Fish Tips

Posted: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008 - 08:29:13 pm PST
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Mike Satren

Resolve to fish more

Randy Johnson of Sportsman's Warehouse plans to fish more in 2009, that's his New Year's resolution. He wanted to be on the water 100 days last year but because of the super cold and snowy weather recently, had to settle for 97. He's planning to fish 100 days this year, come snell or high water.

The problem for newly dedicated New Year's anglers is how to begin.

"All I've done, like everybody else, is shovel snow," said Jeff Smith of Fins & Feathers. "It's tough to get around."

That's made it a chore to get to the Clearwater River for steelhead and it's been hard to tromp through the snow on ice that's questionable to begin with.

"The tackle shop's been a lonely place these last couple weeks," he said. "Hopefully it'll all catch up and it'll all break at once."

2009 hunting

and fishing licenses

Idaho hunters and fishermen will need new licenses today and that includes new steelhead permits and migratory bird validations. Federal duck stamps are good until the end of the season, however.

Ice fishing

As cold as it's been the last two weeks, the ice on area lakes remains questionable.

Round Lake is the exception with good 4- to 5-inch ice.

"We got a good report from Round Lake, they were catching perch and trout up there," Smith said.

The perch are smallish but plentiful.

Cave Lake on the Chains also has solid 5-inch ice throughout most of it.

"Anytime you've got these snow conditions, of course, you're going to have to drill your holes as you go," Smith said. "The conditions can change depending on how that snow's sitting and where it's sitting."

That means drill now and drill often, about every 20 feet or so.

"If it starts to change, then you should probably back off," he said. "If you start seeing the ice condition change or if its thickness changes, you should turn around, because you don't want to take that step too many."

A few guys have been out on Avondale and besides a few perch, they caught largemouth bass on Swedish Pimples tipped with a maggot, said Josh Kinghorn of Black Sheep Sporting goods.

The ice has been reported from 3 to 4 inches thick, which is marginal.

"With this last thaw, it probably didn't help too much," Kinghorn said. "Other than that, I've talked to a lot of people and the lakes just aren't there yet."

Johnson concurs but he's skeptical about just about all area ice right now.

Tall rubber boots are recommended and maybe even insulated waders, Smith said.

The snow has melted and become slush making it sloppy going on the ice. In places where the snow has packed down creating a slop, one cold night will freeze it.

"It doesn't really add to the strength of the ice, per se," he said. "But it makes it a lot easier to walk."

Where that may not work is in places where the slush down against the ice is still insulated by a thick layer of snow.

"When you've got 2 feet of real snow and underneath you've got some slop, well, that almost never freezes," Smith said.

Coeur d'Alene kokanee

New Year's Day marks a new season for Lake Coeur d'Alene kokanee, too. The 2008 season was closed following the Labor Day weekend after Fish and Game biologists determined that spawning-age numbers were marginal.

The limit is six salmon per day per person comprised of any combination of chinook or kokanee.

Chinook

It's been too cold to go salmon fishing during the last couple weeks but the temperatures are back up into the 20s where trolling becomes feasible again.

"These darned fish have gotten a rest for too long now," Smith said. "I'm sure a guy could go out there and get some action."

The only time Smith has been in his boat was to take friends across the lake to shovel snow off their float houses.

"One float house that we checked was pretty much half in the water," he said. "But it popped right up when you got the snow off."

Smith shoveled the docks at Silver Beach Marina that were getting heavy, too.

Another problem for salmon fishermen who don't keep their boats in slips is the sorry state of the boat launches.

The Third Street boat launch and maybe Boothe Park could work after they get plowed but winter boat launching is always a little tricky.

"If it quits snowing for a few days, where they get caught up, they'll probably make a couple of swipes," Smith said. "Some snow plowing fishing-friendly truck driver will make a swipe down through the launches when they get time.

"They just haven't had any yet."

Steelhead

The spring steelhead season begins today and the first order of business is to get a new fishing license and steelhead permit for 2009.

The good news is that steelhead fishing has improved. The bad news is that driving conditions have kept local folks from enjoying it.

"If you get any window of opportunity, that whole North Fork is good fishing right now," Smith said. "It seems like -- at least for that section -- it's been peaking."

Actually there are fish throughout the system now so just about anywhere on the Clearwater will produce steelhead.

It's just easier to find a place to fish from shore on the North Fork.

"Everything's OK and it's kind of nice cause it hasn't been overly pressured," he said. "There's a lot of fish in there."

Fly fishing

The best advice for fly anglers is to read books, watch videos, tie flies or build a new rod.

Those who really hanker to throw flies should drive west of Spokane to Crab Creek or Rocky Ford where spring water keeps water temperatures conducive for trout fishing. Just remember that these trout have seen it all.

Really hard-up fly fishermen may need a mid-winter fishing vacation to warmer climes.

Mike Satren is the Hagadone News Network outdoors editor. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2015, or by e-mail at msatren@cdapress.com. Remember to review appropriate rules and regulations before fishing.