North Idaho Ice

[catskinner]

Thanks plfish for the ice info hope some of these other lakes get some fishable ice soon.

[fishaddict]

Checked twin today. Upper twin has 3-3.5” of ice off the dock. Not enough for me with all the soft looking spots out there. Lower twin looks really sketchy but there were two guys out fishing just down from the channel. They were less than one hundred feet from open water. Braver than me, I suppose....

[hugeinchina]

"Braver"? Nah, dumber. Not worth the risk.

[houlzhouse]

anyone checked out spirit at nautical loop yet?

[CMS]

I checked spirit on the 1st and just about 100’ of ice from the shore but the rest of the bay was open water.

[fishaddict]

Anyone been up on Bonner lake? I’m interested in this new burbot bag limit and fish and game has been planting them in there. Anyone have any experience on these things? Also thinking about trying to catch some out of the Kootenai River but I’ve never fished it before.

[RayneBidziil22]

Anyone been up on Bonner lake? I’m interested in this new burbot bag limit and fish and game has been planting them in there. Anyone have any experience on these things? Also thinking about trying to catch some out of the Kootenai River but I’ve never fished it before.

Fish and game told me there  was  safe  ice a few  days  ago

[hugeinchina]

https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/Fishingplanner/water/?id=11541

That site indicates that the burbot in there are catch and release only. Is there an update posted elsewhere saying that there is a now a bag limit?

[fishaddict]

2019 fishing regs. Burbot limit is six in the panhandle

[hugeinchina]

Maybe they just have not updated the site then. Cool. May need to make a trip over there... Let us know if you try it out and do any good! I had a burbot fishing trip booked with a charter on Roosevelt, but the gov't shutdown caused the outfit to cancel the trip. 

[jagmt]

https://idfg.idaho.gov/press/see-changes-fishing-rules-2019-21-seasons That’s a good catch on the change for burbot. Will have to give Bonner lake a try this weekend.

[gillsonice]

Bonner had 5 inches of ice last I checked, We caught several burbot but they were all about 12 inches, not really worth keeping, need to give them a couple more years to get bigger.

[catskinner]

Maybe they just have not updated the site then. Cool. May need to make a trip over there... Let us know if you try it out and do any good! I had a burbot fishing trip booked with a charter on Roosevelt, but the gov't shutdown caused the outfit to cancel the trip. 

What did they say was the reason the gov. shutdown shut them down.

[WinterWizard]

Spirit Lake's Nautical Loop boat launch, on 1-5-2019 you could have launch a boat there. But there were reports of temps in the teens since then.

[hugeinchina]

What did they say was the reason the gov. shutdown shut them down.

Roosevelt is a federal reservoir and they received a letter indicating that they could continue to operate, but that they would be doing so at their own risk. They are also not servicing the ramps, docks, bathrooms or trash at the launches. With the fluctuating water levels on Roosevelt, you could go out in the morning with a client and return to find that the dock is no longer usable if there is no one adjusting them to the level that the lake is currently at. (an extreme example) It's a liability issue that they just were not willing to take the chance with and I don't blame them. While I am dying to get out there, I cannot blame them for protecting their business interests. What sucks more is that those guys have no money coming in because they can't take clients out.

[bullpine]

Roosevelt is a federal reservoir and they received a letter indicating that they could continue to operate, but that they would be doing so at their own risk. They are also not servicing the ramps, docks, bathrooms or trash at the launches. With the fluctuating water levels on Roosevelt, you could go out in the morning with a client and return to find that the dock is no longer usable if there is no one adjusting them to the level that the lake is currently at. (an extreme example) It's a liability issue that they just were not willing to take the chance with and I don't blame them. While I am dying to get out there, I cannot blame them for protecting their business interests. What sucks more is that those guys have no money coming in because they can't take clients out.

You can always launch at the Spokane Tribe launch at the Two Rivers Casino campground.  They are within budget and solvent.

[hugeinchina]

Oh my boat is winterized. This was a charter I had hired to teach me how to jig for walleye and burbot in deep water since I've never done it. They fish around the Hunters area of Roosevelt.

