Hunting & Fishing
Ice fishing
It’s becoming apparent that the ice fishing season this winter will be a short one. Many of the region’s lakes that usually are covered with several inches of ice by mid-January either are ice-free or have ice covers too thin for safe fishing.
Take Lake Coeur d’Alene. Many anglers look forward to ice fishing for northern pike in the shallow bays each January. However, they’ve been frustrated this winter. The bays are open or ice is dangerously thin.
And consider the lakes adjacent to the lower Coeur d’Alene. In past Januarys, ice fishermen have set out tip-ups at their favorite locations. Idaho permits ice fishermen to use as many as five rods when they fish through ice. Ice has been too thin to support anglers safely at many of the chain lakes.
Thin ice covered Hauser, Fernan and numerous other Panhandle lakes earlier this week, but it wasn’t thick enough for most anglers to trust. Both Hauser and Fernan usually are covered with several inches of ice this time of year.
Thin ice was on lakes in the Clearwater region earlier this week. Winchester Lake and Spring Valley, Moose Creek and Soldier’s Meadow reservoirs should provide fairly good trout fishing if and when they have thick ice covers.
Most popular lakes in Eastern Washington during the winter are Fourth of July, Hog Canyon, Williams and the winter trout lakes in the Okanogan country. Ice covers on the lakes have been marginal.
Numerous anglers have been fishing through ice at Fourth of July and Hog Canyon. Many more are too squeamish to walk on the ice.
It’s been a long time since the Potholes Reservoir was covered with enough ice for good ice fishing. The ice cover this winter, if there is one, apparently will be thin and won’t last long.
Of course, there’s still time for good ice fishing at many lakes. If temperatures plunge below zero for several days, ice covers will quickly thicken. Nevertheless, the season is not likely to last through February.
Trout, Washington
If the ice on Fourth of July is trustworthy, the lake, barring a snowstorm, will be the most popular one in Eastern Washington the next week or so. The 4-mile-long lake holds large numbers of rainbows in the 14- to 19-inch range and plenty of yearling trout for anglers to have a good time.
Although most of the rainbows in Hog Canyon are only 12 to 13 inches long, they’re much better table fish than those in Fourth of July. The lake is as low as it’s ever been.
Lake Roosevelt, the Potholes Reservoir and the seep lakes south of Lind Coulee also are good bets. You don’t have to troll for the rainbows in Lake Roosevelt; you can plunk worms and other bait from shore at several locations. If you’re lucky, you’ll take home a few rainbows in the 14-inch-plus class.
The Medicare Beach area of the Potholes Reservoir is a popular spot with those who fish from shore.
There are a dozen lakes south of Lind Coulee open to fishing year-round. Most of the trout are 10- to 14-inches long. However, a few of the lakes hold some big rainbows.
Waterfowl
Washington’s goose season will end Sunday. The duck season will continue through Jan. 23.
Goose hunters who have had permission to hunt harvested fields where the geese have been feeding have had an excellent season. Unfortunately for freelancers, hunters and guides have leased most of the good spots. Finding a place to hunt has been difficult for those who try to get permission during the latter part of the season.
Most popular duck hunting areas the latter part of the season likely will be along the Columbia River in the Ringold Springs area, the Columbia in the Umatilla area and the Snake River below Central Ferry. That will be the case unless a chinook develops and the birds start moving back into the Spokane region and North Idaho.
This the most productive time of year to hunt the Snake between Central Ferry and Ayers Junction. Thousands of ducks and geese move to the Snake each January, enabling hunters to shoot limits without having to ask a landowner for permission to hunt his land. There are several places hunters can launch boats in that section of the Snake.
Steelhead
If you’re one of numerous anglers who gave up fishing for steelhead when the weather turned cold, you’ve been missing some of the most sensational fishing of the season.
For example, fishing was so good during the week ended Sunday along the Snake from Clarkston to the mouth of the Grande Ronde that even shore fishermen hauled in steelhead. But the best fishing was from boats.
The Fish and Wildlife Department reported that boat anglers averaged only 2.6 hours per steelhead along the 20-mile stretch. Shore fishermen averaged 5.6 hours.
Even the lower Grande Ronde produced good fishing. The average was 7.9 hours per fish. In the Oregon stretch of the river the average was 5 hours.
Fishing ranged from good to very slow in the lower Snake and its tributaries. Checks follow: Walla Walla River, 13.9 hours per fish; Ice Harbor, 18.9; Lower Monumental 10.4; Touchet, 11; Tucannon, 6.4, and Little Goose, 50.
Steelhead are still in good shape, but they turn somewhat dark a few minutes after they’ve been caught this time of year. They’ll remain in good shape through February.
Many are fishing bait under bobbers. It’s a technique that allows fishermen to fish their bait with only occasional movements. Steelhead become somewhat lethargic when water temperatures are below 40 degrees. They rarely will move far to attack a lure or mouth a bait.
The Fish and Wildlife Department reported that steelhead fishing has been fairly good in The Dalles pool but slow in the John Day pool.
Salmon
Trollers continue to hook fair numbers of chinook salmon at Lake Coeur d’Alene, according to Justin Kimberling of the Fins & Feathers shop. Nearly all have been trolling helmeted herring at depths ranging from 15 to 50 feet.
The immature chinooks range in weight from 4 to 10 pounds.
Trout, Idaho
Anglers hook fairly large numbers of trout through the ice at the Panhandle lakes each January. However, the most popular lakes are just acquiring ice covers thick enough for safe ice fishing.
Lake Pend Oreille has been yielding a few good-sized mackinaw trout to trollers, but few fishermen are going after them.
Spiny rays
Fishermen have been catching a few northern pike at Blue Creek and Wolf Lodge bays at Lake Coeur d’Alene. They’ve been fishing smelt under bobbers.
A few lakes in Boundary County are covered with enough ice for safe fishing, and fishermen have been catching perch and crappies. If lakes farther south have safe ice this weekend, fishermen will try for perch at Hauser and Fernan lakes.
Sturgeon
The Columbia below Bonneville Dam has been yielding a few legal sized sturgeon, the FWD reported. Most of the keepers have been just above the legal size.
Fishing has been slow in The Dalles and John Day pools.