Even though we've had a few days of freezing temperatures lately, anglers should still use caution before trooping out on the ice, said Steve Holweg of Cabela's.

"When you go out there, have some question of integrity of the ice," Holweg said. "Some spots may not be completely frozen. The top may be, but the section in the middle could be a little soft.

"Continue to use caution."

Holweg said Lake Roosevelt on the Washington side continues to be a decent bet, especially with the continued runoff in North Idaho rivers.

"I spoke with four guys here who went out on Roosevelt on Sunday, and it was a little muddy because of the runoff," Holweg said. "They caught a few fish, and once it clears, it should pick back up."

Holweg said he heard reports of open water on Hauser and Fernan lakes recently.

"So, if you go, be very careful," Holweg said. "With a couple days (of cold temperatures), it's not going to freeze back real solid again."

Holweg said some regulars who come into the store to talk fishing haven't been seen for a few days.

"I think that probably with all the runoff, they're taking the week off," he said.

•••

Ice fishing is making a strong comeback.

"It'll be mostly ice fishing this week. If a person is into it, they should take advantage," said Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service. "We'll have good ice this weekend and the rest of next week, and who knows from there?"

The water is solid and safe on Cocolalla Lake, Smith said, where perch fishing has been popular.

"You can catch a lot of them, it's really fun," he said, suggesting any ice glow jig with either maggots or wax worms. "It's a broad range of sizes, from 6 to 10 inches."

Avondale Lake is also boasting a thick layer of ice, he said, adding that the same bait there should snag some bluegills.

"Fishing on the bottom or near the bottom, for sure," he said. "Usually you're in about 20 feet of water."

Trout fishing is also still going on Kelso Lake, he said.

Jigs or hooks and worms should do the trick, he added.

"They'll usually be suspended," he said. "You kind of have to move your bait around until you find your depth range."

Fernan Lake should be hardened up by midweek, he predicted.

"It's making ice as we speak," he said on Tuesday. "There you could get trout, perch, and set up a few tip-ups for northern pike. A pretty wide variety."

He suggested using a glow hook with maggots, or a Ratso or Mitzi Ditzi jig.

The Chain Lakes probably aren't safe for ice fishing yet, he added.

As for open water, the Clearwater River should be open for steelhead fishing in the next couple days, he predicted.

"Just go to the shoreline and do a slip bobber and jigs set up for that, or slip bobber and a bead instead of a jig," he said. "These number 10 beads on a hook below a bobber, you can do pretty good with that."

•••

Good February fishing can be had here at home, or to the west and south of Coeur d'Alene.

On Lake Coeur d'Alene, pike fishing is most popular.

Load a pike rig - a steel leader and two treble hooks - with smelt or herring and use a slip bobber to set the depth of the bait at half a foot or a foot off the bottom.

The best spots are at the Wolf Lodge, Cougar Bay and Blue Creek areas of the lake, said Josh Kinghorn of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

"Right now they're a little lazy," Kinghorn said. "They're scavengers looking for stuff off the bottom."

That will be the best bet until March or April, when anglers should switch to Huskie jerks or Rapala lures to go after pike.

To the south, steelhead season on the Clearwater River is still a go.

The B run of the season has started, so bigger fish are swimming.

Anglers shouldn't change their formula. Either drift shrimp, or use bobbers and jigs. Jigs should be black and white, orange and red, or green and black.

Nice prizes can be caught to the west, too, on Lake Roosevelt in Washington, just off state highway 2.

There, trout are chasing flies behind a dodger, with planer boards, as are kokanee. Walleye are chasing walleye jigs and grubs bounced on the lake bottom.

•••

Steelhead anglers are finding much better conditions down south, reported Mike Beard of Orvis Northwest Outfitters. Colder temps and clear skies have calmed the turbulent rivers where steelies roam.

"Water's down, and the (fishing has) been starting to pick up really well, especially on the Clearwater," Beard said. "There's a lot of big fish around."

From Orofino up to the South Fork is a good stretch of water these days, he added. Fly-casters could get a shot at a 20-pound fish, if they're lucky.

The Snake River is still a bit high, Beard said, but the Grande Ronde is getting better every day.

Sink tips with leech patterns are a good choice for swing fishermen. Look for slow-moving water that's not especially deep, Beard advised. Nymph fishermen can go deeper.

Locally, the Coeur d'Alene River should improve with slightly warmer weather next week. Rubber legs, San Juan worms or nymph rigs might draw a strike from a wary trout.

Beard said anglers should fish from shore rather than wade - the water is still too cold, too dark and too risky.

"The chances you can catch a fish on the Coeur d'Alene is pretty good, but it's not for everybody," Beard said. "If a guy knows what he's doing and where to go, he can definitely find some fish."