[plfish]

Fished Blue Lake yesterday.  3 nches of really wet slush on top of 5 solid inches.  If the colder temps come that slush layer should add and make a nice thicker layer.  Had a bite as the first line in the water was dropping to the bottom....and then it went slow (It always seems that having a bite or landing one on the first line in the water jinxes things).  Landed 3 perch and did see some others on the flasher....but they didn’t seem too interested.

[RayneBidziil22]

Ice at Kelso is  5-6" thick wind drive me away  didn't  have  my hut

[RayneBidziil22]

Upper  twin has 3-4" of clear ice I'm  planning  on going  out as soon as  possible

[No.IDea]

Fished Freeman again yesterday. 8 inches or so of total ice, and it was all nice and tight. Caught plenty of perch in the 8-10" range and one very nice 17" trout. 

[Skookum1]

Made the trip to Blue Lake near Priest to shake off some cabin fever with a buddy. Checked on the twins and lower was flushable but slow from the report the old timer gave us at the launch. Dove down Nautical loop at Spirit and you're still going to need a lot of jesus to fish there. When we got to blue lake, there was about 5 inches of clear ice all the way across but lots of soupy slush. We moved around few times searching for bigger fish and found some kind of structure underwater by accident where fishing was the the most productive.  Between two guys we caught around 25 fish in a few hours, mostly perch, a few crappie and some sunfish and some midget bass. Overall it wasn't a bad day and it was good getting out of the house.

[houlzhouse]

Went to Freeman this morning and found ice sketchier than I was comfortable with.  There were places with close to 7 inches but there were a lot of spots more like 3.5 three feet from good ice.  I would be super careful on it.  Bring a spud bar, spikes and someone to haul you out

[BlueDuck]

I checked out Round lake yesterday afternoon (tue.).   Popped a few holes near the dock.   3" max.  maybe a little less.  No sign of anyone going more then a few feet of the docks.  It wouldn't take long to get safe ice with a couple of cold days.  Who knows if that will happen.

[bullpine]

So much for my theory about having a hard winter because the squirrels seemed to be extra busy collecting lots of nuts this fall.

[cocolallakid]

Fished Coco yesterday. First day on hard water for me all winter. In front of my house (north end) I had 5 solid inches. I tested east and west and the ice got thinner. Anywhere else it was 3 or less and didn't brave it. I imagine the sportsman's access is pretty sketchy still. Fished 3' feet of water all the way out to 20' of water. All day I caught one 7" male perch using a jig spoon n maggots. Didnt think we were gunna have any ice this year so I'm glad I went and enjoyed the sunshine.
 

[DEER4DINNER]

Hey all, first time logging in here this winter.  I've yet to get out ice fishing.  I've been following the Idaho Ice Fishing Reports on FB but doesn't seem like there's much info for North Idaho there.  Came here to see if there was safe ice anywhere.  The weekend before last I ventured down to the chain lakes to check things out.  The water is very low and the ice isn't safe.  I ended up fishing open water for pike in the channel (puddle) between Cave and Medicine, had a nice campfire with the family, and the kids enjoyed playing in the mud.  Then this last weekend I went to check on Sportsmen's at Hayden.  Almost all open water.  Ended up once again fishing open water off the dock.  Then yesterday drove around Fernan.  East end looks sketchy (actually it all looks sketchy) but there were about a 1/2 dozen guys fishing under the powerline near the west end boat launch.  I read here about Bonner lake having Burbot and have read the F&G articles regarding the new fishery in Kootenai River.  Anyone have tips for catching them in the river or at Bonner through the ice?  What are you using?  How do you fish for them?  What public access points are there along the Kootnai River that might be promising?  Anyone been to Gamble lake? Safe ice?  I'm just in a lazy winter slump.  I need to get out.  Someone give me some ideas and hope.  Thanks all!  Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year. 

[RayneBidziil22]

This dumb a is gonna  go on avondale  and see how thick the ice is tomorrow  if its good  I'm fishing  it if not well I may end up getting  my polar bear  badge wish me luck

[hugeinchina]

Man, be careful.

[RayneBidziil22]

Surprised by how thick the ice is sketchy right by the shore thicker the further out you go definitely bring a partner