North Idaho Ice

[BlueDuck]

Pretty common for ice fishing this late in the season.  I think it has to do with lower oxygen in the water.  Sometimes I have better luck with trout fishing about 4' under the ice in the later ice season.  Good luck.  Think Ill stick a fork in it for this year and get the boat ready.

[Idahoice77]

Who is ready  for early ice 

[BlueDuck]

It's probably just teasing us this early, but Ill be out there as soon as it's ready.

[houlzhouse]

Heck yea!

[CMS]

Chase lake appears to be fully caped but probably pretty thin

[smitty661]

Time to get my gear ready for the season! If gas wasn’t so pricey I would take a drive and check out some spots. Hopefully thanksgiving week.

[aza10]

All the ponds in the Sagle area are capped. Noticed some ice on the northwest side of the long ridge too. Might get out tomorrow and check a few lakes out.

[houlzhouse]

Has anyone here fished before?

[houlzhouse]

Fished McArthur before

[Joe34]

Has anyone checked Mirror lake or Gamlin/Gamble lake around Sagle?

It's about 12 degrees right now. We're getting close! 

[plfish]

Had a friend talk with someone who was on Chase yesterday.  Evidently 4” of ice out there…but not sure if it’s that thick over the middle.  It’s been below zero that last few mornings at Priest Lake airstrip….so conditions have been good for making ice.

[houlzhouse]

I was the guy your friend talked to-I went all the way to the middle and its all 4"+.  Not a lot of fish however.  Iced 1 and lost 1 perch over 4 hours. . They were both jumbos though

[houlzhouse]

Joe-went to gamlin on saturday-most of the lake is capped but only about 1-1&1/2".  Definitely not safe yet.  Kelso is about 1/3 capped.  Granite had just an edge.

[Idaho Panhandler]

Thanks for the ice report houlzhouse

[houlzhouse]

anyone checked out freeman or blue lake?  I'm figuring they should be close.

[smitty661]

I’m curious to know as well. I’d like to go tomorrow but don’t want to make the drive if they aren’t safe.

[Joe34]

Joe-went to gamlin on saturday-most of the lake is capped but only about 1-1&1/2".  Definitely not safe yet.  Kelso is about 1/3 capped.  Granite had just an edge.

Thanks for the report houlzhouse

[Ratso-jig]

Freeman had 4 inches clear ice Sunday.  My son and I fished it for a couple hours.   Went. Out quite a ways and same thickness ice.   Hope to try it again.
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[smitty661]

Thank you! How was the bite?

[Ratso-jig]

Slow.  Never fished it before.  Hope to get up there this weekend.   Water depth where I went was 12 feet.

[jagmt]

Freeman had 4 inches clear ice Sunday.  My son and I fished it for a couple hours.   Went. Out quite a ways and same thickness ice.   Hope to try it again.
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Was there any snow on Freeman yet?

[Idaho Panhandler]

Fished freeman today. 4” of clear ice covered by 2 inches of slop below a thin crust. Slow bite. All small perch.

[Ratso-jig]

Thanks for info.  Heading up there this morning.  Have you heard if any other lakes are ready besides up in Bonner.

[smitty661]

Anyone check blue lake? I fished freeman yesterday too. I drove by upper twin and it was capped. I didn’t check how thick.

[Ratso-jig]

Probably go check some lakes today means it is so windy.   

[BlueDuck]

Checked out Round lake yesterday (Sat.) .   Totally skimmed over but less then an inch.  As I drove by Cocolalla in the morning it had some ice.  Going home in the afternoon the wind took it all away. 

[Idaho Panhandler]

Thanks for info.  Heading up there this morning.  Have you heard if any other lakes are ready besides up in Bonner.

Nothing yet… looking forward to seeing what this cold weather will do for us.

[Ratso-jig]

Fished Freeman today.  Frozen solid no slop.  Bite was good.  Not monsters but fun.   

[Idaho Panhandler]

Good to hear! Thanks for the update. I hope this snow doesn't prevent the ice from building.

[Ratso-jig]

That is what I am concerned about.   Kinda wondering about jewel..