FISHING -- Anglers who thrive on cutting a hole in the ice to drop a line were in a golden moment today.

The ice was a half-foot thick at Silver and Sprague Lakes today as I cruised around; winds were calm and the sunshine was brilliant, making temps in the teens quite pleasant.

One angler at Sprague said he wished the ice was not quite so thick because it was wearing him out augering holes as he tried to find fish.

The fishing wasn't exactly fast and furious at the two lakes I checked on my way out and back from quail hunting.  Anglers at Silver Lake had a few perch. I checked four of the six anglers on Sprague Lake at 2:30 p.m. and they had no fish.

"But what the hay," one angler said. "It's great to be out here."