Ice Fishing Offers Cure for Cabin Fever

By Phil Cooper, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Blank stares into holes in the ice, uncontrolled shivering, numbness in the feet and hands - maybe in the brain; it must be ice fishing season again. Most waters in the Idaho panhandle are open to ice fishing. But before we get far into the discussion it is important that anyone interested in ice fishing carefully review the regulations for dates and species or size restrictions on the many waters in our area - and buy a new 2008 fishing license. Once you know the regulations for the location you would like to fish, the next question must be, "Is the ice safe to support a person?" The safe load that ice will bear is not dependent entirely on its thickness. At least 3 inches - preferably 4 - of clear, blue ice will support a single angler. Five inches will hold several anglers in single file. Eight inches is needed for safe operation of a snowmobile. If you want to drive your truck on the ice, please go to Minnesota. Northern Idaho ice is never safe for that. Thickness is not the only consideration. How the ice formed and the weather following formation are important to the integrity of ice. Slush ice is only about half as strong as clear ice, so anglers should double the minimum thickness figures when encountering such conditions. Ice weakens with age. Late in the season, when it turns dark and gets "honeycombed," it's time to quit for the season. A cold snap sometimes halts the deterioration, but honeycombed ice will never refreeze to its original strength. Any lake with moving water in it, whether from an inlet canal, springs, groundwater seepages or an outlet, should be regarded with skepticism. Water movement, no matter how slight; will retard freezing. This often leaves hard to detect thin spots. Be suspicious of any discolored ice. Imbedded materials, such as weeds or logs, also weaken ice. Large objects in or on the ice, such as abandoned duck blinds or ice shanties, can absorb the sun's heat and weaken ice. Ice near shore may also be weakened by heat from the ground. Anglers, skaters, snow mobile riders and others need to keep in mind that a sudden warm spell can change conditions quickly and that caution must always be used before venturing forth on ice covered lakes. If the weather changes; conditions can quickly change. When anglers auger holes in the ice, water will often come up through the hole onto the surrounding ice. This water freezes and can make the ice in such locations thicker. This can lead people to believe the ice on a lake is thicker than it actually is. Keep in mind the fact the ice is only as safe as the weakest point that you need to walk across. Idaho Fish and Game regional fisheries manager Ned Horner checked out the ice on area lakes the last week of December. Some in the Coeur d'Alene area still had thin ice. The existing ice layer had been thin when lots of snow fell. The snow created an insulating blanket that kept the ice from growing thicker. Ice in the lateral lakes was quite thin, as was ice in Rose Lake. Avondale and Fernan Lakes had only 2 1/2 to 3 inches of ice. Lakes north of Coeur d'Alene had thicker ice before the heavy snowfall of December 26 and 27, so those lakes were all in good shape. Upper Twin had more than 6 inches on much of the lake. Lakes in Boundary County were well frozen with good ice. But conditions can change quickly and water currents can cause ice to become thin in spots - caution is essential. Carrying a spud bar and tapping the ice in front of you before taking your next step can help prevent an accident. Northern Idaho offers some excellent ice fishing for yellow perch and northern pike. Also available at times are crappie, bluegill, bass, cutthroat, and rainbow. For yellow perch and other pan fish, auger a few holes until you find a spot about 20 to 25 feet deep. Fish just above the bottom using maggots, cut bait or black maribou jigs. Occasional movement of your bait or lure seems to trigger strikes. Those who prefer to catch trout should fish no deeper than 15 feet. Any type of the bait additives adding scent or color will likely improve your success. Places where action should be good - provided the ice is solid - include Avondale, Upper Twin, Cocolalla, Rose, Round and Fernan Lakes. Hayden Lake and Coeur d'Alene Lake can be productive for pike when well frozen. Use smelt or herring 3 to 4 feet below the ice. Ice anglers are permitted five lines, but any more than two or three are difficult to keep baited and watched at one time. Holes may be no more than 10 inches in diameter for safety reasons. I once took a phone call from an angler complaining that the fish he was catching were too big and he couldn't get them through the 10 inch hole. I told him I'd better check it out for myself. But he wouldn't tell me where he was fishing. After safety considerations, the second most important thing to remember is that a new license was required as of January 1. Good luck, be safe and stay warm. For more information, look us up on the Web at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. Phil Cooper is the conservation educator in the Panhandle Region.