North Idaho - Did you brave the wind today?

[DEER4DINNER]

Anyone fish today in the wind?  Think I'm going out tomorrow.  Debating on where to go.  Haven't tried Hayden yet.  Hoping the ice is still good there after the wind and rain.  Anyone know? 

Also, any new reports on Fernan?  I talked to one guy that said he saw people slaying the perch at about 1 in the afternoon on Thursday. 

[fowl_language]

I even decided to go to central Washington for the weekend, you know the place with no trees or hills or anything...lol. My sled moved a couple times with me sitting on it!  And got skunk at Potholes 

I might go Fernan next weekend just to have a change of pace.

[DEER4DINNER]

I even decided to go to central Washington for the weekend, you know the place with no trees or hills or anything...lol. My sled moved a couple times with me sitting on it!  And got skunk at Potholes 

I might go Fernan next weekend just to have a change of pace.

Oh yeah I bet that was a ride.  I lost a barbecue grill and the drive gate on my fence today.    

I'm a little worried about Fernan.  It was 48 degrees here today.  Wind and rain can break it up pretty quick.  Doesn't look much better in the 6 day.  Last I was out there, there was only about 7" of ice. 

[fowl_language]

I lost a barbecue grill and the drive gate on my fence today.   

Holy-mooly, I hopefully they're not gone for good, I saw some guy chase a bucket for about 20 yards today and give up.

I'm starting to get worried about all of of our ice this early in the season, we started out with such promising temperatures.  We've warmed up so much the last couple of weeks the refreeze is going to start to drop in the ice and pretty soon we'll end up with 6 inches of garbage ice.  I was getting nervous on 8 inches out here today, the ice bar would go in a good 3 inches on each strike when it should go about 1.  Soft ice scares me for sure.  Meanwhile our eastern brothers are getting 3X the ice they normally see  but I guess we can go outside without a balaclava so maybe I shouldn't complain.

I haven't been up to Fernan for about 3 weeks or so, I hope it holds out till we get a good cold spell.

[DEER4DINNER]

Very true in the East.  They don't need baclava's though.  They all have those fancy $15K ice houses.  I was just in ND (Bismarck) over Christmas and did a little fishin'.  I make it out there every couple years.  While I was there, the ice was a good 3' thick.  The coldest temps were - 30 then.  There's probably closer to 4' of ice now after the most recent cold snap.  Crazy!  We just drove out in the truck, set up some tip-ups, get back in the truck, and watch while we drink coffee.  Pretty nice. 

The gate is hammered.  Ripped it right out of the frame and hit the car.  Luckily just a scuff to the bumper.  The grill blew off the deck, but I think it'll be ok.  Already talked to the insurance agent.  He's pretty sure they'll cover the gate and maybe even the grill if it's broken.

Speaking of chasing a bucket, haha.  We were at Rose Lake last weekend, a little gust came up and took our camp chair about 1/4 mi. Ice was so smooth it never tipped over.  Thankful for ice cleats

[fowl_language]

Lol, yeah fishing over there is a little bit different for sure, it must be nice having permanent shanty's and the ability to use live bait (I miss it for sure).  I went out to ND last year for a project and got to do some fishing on Lake Lamore and some of the smaller ones around it, and one by Bismarck that I can't remember which one now.  We were finding turtles under the ice with radio tags, that was actually a lot of fun.

Glad to here the insurance is working with you, a lot of the time it seems like they want nothing to do with anything "act of god" related.

Man, camp chairs seem to be the best sails, you never know what they're going to do, and I agree about the cleats, I forgot mine this trip i've been scouting around like Ms. Swan from SNL.

[elkhuntinfool]

I went out on Hayden today the ice was still in decent shape when I left this afternoon. I am going back out tomorrow.

[DEER4DINNER]

I went out on Hayden today the ice was still in decent shape when I left this afternoon. I am going back out tomorrow.

Did you do any good?  Fishin' for pike or perch or both?  I'm definitely goin' tomorrow.  Think that's where I'm headed. 

[elkhuntinfool]

It was a slow day we were fishing for pike mainly but did do some perch fishing. Ended up with 1 pike and about 10 small perch. If you go out there stop and say hi I will be in a black carhartt coat and bibs

[DEER4DINNER]

It was a slow day we were fishing for pike mainly but did do some perch fishing. Ended up with 1 pike and about 10 small perch. If you go out there stop and say hi I will be in a black carhartt coat and bibs

Hey I think I chatted with you.  I may have been the guy you talked to when you first got there.  I was by myself.  Told you I had gotten some dinky perch and no pike.  Wearing mismatched camo.  Were you with one other guy and a kid?  I ended up catching about 50 perch.  About 45 of which weren't worth keeping.  Left early and headed to Upper Twin.  Kept another half dozen to make a meal.  Because the wind was coming straight out of the south on Hayden, I thought UT would be more sheltered.  Wrong.  It was snowing hard and blowing harder than it was at Hayden.