Ice fishing starts; Caution is advised

Ice fishing is under way on smaller lakes in northern Kootenai and Bonner counties.

Steve Holweg of Cabela's said a co-worker recently went on Blue Lake between Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint and there was about 5 inches of ice.

"As always, especially during the first part of the season, use caution when going out on the ice," Holweg said. "Just because someone is out there doesn't mean it's safe.

"If you know the lake has springs, I'd be cautious. With clear ice, it can be scary looking down at the bottom of a lake. You have no idea how thick it is until you punch that first hole."

Other lakes up north such as Round and Kelso should also be ready for ice fishing.

Try using small ice jigs tipped with maggots or a little piece of Berkley PowerBait, Holweg said.

"Get some scent in the water."

Holweg said some anglers assume they have to go after bluegill, crappie or perch close to the bottom of the lakes, but good trout fishing is also to be had.

"You can drop your line 4 to 5 feet below the surface with Berkley PowerBait or salmon eggs and catch some nice trout," he said.

Holweg said he heard recent steelhead fishing on rivers to the south was spotty.

"Generally, the colder and more miserable it is outside, the steelhead fishing gets better," he said. "A couple guys didn't do real well last week and another went out a couple days later and just killed them (with a successful outing). You've got to be there on the right day."

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Pull on your long underwear. It's come at last.

Ice fishing season.

Several lakes north of Coeur d'Alene, and even a few in town, have enough solid inches to withstand patient fisherman, said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"Late last week we really just got started on the ice," Smith said on Tuesday.

Most winter warriors are cutting holes in lakes between Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, he said, like Round, Kelso, Gamble, Shepherd and Mirror lakes.

There are already 4 inches of ice on most of those, Smith estimated.

"Don't take my word for it," Smith added. "Drill a couple test holes as you go to make sure ice conditions are not changing."

Sizeable perch up to 9 inches, as well as rainbow trout have been caught at Round Lake, he noted.

"It's a pretty fun place to fish," he said, adding that a state park fee is required to access the lake.

Kelso is a big trout spot, he said, and Gamble Lake produced enormous perch last season.

"I don't know if it will be this season, but I'm sure the ice is good there," he said.

Lake Fernan has only just frozen over, Smith said, and should be safe to fish on by the weekend.

It's a good source of trout, perch, crappie and catfish, he said.

Rose Lake is also boasting 4 inches of ice, with the opportunity to snag northern pike, bluegill, perch and bass.

"It's a pretty good mixed bag of fish there," Smith said.

For all ice fishing, he recommended a simple jig and bait setup. Maggots and worms should work for bait, he said, though he recommended also bringing nightcrawlers for trout.

"You might have to play with the colors a little," he said of jig selection.

Folks are still fishing for chinook salmon on Lake Coeur d'Alene, he said. There is a two fish catch limit, and they must be at least 20 inches.

He recommended dropping lines by Carlin Bay and using 8-inch flashers and mini squids, or helmetted herring.

"That'll go on as long as the weather holds out," he said.

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Mike Beard of Orvis Northwest Outfitters said local fly fishing slowed down with recent frozen temperatures, but it should come around with more warmth.

"With the ice, fish are not moving as much," Beard said.

On warmer days, streamer fishing and nymphing with a Pat's Rubber Leg or Copper John under an indicator should get the job done, he said.

Beard said the best option for fly fishing remains going for steelhead near Lewiston.

"The Grand Ronde is a little frozen, so I'd focus on the Clearwater or Snake," Beard said. "What we're finding effective is bigger-sized leech patterns."