North Idaho Ice

[BlueDuck]

Be careful out there.  We haven't had a decent freeze in quite a while and the ice is deteriorating pretty much every where around here.  Its just a mater of time until we hear a sad story.  Don't be that guy.

[houlzhouse]

went to Kelso yesterday-ice is good with solid 8 inches.  All the slop from last week has refroze-Iced 1 nice bow

[hugeinchina]

Hit round lake today. Near the docks the ice is 4 inches of clear with another four of honey combed cloudy on top that you will occasionally break through while walking. Straight out in the middle the ice was 2 inches of clear and four cloudy and honey combed... we retreated back to thicker ice. We iced no perch. The bite was terrible, unless you could find trout. They were as frisky as ever. We caught three bows and kept one of them. I also caught my personal best large mouth through the ice. He weighed in at about 3.5 lbs and really tested the limits on my 28” ice rod with 4 lb mono! What a blast! I can’t believe the tiny, tear-drop tungsten jig I was using even stayed in his lip. Anyway, if you go out to Round, please be very careful! We need some good cold nights or this is going to be an abbreviated ice season.

[Idahogator]

Great to hear of the good action.    Another 3 hours and I be free to get out there, ha.

[PLumpee]

Hello everyone. What a great thread. I stumbled across this site searching for fish finder information and after 10 hours of boredom pike fishing, I convinced myself to join.
Starting early this week I began rounding up kids and stealing fishing buddies in an effort to prepare for an epic pike expedition on Hayden. Our spread looked like wheat stubble in a snowy field. We carefully canvased the area and sat on our buckets staring... I cannot seem to catch a pike!!

[CMS]

Fished spirit lake today, the ice was pretty spongy.  It was 1-1/2" of ice that's frozen slush, then 1-1/2" loose slush, then 2" milky ice, then 2" of clear.  Anyone walking close would make water rise in the holes.  We caught a few chinook, 5 Kokanee, 1 crappie, and 1 perch.  Overall it was a very slow day with lots of moving and not much on the flasher.  There was a few other guys on the ice that had same results.  We had the pleasure of meeting Walt Maurer on the ice. It's always nice to meet someone from the shanty.  Fingers crossed for a cold snap.

[catskinner]

I'm new to this site but am hoping it freezes again soon, my new auger arrived yesterday and am anxious to punch some holes. Sounds like Spirit might be the place to go, I see someone mentioned the ''ice box'' I assume that is the east end what we used to call ''freeze out.'' I haven't fished there for years but would like to catch some kokanee to smoke. Would like to catch some pike somewhere, anyone checked out the chain lakes yet.

[jagmt]

I'm new to this site but am hoping it freezes again soon, my new auger arrived yesterday and am anxious to punch some holes. Sounds like Spirit might be the place to go, I see someone mentioned the ''ice box'' I assume that is the east end what we used to call ''freeze out.'' I haven't fished there for years but would like to catch some kokanee to smoke. Would like to catch some pike somewhere, anyone checked out the chain lakes yet.

I drive past the chain lakes every day...they are mostly open water.

[CMS]

Hello catskinner, I got your message but not sure if my reply went through. If you pm me your phone number I will give you a call tonight.


Thanks
Casey

[waltermaurer]

Fished spirit lake today, the ice was pretty spongy.  It was 1-1/2" of ice that's frozen slush, then 1-1/2" loose slush, then 2" milky ice, then 2" of clear.  Anyone walking close would make water rise in the holes.  We caught a few chinook, 5 Kokanee, 1 crappie, and 1 perch.  Overall it was a very slow day with lots of moving and not much on the flasher.  There was a few other guys on the ice that had same results.  We had the pleasure of meeting Walt Maurer on the ice. It's always nice to meet someone from the shanty.  Fingers crossed for a cold snap.

Likewise, chatting with CMS & Kyle made my first-ever trip to this beautiful lake memorable even though I got skunked (No Fish, No Bites)!  I'd never before seen a 5" Chinook, and I'm really looking forward to catching a keeper within a year or so. In the meantime, will target those big red-meated cutthroats that a friend caught the day before (the day I should'a been there...).  Hope someone will keep us updated on Spirit's ice this week.

[waltermaurer]

Tried west side of Fernan again today:  ice was at least 5" as best as I could tell from existing holes.  Pair of guys who quit around about 1PM said they'd walked almost all the way to east side and found the ice OK;  one caught a couple of bass, the other some perch, but they couldn't find a school (the usual 1 or 2 fish per hole stuff). I fished various holes around the power line and caught only 3 perch in 5 hrs.  So I'm crossing Fernan off my list for now, will consider Avondale or Spirit tomorrow.

