Despite hints of spring, there's still good ice fishing to be had on area lakes, said Duane Sunell of Cabela's.

"There's still pretty good ice up north," he said, adding that ice fishing also remains an option on lakes in Kootenai County such as Fernan and Hauser.

"But it may be coming to an end soon."

Some anglers have fished for perch, bluegill, crappie and pike in recent days.

Sunell said there's still more than a foot of ice on Freeman and Blue lakes.

"It's still getting cold enough at night," he said.

There's also more boaters going after northern pike on Lake Pend Oreille.

"One guy was using spoons near the shoreline," Sunell said.

Meanwhile, there's still good steelhead fishing on the Clearwater River.

"They're using jigs and bobber setups," Sunell said. "One guy caught seven on one weekend, then about the same the next."

Some anglers are also having good luck with flyfishing on the lower part of the Coeur d'Alene River.

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The North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River has been offering some decent fishing in the afternoons on the lower sections below Prichard, said Mike Beard of Orvis Northwest Outfitters.

"Still mostly a nymphing game using a big rubber leg stonefly, San Juan worm or prince nymph with a smaller copper john, or midge pupa behind it," he said. "There has been some good streamer fishing as long as the presentation is slow and deep. A black or olive wooly bugger is a good option or a little bigger sculpin pattern like a LE marabou leech should get some fish to move."

As it gets closer to spring and the afternoons start warming up a little more, Beard said to look for small midge clusters and small stoneflies to start emerging and getting those fish up.

It's "not a bad idea to rig another dry fly rod so when you see some feeding fish you don't have to completely re-rig and run the risk of missing the hatch," Beard said. "The lower St. Joe should provide much of the same if you are willing to make the drive."

For steelhead, the most consistent reports are coming from the Clearwater. Fish are moving up the system, but there are still some fish being swung on the lower reaches closer to Lewiston, Beard said.

There are lots of boats and gear fisherman up by Orofino. But, he said, there are also a lot of fish.

"So it might be worth putting up with a few more people," he said.

The water is still up, so he recommends sink tips with marabou and bunny leaches in a variety of colors. Weights will get it down to the fish.

"Dead drifting a large stonefly nymph and an egg pattern is also a very effective way to find fish when they might not be chasing anything else," he said.

The Grande Ronde river is also an excellent option this time of year if you can hit the flows right. There are lots of fish in the system, but the fluctuations in water flow have made it hit and miss of late, he said. There are good days to be had if the clarity maintains and the water is on the drop. Sudden spikes of melt off or rain can change conditions rapidly, he said.

The Snake River has been tough since the flows are being kept high, but it's peaceful since there aren't many people fishing it right now.

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Ice fishing is holding up well enough, assured Jeff Smith.

"You'll find a few areas that might be a little sloppy on top, but most areas are still pretty safe," said Smith, with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service in Coeur d'Alene.

Fernan Lake is still among his top choices, he said, where perch is still quick to bite.

He caught roughly 60 perch a few days back, he said.

"It's good fishing," Smith said, adding that the perch are tasty, too.

He recommended fishing on the bottom at a 20-foot depth, using glow jigs and maggots.

"I think if you have something with bait on it, they'll bite it," he said.

Some are also catching trout on Fernan, he added, using jigs with nightcrawlers.

Ice fishing is still going on up north, too, like on Cocolalla Lake north of Sandpoint.

Perch is the big catch there, too, he said.

"The average size might be a little bigger on Cocolalla than Fernan, it's just if you think it's worth driving up there," Smith said.

Folks will find a motley perch, crappies and pike at upper Twin Lakes, he said.

He recommended using a tip-up to snag the pike, baited with herring or smelt.

Some are heading to Hauser Lake, too, he said, where they're reeling in bluegills, perch and trout.

"Same thing. Jigs and maggots everywhere," he said.

Open water fishing continues on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Smith said. Some were catching pike this past week on the bays down by Harrison, he said.

"There are a lot of places you have a chance at them," he said, adding that the biggest he has seen brought in was 22 pounds. "Any of the bays you can have a chance."

Folks have been baiting for the pike with herring or smelt, he said. Some fish with a bobber, he said.

"I think it's more fun," he said. "You get the adrenaline rush as the bobber's going."

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Perch and pike are still active, so anglers should go after them until March rolls around and bass and chinook season really kicks into gear.

So keep after pike at the Chain Lakes or the backside of Hayden Lake by dropping lines with smelt and steel leader, said Blake Becker of Black Sheep Sporting Goods. The ice is holding up, on Lake Fernan as well, so don't change your approach.

For perch, keep after them with smaller-sized glow jigs, like 1/32 ounce Ratso jigs. Add a maggot, even an imitation soft plastic maggot to the line. Twin, Fernan and Cocolalla lakes are good bets for catching perch.

Lake Pend Oreille is yielding trout for anglers trolling drop shot lines fairly deep, between 90 and 140 feet, Becker said. Trolling on Lake Coeur d'Alene is starting to heat up as well. Lines rigged with helmet herrings are starting to nab those, but chinook really start getting active, like bass, in March.

"In the next four or five weeks, hopefully the largemouth bass will start hitting," Becker said. "But the weather certainly can come back and haunt us."

If that's the case, and snow and freezing temperatures return, keep after perch and pike if ice fishing holds up.