Fishing Report
Winter lakes, Washington
Ice fishing time apparently is ending at Fourth of July and Hog Canyon lakes, as well as at Sprague Lake. Barring a radical change in the weather pattern, the lakes likely will be at least partially ice-free the next few days.
Above-normal temperatures and 20- to 35-mph winds this week started breaking up the ice at many lakes in Eastern Washington.
Parts of both Fourth of July and Hog Canyon were ice-free Tuesday and open water was showing at Sprague. Many Columbia Basin lakes were partially open.
Below-normal temperatures could firm up the ice, but it’s apparent most anglers will soon put away their ice-fishing equipment. In past years, most lakes have been unsafe for ice fishing by the first week of March.
For the first time in several years, anglers are able to launch small boats at Fourth of July. The water is still shallow for several hundred yards out into the lake, but anglers will be able to row to deep water.
Fourth of July has been several feet below its normal level for several years, making it almost impossible to launch small boats.
Because the ice on Fourth of July has been unsafe for ice fishing for most of the past couple months, the lake hasn’t been fished as much this winter. There should be plenty of 10- to 22-inch rainbows in the lake for excellent fishing at times during March.
A strong flow of water entering Hog Canyon has melted enough ice for anglers to fish in open water. Incidentally, this is the best time of year to take pictures of the spectacular waterfall at the head of Hog Canyon Lake.
The big thaw created deep ruts in the final few hundred yards of the road into Hog Canyon. Otherwise, the access road is in fair condition.
Like Fourth of July, Hog Canyon didn’t get hit as hard from mid-December through mid-February as it has in past years, so there should still be plenty of 9- to 17-inch rainbows for good fishing the final month of the winter season.
Trout, Washington
Numerous lakes south of the Lind Coulee are open year-round and hold enough pan-sized trout for good fishing at times. They include Susan, Katy, Marco Polo, Beverly, June, Virgin, the Windmills and Canal.
It’s necessary to hike up to a mile to get to the lakes, but the hike can be worthwhile. Virgin and North Windmill, for example, hold some trout in the 14-inch-plus class.
Other lakes that provide fair-to-good trout fishing during late winter months include Blythe, Chukar and Corral. Heart holds both trout and perch.
Rocky Ford Creek, a fly fishing-only spring creek north of Moses Lake, is attracting good numbers of Northwest fly fishers. Some believe the stream’s rainbow population is down considerably from last year.
Spiny rays
It’s possible anglers will be able to fish in open water at Sprague Lake soon. The ice is thin and rotten as the result of 45-degree temperatures and high winds.
Anglers will welcome open water. The ice was rarely thick and hard enough the last few weeks for safe ice fishing and fishermen had trouble finding schools of perch large enough to keep. Lately, they haven’t even been able to find fish.
Once the ice is gone, boaters can cruise around and search for the perch, crappie and bluegill schools and the walleyes.
Incidentally, the Fish and Wildlife Department apparently has given up on plans to build a public access area west of the Four Seasons Resort. The biggest problem proved to be the railroad tracks anglers would have had to cross to launch boats.
Department officials are considering negotiating for a lease on land on the south side of the lake. Don’t look for a public access area this year.
Anglers can launch boats at the Sprague Lake Resort, the two Harder launch sites and the Four Seasons Resort.
Lake Roosevelt
Trollers continue to hook goodsized kokanee and rainbows in Swalla Basin below Keller Ferry, fishing guide John Carruth of Davenport reported.
He said he and another angler trolled Rooster Tails behind dodgers near the surface one day last week and had 12 hits. They netted three 16- to 17-inch rainbows and lost a kokanee that Carruth estimated at more than 4 pounds.
Carruth said he and others jigged for walleyes near Hunters for a couple of days and caught numerous fish. He said he found the walleyes in 30 to 40 feet of water. Three-inch curly tail grubs and ring worms worked well. One of every four walleyes was a keeper.
Carruth said he has watched some anglers keep every walleye they caught, figuring they wouldn’t be checked by a wildlife agent. The limit is eight a day, and only walleyes less than 16 inches and more than 20 can be kept.
Chinook salmon
The chinooks in Lake Coeur d’Alene are biting again. Ross Fister of the Fins & Feathers Shop at Coeur d’Alene said some anglers are taking limits of 6- to 8-pounders by trolling between Arrow Point, Squaw Bay and Bennett Bay.
Although the lake is still muddy, anglers are hooking the chinooks on mini-squids and herring behind flashers and dodgers. Best fishing has been from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anglers troll about 2.4 mph near the bottom.
Channel catfish
Anglers, using blood baits and chicken livers, have been catching 3- to 4-pound channel cats at the south end of Fernan Lake, Fister said. It is ice-free in the lower end.
Steelhead
Hard rains kept most inland steelhead rivers high and muddy last weekend and it’s unlikely any of them will be fishable this weekend.
The Idaho Fish and Game Department reported 85 anglers were checked along the Clearwater’s North Fork during the week ended Sunday. They averaged 38 hours per fish. The fork was “extremely high.” Forty-six anglers along the main stem below Orofino averaged 59 hours per fish. The river was high and muddy.
Ice fishing, Idaho
Most anglers have given up ice fishing at North Idaho lakes, Fister said. The ice at lakes south of Sandpoint is rotten.
All the lakes adjacent to the lower Coeur d’Alene River are ice free and in flood stage.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Fishing & Hunting Report