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*Crosses Hayden off list of lakes to fish in the area
Has anyone fished Fernan Lake yet? Feeling the itch to get out this weekend and go all out!!!!!! sorry super excited...........
Plan was to fish the point at the end of the park. Hiked down and test drilled about 10 yards north off the end of the fishing dock. 3.5" of "white ice". Didn't feel good about that so tried another spot 20 yards south and closer to shore....only 2.5" of poor ice. Grabbed my things and headed back southwest towards the ramp. Passed the other fishing dock and saw numerous tracks from a snowmobile as well as sleds. Drilled a test hole 8' deep with 3" of hard ice and a 1.5" of slush ice. Dropped a tipup with herring. Walked out away from the bank towards deeper water and my left leg punched thru. I slid back and managed to throw my right leg out. I wear Columbia Snow pants that have a broad velcro strap that wraps tightly around the ankle as well as a recessed secondary cuff that goes inside my Sorel boots that also cinch around the top. This gave me a full 15 seconds before I had any water intrusion into the boot. During that time I quickly surmised that I had stepped into slush hole about as wide as my body rather than busting thru ice. It more like I sank then busted thru. I pulled my ice picks but with my right leg resting on solid ice I decided to use that leverage and roll back the direction I had come. It work perfectly and I rolled a couple time and stood up. All of this took about 30-45 seconds. My lower left was wet but my foot only felt damp...at first. I carefully retrieved the auger and shovel. Grabbed my tipup and hiked back to the car about a 5 minute hike. My leg didn't feel chilled but as I walked the water trapped in the wool liner of the Sorels worked its way down soaking my foot. I never wear cotton instead using polyester or fleece base layers with quick dry or fleece mid-layers as well as wool socks with polyester liners. I did bring a spare set of clothes but decided to just change out the footwear at the car. I quickly warmed my feet and within a half of driving my pants had completely dried from the heaters.Due to the clothing and gear prep I had as well bringing ice picks I didn't really feel scared more just bummed because I knew my day of fishing ruined.
Fernan is good. 20 FOW for perch. Plenty of ice. Might nab a couple trout too. I caught a nice bluegill out of there too that cut a fillet bigger than the biggest perch. Most perch were over 8 occasionally a ten. 0 pike though.
Plan was to fish the point at the end of the park. Hiked down and test drilled about 10 yards north off the end of the fishing dock. 3.5" of "white ice". Didn't feel good about that so tried another spot 20 yards south and closer to shore....only 2.5" of poor ice. Grabbed my things and headed back southwest towards the ramp. Passed the other fishing dock and saw numerous tracks from a snowmobile as well as sleds. Drilled a test hole 8' deep with 3" of hard ice and a 1.5" of slush ice. Dropped a tipup with herring. Walked out away from the bank towards deeper water and my left leg punched thru. I slid back and managed to throw my right leg out. I wear Columbia Snow pants that have a broad velcro strap that wraps tightly around the ankle as well as a recessed secondary cuff that goes inside my Sorel boots that also cinch around the top. This gave me a full 15 seconds before I had any water intrusion into the boot.
Bonnie lake is not a lake I am familiar with. Does it ice over and have perch?? If so, I will have to go get my WA license and check it out!
Hey guys. I recently moved from Minnesota (really missing lake of the woods this time of year) to Lewiston and am not yet familiar with any of the lakes in northern ID. Looking to get into some crappies this weekend, decent size perch will do too. Any suggestions on what lake to try? Pretty much willing to go anywhere. Thanks!
Since I am now in Spokane and not CDA, I always see Newman Lake is real close. I realize it's not quite in North Idaho, but is it worth going out to ? I've never been to it. Thanks.