Ice cold fun
<p>During a family ice fishing excursion on Fernan Lake, Jason Nichols drops his line into a hole as first-time ice fisher Madison Nichols, 10, watches his technique Saturday afternoon.</p>
<p>Jason Nichols baits his line for pike with a trout Saturday during an ice fishing outing with his family on Fernan Lake.</p>
<p>The Nichols family waits on the ice of Fernan Lake for fish to bite on Saturday.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Jennifer Sunell-Hornbeck knows there's more to ice fishing than just catching fish.
"It's something you can do with all your family," she said.
The Post Falls resident spent time atop frozen Fernan Lake with her husband, parents and daughters while attempting to capture the fish that swam below the ice Saturday.
"It's just hanging out with family, and everything is so pretty," said Jennifer's mom, Aggie Sunell of Priest River. "It doesn't matter if you catch any fish or not."
Aggie and Jennifer combined have more than 60 years of ice fishing experience, but this was their first time going out on Fernan.
"We've driven by it many times but we've never fished here," Aggie said.
Using worms for bait, 16-year-old daughter Mackenzie Sunell caught a trout in the early afternoon.
"She was screaming," Aggie said with a smile.
"Yeah, I was excited," Mackenzie said.
The temperature was in the mid-30s as the sun shined on the nearly two dozen brave souls who ventured out onto the ice.
"I think it's a fascination," Buddy Hornbeck said. "Here, you see the lake all summer long and then all of a sudden people are out on top of it. It's kind of cool." Hornbeck has been ice fishing since he was a kid.
The whole lake is frozen right now, but thick enough for ice fishers and skaters to enjoy seasonal recreation. Holes bored in the ice by fishers showed anywhere from six to about 10 inches of solid ice.
"This you can drive your truck on," said Shawn Green of Coeur d'Alene. Although he didn't catch anything Saturday, "last weekend me and my boy caught almost a dozen" trout and perch, he said.
Green had trekked into the middle of the lake with his ice drill and fishing equipment. He said he enjoys being outside and has been an ice fisherman for about five years.
"For most people, it's not appealing because it's so cold out," he said. "It's just something to get you out of the house. Better than sitting playing video games."
Jason and Tammy Nichols of Liberty Lake brought their 10-year-old daughter Madison and 8-year-old son Jackson out for a day of family fishing fun. It was a new adventure for Tammy and the children.
"It's exciting when you catch a fish," Madison said.
"But it's boring when you don't catch anything," Jackson chimed in.
The kids talked about catching a crab or a snake, making everyone laugh.
"It's nice to be out in the sun," Tammy said. "And just kind of be in the world around you, and get the kids outside and away from the electronics and all the TVs and everything and let them see what else is out there in the world."