Ice still isn't safe enough for fishing

Wet weather and temperatures in the 30s and 40s has left the winter fishing season quite unsettled.

"Steelheading is kind of up in the air," said Mike Beard, of Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene. "Everything is on the verge of blowing out after all the cold and wet we've had."

It's actually supposed to get cold again, he said, so this weekend might not be too bad.

"The water temps should be up a little bit from the last little bit of rain," Beard said.

It might be a good time to be down along the lower Clearwater River, below Orofino, and definitely the warmer Snake River, he said.

As for the lakes, he said, "We've been starting to hear about some ice fishing ventures."

He wouldn't recommend anyone go out on the ice right now.

Ice fishing came and went.

Earlier than expected thawing put a stop to ice fishing right after it got started for the winter, but anglers should be prepared for lakes to freeze over again next week.

That means ice fishing will be back in full swing, so after perch and some trout, said Tina Padgitt, of Black Sheep Sporting Goods.

"It'll be next week before they can get back on it," Padgitt said.

When it's time, Fernan, Kelso, Twin, lakes and the south side of Cocolalla have been the hot spots for going after perch. The formula to get them is pretty simple, use a Swedish pimple and a worm and drop the line to the bottom of the lake.

Trout are even being caught at Cocolalla, she said.

Bud Frasca of North West Classic Tackle in Hayden said steelhead fishing on the Clearwater River is going well.

"It's bait fishing, but the big fish are in and you can catch one if you go down," Frasca said.

Frasca recommends a guide for the outing.

"They can cover more water for you and they know where the fish are," he said, adding that a daily outing can run around $200 per person.

Anglers may also try the south fork of the river on their own.

"If you go by yourself, bounce jigs," he said.

Trolling on area lakes is another option as long as the water isn't frozen.

"Trout are up high because the water has cooled off," Frasca said. "Try running a planer board, streamer or plug."

With this week's wind and snow melt, Frasca said he wouldn't recommend ice fishing at this time.

"You don't want to be falling through the lake," he said.

In the wake of recent snow, ice fishing looks to be delayed still again.

The inches of powder push down the ice on local lakes, explained Dale Odenbaugh with Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop and Guide Service.

And the forecasted rain will only make the ice more tender, he added.

"I recommend the soonest it will probably be safe to be on the ice is Sunday," Odenbaugh said on Tuesday.

Otherwise, "it's kind of dead time," he said.

There's still the option to catch chinook on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Odenbaugh said. The fish are now congregating at 30 to 40 foot depths, he said. He recommended using helmetted herring and mini squids.

"There's still plenty of action fishing for chinook," he said.