1 season applies only to hunting coyotes with hounds, Fish and Wildlife Department officials say.

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