Ice fishing is hanging in there, according to Jeff Smith with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

"They're still fishing all the lakes up north yet," Smith said.

Fishermen are still nabbing perch at Lower Twin Lakes, he said, and pike are biting in the Upper Twin Lake.

Kelso Lake is good for trout fishing, he added, and Mirror Lake for kokanee.

"For most pan fish, you're going to use the glow jig and maggot," Smith said. "The trout, you can do the same thing and catch them that way, but most are buying nightcrawlers for catching trout."

Many are still heading to Clearwater River for steelhead fishing, he said.

"The water's been up and down, but for the most part, there's been decent fishing," he said.

Most who fish off the bank are using a slip bobber with a jig, he said, adding that some also use a slip bobber and a bead.

"The most popular method is drifting eggs," he said.

Whitefish are biting well on the Coeur d'Alene River, Smith said.

Some are using small flies tipped with maggots, he said. Others are using glow hooks with a maggot.

"At the lower part of the river by Kingston, there are tons of whitefish down there," he said. "If we don't get too much rain, it should be good for the weekend."

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With warmer temperatures in recent days, ice fishing in North Idaho is getting suspect, so anglers should start to think spring, said Steve Holweg of Cabela's.

"Right now it's time go get ready for spring fishing because it should be here soon," Holweg said. "But if you're still going out on the ice, be really careful. The way the weather has been, I'd just stay off the ice."

Holweg said he's heard that Lake Roosevelt continues to be a hot spot.

"They're continuing to pull out trout both trolling and off the banks," he said.

Popular trolling setups include small plugs, small trolling flies and wedding rings tipped with nightcrawlers.

"The most popular color so far seems to be orange," he said.

Off the banks, worms, salmon eggs, marshmallows and Berkley power baits are doing the trick."

Holweg said there have been reports that fishing on Lake Coeur d'Alene has been slow in recent days.

•••

The B run is still going strong.

That means anglers looking to land prize steelhead should hit the road and head south to the Clearwater River, said Tina Padgitt of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

Use slip bobbers and jigs to catch them, either casting from the bank or trolling.

Jigs should be black and white, green and black, and red and black patterns. When trolling for the fish from a boat load lines with shrimp, shrimp oil or eggs.

Good spots continue to be from Orofino to the confluence near Lewiston.

The B run usually offers bigger fish that are making the river swim.

Anglers shouldn't change their formula for going after the bigger fish.

Jigs should be black and white, green and black, and red and black patterns.

•••

Out on the Coeur d'Alene River, the cutthroat and whitefish are starting to hit flies - but conditions still aren't quite right.

"We were so close, we had a great week up on the Coeur d'Alene, but as of (Tuesday) morning, the river's back on it way up," said Mike Beard of Orvis Northwest Outfitters.

But the water should improve by the end of the week, he added. Hardy fly-casters should hit the water somewhere above the South Fork, and maybe even above the Little North Fork. Don't go past Prichard, though, because the water is still cold and tricky.

"The numbers aren't great for normal times of year," Beard said of the ever-changing river, "but they're great for February."

Deep-water nymphs will draw a few strikes. Rubber-legs, prince nymphs and San Juan worms are still a safe bet, but anglers could also try midges, blue-winged olives or stoneflies.

"I'd head for the bigger, deeper pools," Bead said.

Look for fish below tributaries - they might be stacked up there. Fish the slow-moving, deepest water with double-nymph rigs. In the afternoon, between noon and 3 p.m., is the window these days.

Over on the St. Joe, the lower portion of the river might be good, Beard said. But it's still hit-or-miss.

"For the most part, it's just kind of far away to drive for not knowing," he said.

The steelhead streams are probably worth a trip, though. The Ronde is high, but the Clearwater is going strong on both the lower and upper parts of the river. Tie on a streamer and fish slowly, close to the banks and in tailouts.

Waders should always step carefully, especially when chasing winter steelhead: The Clearwater is running at 16,000 cfs right now.

"It's still the same thing we've been dealing with," Beard said. "High, stained water. Persistence pays off."