I told you all about my trip up to Fish Lake. There is plenty of ice but it was really sloppy on top. You need a good pair of boots if you plan to fish there. I got a report on Roses Lake recently. There is ice on the lake, and there are signs that people have been out on it, but I don't recommend it just yet. We need a little colder weather before I would step out on Roses. My buddy tried fishing off the end of the dock there without success.

Bob Fateley at the Triangle Exxon in Brewster did me the favor of driving up to Rat Lake to check on the ice conditions there. He reports that although there is open water on the main lake, the ice is thick enough for fishing in the launch bay. Anglers have been fishing here for a while and are finding it very worthwhile. They are catching rainbow, with the rare brown trout, and they fish are pretty good size. The trout are measuring from 10 to 14 inches.

They have to be tasty, too, coming from this cold winter water at Rat Lake. Another good ice fishing bet in Okanogan County is Patterson Lake, near Winthrop.