North Idaho Ice

[houlzhouse]

I second raynebid's question about kokanee rigs-I tried silver and gold Swedish pimples at mirror last week with mild success (iced 3 ) and would like to do better.  I was thinking of putting a 4-5" dropper on the pimple with a waxie jig/maggot or a bead head nymph of some kind.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Idahogator]

The brightest pink small jig with one spike on it is a good start.   

[RayneBidziil22]

I got the depth and the rigs for spirit lake finally got a kokanne through the ice  first time  (it's funner to ice fish for them vs trolling) I'm going back out tomorrow

[IceChatter]

I'll second IdahoGator:  small, bright pink single hook, one maggot.  Small presentations baitwise. don't be afraid of really small.  If you figure out what Kokanee want day in and day out.... I bow...because it's voo-doo.  About 5 years ago (maybe longer? maybe 8?) we had a good winter like this, and I was one of many in a group ice fishing Spirit.  The guy next to me (maybe 20 yards away) was killing it, and I didn't get a strike.  Then a couple days later, I was catching fish consistently and my dad was next to me without a hit. Same setup.  Voo Doo I tell you.

The goto rig at that time is called a "bead chain".  Black Sheep stocks them, just ask the fishing counter. It's far from fancy: just a slender silver weight with one spinner and a couple bead chains on each side.  Tie a single, very small bright pink hook about three to four inches below the bead chain (there's plenty of opinion of how long this leader should be).  Tip with one maggot.

My personal opinion is that the bead chain can be replaced with alot of different weight choices. Spoons, swedish pimples, whatever has some flash to get their attention.  The key is using a leader to get the small presentation away from whatever weight and flash you are using to get it down there.  Essentially you can see it as  a mini-rig of what you troll in the summer.

Something else I noticed:  The guys out there that were really good (I wasn't one of them) would jig the bait pretty intensely, stop, then VERY slowly, raise their rods.  This is specifically because the bite is SO light that many times you won't feel it, and that slight raise will drive the hook point, they'll feel just a little resistance, and boom.

I approach the light bite problem differently, and although I think I'm smart, the bead chain veterans would show up on the ice later than me, and leave with their limit while I was still trying to break single digits.   The bead chain is a 1/4 ounce weight.  I go instead with a really light, thin spoon (with the same 3 to 4 inch leader) in the 1/16th ounce range, and use a sensitive spring bobber (the heavier weight overloads the spring bobber).  I do basically the same thing, but then I visually watch the spring bobber for strikes.

Sacrificing a live chicken before hitting the ice might work too...I'm not sure.



 

[Idahogator]

Sacrificing a live chicken before hitting the ice might work too...I'm not sure.

Here's a candidate:           
                                       

[CMS]

I think killing that chicken would be more therapeutic than sacrificial for whoever poured that mud. Is there any size to the Kokanee at spirit?

[RayneBidziil22]

I been seeing 6-11" kokanne and the two I've caught were 7" 10"  really hard finding hem without a sonar (if anyone has one that works and they would be willing to sell plus let me do payments on that would be nice)

[houlzhouse]

Thanks to all who replied Rayne, Gator, Chatter- this is great info-heading out to mirror again on Thursday to give it a go.  Hopefully weather settles down

[RayneBidziil22]

ok so I have a question where on Priest Lake are people ice fishing cause I really want to try for those lake trout  I'm going to be loned some jigs  to fish with hope to get one one tip-ups and some on rod and reel in am very interested in interviewing trying to get them also what part of Sandpoint is frozen in heard from the scuttlebutt that guys are fishing there and getting whitefish

[BIGxJIMxSLADE]

I second raynebid's question about kokanee rigs-I tried silver and gold Swedish pimples at mirror last week with mild success (iced 3 ) and would like to do better.  I was thinking of putting a 4-5" dropper on the pimple with a waxie jig/maggot or a bead head nymph of some kind.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Both times I have been to Mirror, there have been 2 or 3 guys that are waaay out on the lake, to the right, and they limit out each time I have seen them. Of course, they also said they were not on IceShanty, but they were friendly. I'm sure they would tell/show you what they were using. I saw the guys one setup, and he had a beaded spinner weight, and a glow hook with maggot about 5 inches under it. I didn't see/ask if he had electronics. Most of the folks there told us that it's more about location for the kokanee than anything else.

