My wife booked a family trip to Essex next weekend. Since I don't cross-country ski, my 9 year old son and I are hoping to get some icefishing in on new water while we're on the west side of the state. After reading all the report threads on lakes around the Kalispell area and doing some research, I've decided to target Smith Lake.
I am also going to take the opportunity to take my buddy from Missoula and his boy out. My buddy doesn't hunt or fish, but his son wants to in the worst way. I hooked them up with the kids icefishing clinic in Frenchtown last year, and the kid is in love with icefishing now. He wants to catch a pike on a tipup after seeing pictures of my boy doing it, which is part of the reason I settled on Smith Lake.
I don't normally ask for tips or spots and am not afraid to strike out on my own to learn a new body of water. However, I only have one day next Sunday and really want to get the boys into some fish. Any of you familiar with the lake that are willing to point me in the right direction for perch and/or pike would be greatly appreciated. You can also PM me if you don't want to post a response on the main board.
Thanks in advance and tight lines!
