North Idaho Ice

[bullpine]

Thanks. Won't be going unless it locks up again.  I was just wondering if it ever became fishable this year.  Thanks again!

[Vandal78]

Thanks. Won't be going unless it locks up again.  I was just wondering if it ever became fishable this year.  Thanks again!

Yeah agreed. I think I will sit this weekend out. Next week low temps look decent, but the weather has been screwy this year. Good Luck!

[RayneBidziil22]

Any news on ice conditions for Hayden and hauser for last few days

[BTS1889]

More than a few days old, but I tried to fish Hauser last Sunday the 16th. There was only 5-6" of what looked like more or less 100% white ice. There were two parties out fishing it, but that's too little for me so I hit upper twin instead (which was much better, more like 9-10" but again almost all white ice). With the weather we've had this week I would definitely consider Hauser unsafe at this point; others might disagree.

[catfish2018]

Spent the morning on cocolalla ice is still the same 7 inches most of which is good solid ice the bite was slow but was able to get enough perch for a couple dinners. I checked round also ice was great didn’t measure but plenty of ice. Seems like the ice survived the rain just fine up north looking forward to a couple more weeks of ice fishing!

[JimBob2]

Have you ever tried to catch catfish through the ice.

[catfish2018]

Never had much luck catching catfish through the ice mainly a perch guy!

[Bonaro70]

I have been out to cocolalla twice this winter with little results.  Has anyone fished close to the shore along the RR tracks about 1/4 mile south of the north boat launch?  I see a number of huts there but never tried it.  What is the depth over there at 50-100 yds off shore?   I am hearing decent ice up on Boundary Co lakes.  Lastly, anyone have a Gamlin Lake report?

[catfish2018]

Bonaro70 that’s where I have been fishing water is about 35ish feet deep bite has been right at daylight and don’t last long. The guys fishing closer to tracks seem to be catching some trout.

[Bonaro70]

Thanks Catfish2018.  Gonna try it at first light tomorrow before the Saturday invasion.

[catfish2018]

Bonaro70 did you have any luck on cocolalla today?

[catfish2018]

Any reports for Gamlin?

[plfish]

Fished Granite today.  7”-8” ice mostly solid and holding up ok.  Cooler overnight temps should firm it up this coming week to really solid.  Caught a mess of rainbow 11-13” about  8’ below the ice

[NIdahoFishin]

Fished Round Lake between Coeur d' Alene and Sandpoint today. Plenty of ice with about a 3 inch layer of cloudy ice, slush, then 7 inch layer of cloudy but solid ice. Came home with 11 perch and 2 crappie. Moved a few times but fish were caught anywhere from 28-20 feet of water with best success at about 25 fow. Bite was done by 11 so we left at noon.

[sihlms391]

Thanks for info.

[catfish2018]

Fished cocolalla all weekend decent bite early pretty much by 8:30 am bite was done. Ice is still 7 inches slick on top would advise some traction on your boots!

[NIdahoFishin]

Does anyone have an ice report for lower twin lake? Looking to go Wednesday and have never been. What is the public access like there? Thanks.

[smitty661]

last i was on lower twin was tuesday by the driving range and it had plenty of ice. Hard to say now but i would bet its plenty good still. The access was still firm when i was there but could be soft by now. good luck

[BlueDuck]

I just got off Round lake. Good ice, 10 to 12".  Not many people out fishing it today.  Fishing was slow, 5 trout and 6 perch in 3 hours.

[willrile4]

I was on lower twin Sunday 1-23, ice was 5 to 6 in thick same as it has been the previous week if not a half inch more. Fishing was slow no flags all day.

[S.moyer0331]

Fished Cocollala yesterday, Tues 25th, with my dad and found some perch.  Caught 50 or so and took home about 40. Big perch but not jumbo, good enough for filets.  Ice was a solid 9 inches, someone had driven a quad across the lake. Fish came through in batches, usually with the trains, and were agressive for the most part. Fished 36 ft of water.

[bullpine]

Fished Cocollala yesterday, Tues 25th, with my dad and found some perch.  Caught 50 or so and took home about 40. Big perch but not jumbo, good enough for filets.  Ice was a solid 9 inches, someone had driven a quad across the lake. Fish came through in batches, usually with the trains, and were agressive for the most part. Fished 36 ft of water.

Yep, my wife and I had a day like that that we attributed to the trains. LOL

[Vandal78]

Anyone been on the ice up at Priest?

[plfish]

What ice at Priest?  Haven’t seen or heard of anything that would be fishable

[CMS]

I’m working just above the linger longer in kallispell bay and the very little ice that’s out front looks like it’s barely holding the slush I haven’t heard about cavanaugh but highly doubt that there’s anything over there.

[Vandal78]

What ice at Priest?  Haven’t seen or heard of anything that would be fishable

That’s why I asked. Often Priest is fishable at Cavanaugh bay and no one says anything. It’s not like I asked about Cocolalla for the hundredth time. It’s a long way from CDA too just go check for myself.

[BlueDuck]

Priest lake usually takes a bunch of single digit or below zero weather before its fishable. Even most of the bays are deep and it takes a lot of cold for safe ice.

[plfish]

That’s why I asked. Often Priest is fishable at Cavanaugh bay and no one says anything. It’s not like I asked about Cocolalla for the hundredth time. It’s a long way from CDA too just go check for myself.

Not trying to be snippy….I live at Priest (off the Lake) and don’t always hear how the ice is as folks don’t say much about it.  I thought maybe you knew something about the ice up north and was surprised that maybe there was fishable ice up here and nobody has said anything.

There is ice in some of the bays but it is not all that thick or solid.  Usually it’ll take another cold snap and by early Feb is when some bays get fishable.  I haven’t heard about the north end at all and sometimes the northern bays have decent ice before Cavanaugh Bay does.  It’s currently 14 at my house on the west side so that should help….but we need a few nights around zero for things to be fishable.  One more cold snap has a chance to do it.

[smitty661]

Avondale still has soft edges and i couldnt get on it to check, Fernan had a good 6 inches of ice yesterday. I have heard that some bays on pend orielle are good to fish and was wondering if anybody knew which ones were fishable? Any deep water bays where somebody could fish for lake trout on pend orielle?

[Machias]

Going out tomorrow for my first time ever ice fishing in Idaho.  Going to hit Cocolalla.  Pretty excited!