[S.moyer0331]

New to the forum, been ice fishing north Idaho for 20 years.

Looking for some some current info on Cocolalla ice? Got a 4 day weekend coming up and would like some perch filets.  Fernan has been slow.  Usually only 20 or so medium to small perch in 5-6 hours of fishing.  Was out Saturday and shore melt is getting bad, but 6 feet off the shore. Had to put in at the west end boat launch.  Still averaging about 6 inches of ice, 3 or so of clear.  If your willing to walk to the middle of the lake, been doing well on decent sized cats.

[catskinner]

If you don't mind telling, what are you using for bait on the cats?

[S.moyer0331]

Swedish pimple and a perch eye.  They usually come in about 5-8 feet off the bottom, but we've pulled some off the bottom as well.  Week and a half ago we pulled 5 or so, biggest was about 4 or 5 lbs

[catskinner]

Hey thanks for the info I might have to try that out tomorrow.

[waltermaurer]

Avondale ice yesterday was still over 8" within 20 yds of east shore directly across from the "boat launch", and the bite was still poor (but always nice to enjoy the ice, except for losing an ice rod & stand to a fish when I wasn't looking).  An 8-foot board should get you on ice about 30 yds south of launch.

[Idahogator]

Whaaa?     Where'd everyone go?      You give the impression the season is over.               

[RayneBidziil22]

  more like this season sucks so bad for ice fishing. ive only got maybe 40 fish this whole season on all the lakes ive been on (minus hayden got 60 something perch and 4 pike)  im normal getting large numbers of fish from Avondale, fernan, and a few other places but this year its like pulling fossilized teeth from dinosaurs and not break them

[BlueDuck]

I haven't put my ice gear away yet.  But we better get a hard freeze in the next couple of weeks, or its over.  Two poor ice seasons in a row.  Who would a thunk it could happen.   Good thing I stocked up the freezer with crappie and perch this last summer.   Cross your fingers for a cold snap.

[hugeinchina]

There are colder temps in the forecast for the latter half of next week. Fingers and toes are crossed that it's enough to firm things up.

[waltermaurer]

Anyone know if Spirit ice is still OK at Maiden Rock boat launch (south end of Nautical Loop)?  Or Hayden at sportsman's access?  (Avondale still OK yesterday with 8", but need at least 8ft board to get on.)

[CMS]

I stopped by yesterday and peeked, the slush at the shore firmed up, the ice looked the same as last weekend with about 1-1/2" of slush on top, someone had been out there.  We're gonna give it a try tommorow

[hugeinchina]

Anytime ice requires a board to get on, you can count this hombre out! 

[Idahogator]

Si Senor,
        Constrution materials on the ice only for the burner.     

[Idahoice]

Any reports on Priest lake?!?

[waltermaurer]

I stopped by yesterday and peeked, the slush at the shore firmed up, the ice looked the same as last weekend with about 1-1/2" of slush on top, someone had been out there.  We're gonna give it a try tommorow

Thanks for the report, maybe I'll check it out too (with lifejacket and ice picks).

[CMS]

Oh yeah, us too. We'll tread lightly and take it inch by inch. Planning on being there at daylight quote author=waltermaurer link=topic=64932.msg3805859#msg3805859 date=1517026637]
Thanks for the report, maybe I'll check it out too (with lifejacket and ice picks).
[/quote]

[Skookum1]

New to the forum, been ice fishing north Idaho for 20 years.

Looking for some some current info on Cocolalla ice? Got a 4 day weekend coming up and would like some perch filets.  Fernan has been slow.  Usually only 20 or so medium to small perch in 5-6 hours of fishing.  Was out Saturday and shore melt is getting bad, but 6 feet off the shore. Had to put in at the west end boat launch.  Still averaging about 6 inches of ice, 3 or so of clear.  If your willing to walk to the middle of the lake, been doing well on decent sized cats.

Don't believe anything this man says. He is of questionable character and catches no fish. 

[sihlms391]

Heading up North to round lake today with my son.  Ice fished lower twin last night little slow.   

[Stiks32]

Fished Mirror lake yesterday. Ice is still in a fishable state. Total of 7", 3 of which is clear. If you have a depth finder, use it. Trout are at 10-17' deep. Kokanee are at 25' deep. If you're at 30', you might as well stay home. The koke bite is frustratingly LIGHT. And I do mean light. Maggots catch kokes and worms for trout. If you don't have a depth finder, use the floating dock to the east of the launch as a reference point. The north side of the dock is 9' depth and the South side is 17' depth. Stay on that line and you'll get into some bows/cutts/brookies. Dear lord just please gives is 10 days below freezing soon!