Icy wilderness beckons

FERNAN LAKE, Idaho – Thick shrouds of fog settled in at Lake Fernan Saturday morning, lending a dreamy quality to the landscape.

In the middle of the frozen lake, Roy Toyama sat on an upturned bucket, patiently waiting for the fish to bite. Faint snatches of conversation hinted at the presence of other ice fishermen, hidden by the fog. But mostly it was a blank, white world – serene and private.

“It almost feels like a wilderness, a mile from town,” Toyama said.

Three yellow perch flopped on the ice beside him. A raven flew swiftly overhead.

Ice fishermen have enjoyed one of their best winters in the last decade. North Idaho’s small lakes froze early, and the ice has held up for nearly two months. From Hauser to Hayden, and Cocolalla to Priest, lakes are pockmarked with the fishing holes and dotted with anglers.

“We have 6 to 8 inches of ice on most of the lower elevation lakes,” said Ned Horner, regional fisheries manager for Idaho Fish and Game. “It’s been real nice.”

Jeff Smith, the owner of Fins & Feathers Tackle Shop in Coeur d’Alene, has been night fishing for crappie after work on Avondale Lake. He sets up a tent and lights his propane lantern. “When the fish come up through the hole, it’s exciting,” he said.

Ice fishing is near its peak because the ice is still solid, but the temperatures are mild enough to lure people outdoors, Horner said.

Conditions, however, can change quickly. Forty-degree days and rain will start to melt the ice near the shore. Freezing and thawing also creates crystals in the ice, which erode its stability, Horner said.

Holes drilled by Toyama on Lake Fernan Saturday revealed a cross section of smooth, thick and dark ice. He and his fishing buddy, Les Florey, each tended two holes, tracking fish movements with underwater sonar. Ice fishing lets them roam all over the lake without a boat. They also get to fish more than one line – regulations allow up to five lines in the ice.

“You got a strike, Les, you got a strike,” Toyama called as the tip of one of Florey’s poles began to jiggle. Florey reeled in the line, but the fish was gone.

Perch are dainty nibblers, which is why anglers use shorter poles for ice fishing. Twenty-four inch poles and finer fishing line allow anglers to detect perch bites faster.

“Their bite is tender,” explained Dennis Antonich, who was fishing on another section of Lake Fernan.

Antonich hoped to fill his creel with the firm-fleshed, mild-tasting perch. But even if the fish didn’t bite, he was prepared to enjoy the day.

“You don’t have the tourists – that is what’s so nice about winter fishing,” Antonich said. “The people are gone,” and with temperatures nearing 40, “it’s not that cold.”