[uprivercasey]

Planning on heading up this week end to the chain lakes. I hope it's a good idea. If anyone has any info on ice conditions I would appreciate it.

[Vandal78]

Seen a guy fishing Cave lake yesterday. The creek has been running a lot of water and with this next storm probably will be running pretty good. I imagine the ice is still pretty thick, but have not verified myself.

[uprivercasey]

Thanks for the info..... Go vandals

[spiltmilt]

Sorry for the absence been mostly chasing fish on the rivers.

Fished Mirror yesterday. Lots and lots of little kokanee most at 15-20'. Caught most of them on deadsticks with size 18 fly 'scud' hook with a pink maggot. Caught a nice Rainbow and a few kokanee on a small jigging Rap perch pattern.

Ice is 15" thick and snow is heavily crusted with powder beneath halfway up to the knees or higher in places. Its a slog.

[RayneBidziil22]

what mirror lake is everyone talking about

[Idahogator]

Rayne, Hwy 95 North to Sagle, turn right on Sagle Road, drive a ways, take Talache Road, a right turn, to the lake.

Note: There is a Conoco station on the west side of Hwy 95 at Sagle Road, turn east 4.6 miles.     

[DEER4DINNER]

Any recent reports from Hayden Sportsman's? 

[IceChatter]

Got a buddy that pretty much lives out there in the winter, waiting patiently for big trophy pike.  Ran into him at the grocerty store a few days ago and he said it's been really slow this year for some reason. 

[Jraystevens21]

I'm new here. I'm planning on heading up to Freeman lake has anyone been there or know how the ice is? Or any info on the chain lakes? As a backup plan.   Thank you.

[CMS]

Was at freeman a few weeks ago, there was about 10" of ice. Fishing was slow. The road in was just packed down not plowed so I would imagine it is rotten now so might have to walk in from the main road

[WinterWizard]

we limited on Spirit last week 3 different times (Kokanee). The ice was 12 plus inches. Most were caught 20 feet deep in 80-85 feet of water. Most were caught using a small Jig-n-Rap or #8 glow hooks tipped with red Fire corn or maggots. The ones we got were 8.5" up to 10". Used the Nautilus Rd ramp. Sonar really helps.

[Jraystevens21]

Was at freeman a few weeks ago, there was about 10" of ice. Fishing was slow. The road in was just packed down not plowed so I would imagine it is rotten now so might have to walk in from the main road

How far of a walk in is it? I'm just not sure what considered the main road. Or is it just the Freeman lake access road and walk down to the boat ramp?

[CMS]

It might be 1/4 to the lake from where the access road takes off of Campbell's' driveway not from the county road. Not sure how parking would be if he has plowed his driveway and made a burm, if I im out and about tommorow I'll swing over and check.

[Jraystevens21]

That would be awesome for an update thank you yeah we
Where planning a trip Saturday hopfuly it gets cold again
To freeze up the slush.

[houlzhouse]

Hit Cocalalla yesterday.  10" of slush on top of 12" of good ice-Rain made a complete mess.  Iced 15 brook and one 17" rainbow.  Pink rat finkee jig with a worm right on the bottom in 25' of water.

[willrile4]

Is the ice going to hold up through the weekend? Want to come up on sunday.

[idahnt]

Hit Cocalalla yesterday.  10" of slush on top of 12" of good ice-Rain made a complete mess.  Iced 15 brook and one 17" rainbow.  Pink rat finkee jig with a worm right on the bottom in 25' of water.

Any perch action Cocolalla?

[houlzhouse]

Idahnt-No Perch where we were which was straight off the boat launch-maybe others can chime in where they normally are in Cocalalla-they've got to be there don't they?

[houlzhouse]

Anyone been on Avondale lately?-how's the bite?

[RayneBidziil22]

if you have a sonar you can find the fish they have been getting hit way to hard so go further out go past the willow and big Rock, please try going there you might get more fish cause I know it's bad if I can't even get one fish in a 3 hours period  so yeah as a local fishermen help out and spread the word go out further from the spot everyone's been hitting it hard