Ring in the New Year with new adventures

NCW - Mention the word "ice" and the first thing that comes to mind is hazardous driving conditions, scraping your windshield or ice cubes dispensed from a refrigerator. But when it makes an appearance on a lake in the winter, ice can be an angler's best friend.

Ice fishing east of the Cascades is an exciting way to extend your time on the water and offers a decent chance to catch a variety of fish. Due to the early and extended cold temperatures, many lakes already have a sufficient layer of ice on them although there are safety parameters to follow before heading out the door.

"Fourth of July and Hog Canyon are two of the most popular ice fishing destinations around the Spokane area for trout," reports WDFW central district fish biologist Randy Osborne. "Fourth of July has rainbow trout up to 22 inches. The fish at Hog Canyon are a bit smaller, ranging 13 to 16 inches, but still provide plenty of action."

For yellow perch anglers, arguably the best fishery in Spokane Region 1 area is found at Curlew Lake in Ferry County. Jump Off Joe, Sacheen, and Waitts lakes are great winter options as well. Newman Lake in eastern Spokane County is a popular yellow perch fishing spot due to its' proximity to the city, and it also has decent black crappie.

Lake Thomas and Lake Gillette in the Little Pend Oreille chain of lakes in northeast Washington offer very good numbers of yellow perch, rainbow trout and black crappie.

In Adams County, Sprague Lake is known for its' great winter ice fishing, although if you follow the local fishing forums, you may be under the impression it is frozen all year-round. That's just local lore, but the rumors about the fishing being good aren't wrong. You can catch a good selection of trout, yellow perch, and crappie.

Fish Lake in Chelan County, about 16 miles north of Leavenworth, offers good fishing for yellow perch, kokanee, and rainbow trout through the ice in the winter than it does the rest of the year. There are lots of ice fishing options in Grant County, with some of the most popular being Banks Lake, Moses Lake, and Potholes Reservoir.

Dog Lake in Yakima County is a popular ice fishing option and Clear Lake, also on Highway 12, should produce some decent size brook trout as well and possibly some rainbow trout from this year's stocking.

Safety the top priority

As always, use extreme caution, have a plan and be careful anytime you venture out onto an ice-covered lake. WDFW is not able to monitor ice depth, which can be unpredictable from day-to-day, so when fishing lakes with ice on them, there are some safety tips to keep in mind. You can find information on the WDFW's ice fishing webpage.

The number one rule is never fish alone -- think of the buddy system -- let folks at home know about your fishing trip plans and don't be the first one to venture out on the ice. Spread your fishing group out on a lake to avoid too much weight on one area of ice.

Ice needs to be a minimum of four inches thick to walk on. Use an auger or chainsaw to measure it and make multiple holes to check as you work your way out to where you plan to fish. Four inches is the minimum safe thickness to be on the ice or to go ice fishing; five to six inches is needed to support ATVs or snowmobiles; eight to 12 inches is necessary before you can safely drive onto the ice with a car or small truck; and 12 to 15 inches of ice is the minimum if you have a medium-sized truck.

Bring a spare set of warm clothes, just in case you get wet.

Initiate a safety plan on how to rescue someone if they fall through the ice-covered lake. Falling through the ice into the water can lead to hypothermia and drowning.

Consider purchasing an ice pick and steel spikes connected by a cord and worn around the neck. If someone falls in, the spikes can be driven into the ice to offer a stable handhold for the person to pull themselves out. They are very inexpensive and just might be a lifesaver.

Floating rope to throw to someone who has fallen into the water. Get a long length as ice near the edge of a hole can be fragile and continue to break off.

Some people purchase spud bars, a long piece of steel with a tapered point that can be driven into the ice to determine how thick it is without having to drill multiple holes with an auger. Ice conditions on all types of waterbodies can be variable, and just because there is safe ice in one spot doesn't mean it will be safe elsewhere.

Ice cleats are inexpensive and can save you from bumps and bruises from falling on slick ice.

Pay close attention to lake access sites because a location that may be open in the summer could be closed or blocked by snow in the winter. Make sure the parking area or trail to the lake is an easy and safe place to walk. WDFW partners with other agencies to help provide access by maintaining winter parking lots. Also check to make sure overnight parking is allowed if you plan to extend your stay.

Gear to use

Ice fishing is easily accessible and affordable for just about everyone, and anglers should already have most of what they need. Ice fishing essentials include:

Freshwater or combination fishing licenses. Visit the WDFW licensing webpage.

When picking a fishing rod and reel most will use basic trout fishing gear and avoid a heavier salmon type set up. It's not necessary but you can purchase short ice fishing rods that allow you to sit right over your hole at most sporting goods stores and departments for as little as $10. While you don't need anything fancy, you do want something with a sensitive tip to feel a subtle bite.

Bucket to carry gear and sit on.

As for bait or lures a lot of it depends on the fish species you're targeting and be sure to bring a variety of gear. You can stick with nightcrawlers, maggots, salmon eggs or marshmallows or small jigs, spoons, or spinners. Also be sure to bring along a variety of moldable dough baits.

A small old-fashioned hand style auger is lightweight and easy to use. New augers are powered by lithium batteries so make sure they're fully charged before leaving the house. Store your lithium battery in a warm spot like your jacket or else it could run out of battery life. A gas-powered auger also gets the job done. Be sure to carry a scooper so you're not using bare hands to get slush out around the hole.

A map of the lake and lake depths is a good thing to have. Some will even take it to the next level by purchasing a portable electronic fish finder.

Having a sled to store your gear when walking long distances to a spot can save yourself grief from lugging it around in a bucket. This enables you to be mobile and move around the lake when one spot isn't as good as another. It can be as simple as the family snow sled, or one made specifically for ice fishing.

Ice fishing events

The Northwest Ice Fishing Festival is Jan. 14 at Sidley Lake in Okanogan County, located seven miles northeast of Oroville on Molson Lake Road. The event is sponsored by the Oroville Chamber of Commerce. For details, click on the Okanogan Country website.

The Bonaparte Lake Resort Ice Fishing Derby is Jan. 28. The lake is located north of Tonasket in Okanogan County. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. For details, call 509-486-2828 or click on the Bonaparte Lake Resort website.

Statewide wildlife viewing: Winter is a time when elk and bighorn sheep converge on WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area, and visitors can watch them dine on alfalfa hay and pellets. For winter feeding at Oak Creek, there is a recorded message at 509-653-2390. Find the best places for bird watching by exploring routes along the Great Washington State Birding Trail. The annual Christmas Bird Count wraps up on Jan. 5 and early winter counts tally bird numbers by species and provide a valuable snapshot of where birds are concentrated at this time of year across North America.