New to Ice Fishing

[Welshman]

Hello Folks,I'm new to ice  fishing and have been out two times this month.My grandsons and I have fish Cocolalla twice with no luck.We did have a cow moose run across the lake not far from us this afternoon. Been using jig and live bait still no luck.Need to figure this out would be nice to have something to show.Hope to go out sometime this week and next weekend.Need to but the time in to learn what to do. Be safe

[Idahogator]

A friendly welcome to you, Welshman.

That's gotta be a record, two trips to Cocollala and skunked.    Was your live bait insects and crawlers?   Did you have it/them near the bottom?   Were you more than ten feet from shore or near the center?   Tell us your terminal tackle and we'll/I'll help...

Tom

[bullpine]

Go out to 40 feet of water and drop a 1/10 oz or slightly larger castmaster in say blue and silver with a perch eye and you will catch lots of perch.  Fish just off the bottom and start with a piece of crawler if you can't get a perch eye from someone.  If you do not use strike indicator use a stiff rod so you can feel the bite and reel 'um up.   Nothing bigger than 6 pound line.  4 pound is better I think.  You might pick up a big trout so have you have your drag set right and you can always try some fishing up off the bottom if you get tired of all the perch. 
 

[Welshman]

Idahogator, We had night crawlers and maggots.4 lbs line light ugly stick my jig was Swedish Pimple in red.Was in 40 plus ft of water and jigging the bottom. bullpine,Thanks for the help,Will head to Blacksheep in the morning and look for castmaster.

[Idahogator]

Welshman, a Buckshot Rattle spoon will help call them in, as will a Lindy Perch Talker.     

[Welshman]

Thanks Idahogator,I'm going to town in the morning and will head to Blacksheep.

[Echo 6 Whiskey]

Never posted on here before butt I have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of reading what everyone has to share  its all great and made me a better fisherman and I thank you all. Five or six years ago when I started ice fishing I to had never caught a fish through the ice and I feel your pain. Sounds like you where doing every thing right could have been as simple as to close or far from the bottom. Some days six inches up or down can seal the deal or drilling another hole. Don't always have to more far but I've fish ten feet from some one that got skunked and I've had a great day of fishing it happend to day. If you would like I would be glad to share what it do just name the lake and all be there.

[gillsonice]

Welshman, there are days when the perch will bite all day, but in my experience daylight until 10:30 am is generally the best perch bite. after that it can be slow. If we could only get them to bite on our schedule LOL. advice from gator, bullpine and echo are spot on.

[Welshman]

Thanks everyone for the help.Thinking about going out on Thursday. Gillsonice we hit the ice around 7:00 and fish till moon. I did pick up a Lindy Perch Talker and order four Buckshot Rattle spoon.Going over to WW to see if they have a few Buckshot on hand.Thanks again folks.U All be safe.

[Bonaro70]

Does anyone have any reports from Lake Pend Oreille at Sunny side or at north end of long bridge?  the ice looks good but I have seen non one venturing out.  Perch should be stacking up there.  If anyone hears anything, please post.

[Idahogator]

Bonaro, Sunnyside is is not what it was 6 years ago.  Best stay on trails visible in the snow covering.  With that big snow event a week ago followed by rain, it's a bit sloppy coming off the ice due to daytime warm up.
 I checked on access to the north end of the long bridge two weeks ago at Third St, bad plan without snowshoes. No sign anyone even walked anywhere on the ice, and that may be due to lack of access.

The best access involves a shenanigan. Two or more people could stop and unload on the east side of Hwy95 'turnout' at the north end of the bridges, one stay with all the gear, the other go find parking.  Move the gear to the bike trail, go under the bridge(s) and head west onto the ice.
If you get more fish than you can haul away, call me, ha.     

[Bonaro70]

I hear ya.  I have access across private land at sunnyside near the big rocks.  I have heard of a few folks fishing it at first light but no solid reports of what success thye had.  I know it is lights out smallmouth bass fishing there in June.  Ice season maybe done as the weather looks to be warming up.