Ice fishing heats back up on lakes

The ice on Fernan Lake is 6 to 7 inches thick, making for a great environment to catch perch, bluegill, bass or trout, said Jeff Smith, owner of Fins and Feathers Tackle Shop in Coeur d'Alene.

For panfish, fish close to the bottom at 15 to 20 feet with a glow jig and maggots.

"The numbers for perch have been really good and you get a variety of sizes," Smith said.

Trout can generally be found higher up in the 12-foot range, a few feet off the bottom.

"You can use just a hook and worm, but they will also take regular ice jigs with maggots," Smith said.

Smith said Cocolalla Lake and Avondale Lake are also offering good ice fishing for perch and bluegill.

Larger boaters are still trolling Lake Coeur d'Alene for Chinook salmon at 80 to 100 feet.

"The best area is still probably Carlin Bay," Smith said. "Try trolling an 8-inch glow flasher with a Grateful Dead mini squid."

Anglers can keep two salmon over 20 inches. Most being caught are 5 to 8 pounds, Smith said.

Steelhead fishing on the Clearwater from Orofino to Lewiston is still strong, based on the number of anglers buying jigs, Smith said. Most are 8 to 12 pounds.

Steve Holweg of Cabela's said three fishermen at the Post Falls store recently had a lot of success ice fishing on Hauser Lake.

"Bluegill, perch, bass, catfish ... everything was working for them," he said. "They were using small jigs and fishing slow. The fish were definitely on the prowl and looking for something to eat."

Holweg said recent colder weather and snow have solidified ice fishing on area lakes, but he said anglers should still use caution, especially as the days warm up.

Meanwhile, Blake Becker of Black Sheep Sporting Goods said keep working the ice fishing exactly as you have been all winter.

Nothing much has changed, and ice fishing is the fishing of choice now. Smaller lakes such as Hauser, Fernan and Twin, are especially popular destinations.

The best bet right now are Rapala vertical jigs, which are landing bass, perch and trout on the Twin lakes, lakes Fernan and Cocolalla, or any body of water where panfish swim, he said.

Bluegill and crappie fish are chasing small Ratso jigs and perch, size 10 or so. Add a maggot on the end of it too for the best bet. Overall, the smaller the better, Becker said, so if you can, find 1/32 ounce or 1/64 ounce sized jigs.

Really, most any jig or spoon is the best thing going right now.

Pike are going after dead bait like herring or smelt with steel leaders. The best ice fishing for those is on the Chain Lakes.

This should be the steady pattern until the spring when bass fishing returns.

"Winter's not over yet." Becker said.