Fishing with Uncle Bud "Ice Fishing Report" - Boundary County, Idaho
By: Bud Larsen
Fishing with Uncle Bud...
In spite of warm weather fronts coming and going the past couple of weeks, we have a classic case of Cabin Fever here in Boundary County. The fishermen are not alone in this year’s Cabin Fever crisis … nope, not by far. Even the notably hardy snowmobile’s are getting a taste of the fever as heavy icing in the higher elevations makes for some real hazardous trails.
Ice fishing reports are few and far between as the “fever” along with some bitter cold weather and snow kept even the most dedicated ice fisherman home. Moderate weather right now has been sort of a motivator as we are seeing more and more fishermen and their families out on the ice.
Access to most lakes is pretty good given the heroic efforts of the county and state snow plowing efforts. You’ll find the majority of our rural roads hard packed with snow and fit for driving. Don’t, I repeat don’t travel the back roads of our county during the winter unless you have a local with you as a guide. End of lecture … back to ice fishing.
The thought of fresh caught perch for lunch or dinner is a pretty good motivator to break out of the Cabin Fever mode. Would rate perch fishing this year as fair with ice up to 18” thick on the majority of our lakes. Our local “pros” are getting decent perch in the 6-8” range along with a few 10”. Black or brown wooly bugger with a maggot is the mainstay lure for us when it comes to perch and bass. A small Swedish Pimple with colored maggots will get you a stringer of trout on Smith and Sinclair lakes. Blue gill and crappie are few and far between. You will get a lot of sunfish (red ears) on Dawson.
Never ice fished? You’ve got to try it and I promise you and yours will enjoy the experience. Even the most rambunctious child will quiet down as they seem to be fascinated staring down through an 8” hole waiting for that “bump” in their line.
Now excuse your Uncle Bud once more for lecturing … we want you out on the ice enjoying our bountiful winter ice fisheries but; we don’t want you on the ice without a guide if you’ve never ice fished. Sure, the ice is thick enough to support you as you read the charts but can you “read” the ice? A local will know and rate the stability of the ice as he or she drills/chips their fishing hole as the color and stratums caused by light snow that thaw then freeze trapping weaker snow packs.
Should you visit us during the winter, and I hope you will, give Kirsten a email hit or call and tell her you would like to do some ice fishing but have never tried it. She will contact me and I, or one of my ice-fishing buddies will give you a guided tour of ice fishing. We want you enjoy our fisheries and remain safe while doing it. Stop by Far North Outfitters for your fishing license and shop Butch Shorts extensive inventory of ice fishing tackle.
Butch or his staff will also tip you off on which lakes are producing right now.
Tight lines to all of you …
..... Note from Kirsten........
Thank You Uncle Bud for providing us such awesome information. I am anxiously awaiting the publication of your new book. If anybody would like more information on Uncle Bud's upcoming publication please feel free to email kirsten@shelmanrealty.com all inquiries will be forwarded directly to our very own Uncle Bud also keep a watch on this site for updates on how to obtain a copy of your own. Kirsten