Ice fishing, Idaho
The Idaho Panhandle has many good ice-fishing possibilities, but as in Washington, access because of heavy snow may be a problem. Most of the spiny ray species can be found in Avondale, Blue, Dawson, Gamble, Rose, Perkins and Upper Twin. For mixed spiny ray and trout, try Cocolalla, Fernan, Hauser, Jewel, Kelso, Robinson, Round, Smith and Lower Twin. The road to Fernan was in pretty good shape at midweek.
If you want to add the chance for a pike to the mix, try Hayden, Kilarney, Medicine, Thompson and Upper Twin. Mirror Lake has mostly rainbow.
Ice fishing, Washington
Hog Canyon anglers must be prepared to walk a bit farther to the fishing. BLM officials locked the gate to the lower parking lot Thursday to prevent more anglers from going down the hill and getting stuck. Anglers must park at the upper area.
Hog Canyon trout were biting tentatively last week – one small “hit” and then nothing. Sometimes, when that happens, a single red salmon egg on a No. 14 hook will induce more aggressive strikes.
Fourth of July can be slick if the wind has blown the snow off. If going down-lake, walk the eastern edge where there is usually better traction. While the fish at Fourth of July are larger than those at Hog Canyon, the bite there has also been slow.
Newman Lake ice fishermen are finding perch, a few crappie and thick ice all over the lake. The area in front of the public access has been the most popular, primarily because of accessibility.
Waitts Lake anglers cannot seem to zero in on the big schools of perch, but some nice trout are being taken. Sometimes, a good technique at Waitts is to fish just above the weeds. Often, this will put your offering only 4 feet down.
Eloika Lake anglers have been taking 7- to 9-inch perch and lots of small sunfish. For $3, parking and access are available at Jerry’s Landing. The area north of there has generally been better than the area in front of the public access.
Lind Coulee in the Columbia Basin is kicking out perch for ice fishermen, as is the south end of Moses Lake and the area by the I-90 bridge. Potholes Reservoir froze completely just last Sunday, so the ice-fishing show could be going there in some of the bays.
The Coulee City Boat Basin has been a disappointment so far this season for ice anglers looking for big perch. On some days, there are lots of fish, but the 9- to 11-inchers are scarce. Some anglers are venturing onto thick ice out by the jetty and finding trout, and the Causeway by Electric City has yielded some nice catches of both perch and ling.
Ice fishing in Okanogan County has been good on Green Lake near Omak, Davis Lake near Winthrop and Molson/Sidley Lake near Oroville. All are producing catches of 10- to 12-inch rainbow. On Roses Lake, fish for foot-long trout just off the bottom with worms, Power Bait or eggs.
Open-water opportunities
Trollers are catching lots of eating-size mackinaw above the narrows on Lake Chelan at depths to 315 feet.
On Rufus Woods, trolled flies have been effective lately for triploids if the current is fast. If there is no current, cast spinners and spoons at shoreline structure. Black quarter-ounce Roostertails are still working, as are quarter-ounce Promise Keepers. Rufus Woods walleye are also biting. Drag jigs along the bottom between the Seaton Grove launch and the Nespelem net pens. Keep up and down movement to a minimum.
Columbia River walleye action near the Tri-Cities began to pick up last week. Muddy water should really get the bite going, and at midweek, temperatures in the 50s were quickly melting the 4 inches of snow.
There is snow clear to the water on Lake Roosevelt and some of the launches are pretty tricky. Ice is not a factor for bank anglers except in shallow, sheltered bays. Some good catches were made recently with Power Bait in the big sandy bay to the left of the Fort Spokane launch. There has been an erratic walleye bite. Roosevelt is down about 20 feet from full pool and dropping a foot a day.
Koocanusa Lake in Montana is kicking out bull trout ranging 6-14 pounds for trollers dragging Apexes on a downrigger, said Randie Burch at Koocanusa Resort and Marina. Rainbow fishing has been spotty. Bring chains for the boat ramp. The ling cod season on Koocanusa begins March 1 – the same date that new Montana fishing licenses are needed.
Steelhead
The Clearwater River went up a little this week and steelheaders are averaging a fish every 15 hours from the mouth to Orofino. On the North Fork Clearwater, the average is 16 hours per fish.
The Snake River, both downstream and upstream of the Salmon, is yielding a steelhead for every seven angler hours. Averages can be deceiving this time of year because it is mostly a few local anglers who are doing the fishing.
At Boggan’s Oasis on the Grande Ronde, Bill Vail said the river is running ice, but there is usually fishable water by 11 a.m. Updates: (509) 256-3372.