North Idaho Ice

[catskinner]

That’s good news, I was trying to be sarcastic

It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm. 

[TOMINATER]

Im going to try my luck at Curlew this week while visiting the in-laws. Probably last ice trip this year for me. Cant finish out this year without catching anything!

[S.moyer0331]

Im going to try my luck at Curlew this week while visiting the in-laws. Probably last ice trip this year for me. Cant finish out this year without catching anything!

Morning bite at cocollala has been pretty consistent, did about 40 today and kept only the big ones. Don't give up yet man! If you strike out on Curlew, let me know and maybe I'll meet you at cocollala and give you some pointers

[TOMINATER]

Morning bite at cocollala has been pretty consistent, did about 40 today and kept only the big ones. Don't give up yet man! If you strike out on Curlew, let me know and maybe I'll meet you at cocollala and give you some pointers

Thanks man I appreciate it. I went to Cocolalla last weekend during midday and got skunked. I would take you up on that though.

[smitty661]

how is the evening or late afternoon bite on cocolalla? Im going Saturday afternoon somewhere, just haven't decided where.

[AHuntersLarder]

Decent Perch Bite on Freeman last weekend. No Pike though. 

[ddhread]

Morning bite at cocollala has been pretty consistent, did about 40 today and kept only the big ones. Don't give up yet man! If you strike out on Curlew, let me know and maybe I'll meet you at cocollala and give you some pointers

S.moyer can I secretly tell you when my dad is going so you can give him some pointers haha! He prefers Springy Point, but it hasn't worked out this year. Convinced him to go to Freeman a couple times with some luck. He probably hadn't been to Cocollala in 20 plus years and didn't have any luck at all on Tuesday. He stopped going because of the spots on the perch. It really surprised me to see that they still have them!

Thanks 

[S.moyer0331]

S.moyer can I secretly tell you when my dad is going so you can give him some pointers haha! He prefers Springy Point, but it hasn't worked out this year. Convinced him to go to Freeman a couple times with some luck. He probably hadn't been to Cocollala in 20 plus years and didn't have any luck at all on Tuesday. He stopped going because of the spots on the perch. It really surprised me to see that they still have them!

Thanks

Haha ya, I'll pick a day next week and let everyone know that wants to tag along for some pointers.

[catskinner]

S.moyer can I secretly tell you when my dad is going so you can give him some pointers haha! He prefers Springy Point, but it hasn't worked out this year. Convinced him to go to Freeman a couple times with some luck. He probably hadn't been to Cocollala in 20 plus years and didn't have any luck at all on Tuesday. He stopped going because of the spots on the perch. It really surprised me to see that they still have them!

Thanks

Those spots are a parasite that cycles between the fish and fish eating birds, like cormorants. The are not harmful and don't go through the skin. Here is an article about it.

https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/black-spot-disease/

[Idahoice77]

How’s the ice staring to warm up

[willrile4]

Has anyone been to twin lake the past couple of days? I am wanting to go tomorrow or Monday. I heard that they were open water.

[catskinner]

How’s the ice staring to warm up

I was on Hauser today, it was making ice all day it had 2" of new snow on it, the sun softened up the top quarter in. but by 2pm it was crusting over.

[catskinner]

Has anyone been to twin lake the past couple of days? I am wanting to go tomorrow or Monday. I heard that they were open water.

Plenty of ice on Lower Twin walked clear across last Saturday 10" on the far side

[willrile4]

Plenty of ice on Lower Twin walked clear across last Saturday 10" on the far side

Thanks catskinner!

[Harbisgirl]

We've fished the north end of Cocolalla a few times but would like to try the south end. I've read some conflicting information about directions and parking - some have mentioned that its illegal, trespassing on BNSF property. How do you get there and where do you park?

[Idahoice77]

It is on railroad ground but I’ve never seen Any enforcement there just a few trucks parked in the bushes by the tracks

[plfish]

Fished Blue Lake this afternoon from 3 until 5:30 with my son.  A small group was coming off the ice and they had been skunked.  Ended up with one small pumpkinseed and only saw a couple on the flasher the whole time.  Definitely slow for action and slow on the flasher.  11.5” of solid hard ice with no slop on top and about an inch of snow on top. I’ve go to head to Boise next weekend for the state basketball tourney and with the warmer temps coming....I’m not sure if fishable ice will make it until the weekend after next....but we’ll see.

[Bonaro70]

The key to Cocolalla is 35+ ft in depth and sunrise and sunset.  I did well with waxworms last week but hard to come by.

[TOMINATER]

After all this warm weather this weekend what lakes are still going to be fishable? I want to get out one last time before the end of the season hopefully.

[S.moyer0331]

After all this warm weather this weekend what lakes are still going to be fishable? I want to get out one last time before the end of the season hopefully.

Bunch of us will be out on cocollala Wednesday morning

[TOMINATER]

Bunch of us will be out on cocollala Wednesday morning

I wish I could! I have to teach that morning! Should hopefully be up on Saturday or Friday night if the ice is still good.

[BlueDuck]

I was on Cocolalla yesterday (Monday) .  Beautiful day and the ice was great.  Fishing was real slow. 

[catskinner]

I was on Cocolalla yesterday (Monday) .  Beautiful day and the ice was great.  Fishing was real slow.

I was there on Sunday and it was real slow 🐌 3 of us caught 8 fish in about 5 hours. Did anyone else find them, whenever one showed up on the electronics they would at least bite.

[shawdawg]

fished the south end of Cocolalla this morning.  Fished 4+ hours and didn't mark a single fish.  Probably drilled 35-40 holes.  Dead sea today!!

[catskinner]

fished the south end of Cocolalla this morning.  Fished 4+ hours and didn't mark a single fish.  Probably drilled 35-40 holes.  Dead sea today!!

How many different depths did you try?

[catskinner]

Ok guys,  anyone  ever catch any channel cats through the ice? Hauser, Cocalala, Jewel or anywhere else they are found.

[shawdawg]

How many different depths did you try?

Started in 28 ft where we caught 150 last week.  Tried out to 32-33 and all the way into 20.  Just an off day or the fish moved out, not sure.  we fished about 20 holes in one area, then, hiked down the lake a couple hundred yards and canvased that area as well but wasn't our day. 

[catskinner]

Started in 28 ft where we caught 150 last week.  Tried out to 32-33 and all the way into 20.  Just an off day or the fish moved out, not sure.  we fished about 20 holes in one area, then, hiked down the lake a couple hundred yards and canvased that area as well but wasn't our day.

We had the same problem on Sunday but there were many others around us with the same "luck" .  When they showed up on sonar they usually bit but weren't always caught. Just wonder if they moved out deeper.
Anyone else have any solutions or ideas?

[Harbisgirl]

How is the ice out on Cocolalla today? Just drove by and nobody is out there.  Sure has been warm the last few days

[TOMINATER]

How is the ice out on Cocolalla today? Just drove by and nobody is out there.  Sure has been warm the last few days

I second this, but for any lakes around here too. I want to go Friday evening and hoping the ice is still good anywhere in north Idaho.