Liberty Lake (Spokane) Ice Fishing

[rennad]

Liberty lake opens for fishing on Sunday, anyone know the condition of the ice? Has anyone ice fished it in the past, any good results?

[Anglinarcher]

Liberty lake opens for fishing on Sunday, anyone know the condition of the ice? Has anyone ice fished it in the past, any good results?

Until last year, Liberty lake was always closed until later in the year. Unless someone fished it last year, there is no history to draw from.

In fact, to be absolutly honest, I was going to tell you Liberty was closed, then then I remembered the change.

[Kfedka]

Wish it would get cold for the weekend, the last couple days have been very warm. I might just stop by to check it out on Monday. Let use know if someone does go there.

[TroutCowboy]

Last year the opening weeks were very good, they were pulling very nice browns out -- right from the fishing pier. I hope to get in on that action in my little aluminum boat, I won't battle that zoo with my full-sized boat.

I live about a mile away from the lake, will try to drive by tomorrow and post a report on the ice/open water.

[Kfedka]

Where they ice fishing for the trout or shore fishing. From what I recall last yea I stopped by the first week it was open and there was ice on it, but not safe to walk on.

[TroutCowboy]

I drove down to the lake today and checked out both the launch and the county park. I'm afraid there's enough ice to keep limit your options and not enough ice to walk on for ice fishing. (see pictures below)

The ice is thin and has only pulled back 3-4' from shore. It looks brittle and almost certainly unsafe to walk on. I guess if the fish are hungry enough, they may come that close to shore @ the scent of some power bait or something, but that's about your only option, and at the north launch only.

If it weren't for a broken collarbone i would have tested the ice by prodding at it, but I'll leave that to someone else. You know, that ice looked thin enough that maybe an aluminum boat with an outboard might be able to break up the ice along the shoreline. Or maybe even a couple guys with oars taking whacks at it.

Me, I'll have to wait for another week and more open water. Good luck out there if you go!

Boat Launch, north end


Fishing Pier @ Boat Launch


County Park @ south end

[Kfedka]

Thanks for the pics, the country park looks as if the ice might be good enough to do a little ice fishing.

[TroutCowboy]

well did you go? did anybody go? curious if anyone tried it and how they did.

[Kfedka]

Fished the south end for couple hours on the ice. Used a log to get on the ice, ice is strong for the most part 8 to 10 inches. The lower part of the ice 4 inches or so is very good, from there up it get weaker. Used Swedish pimp, and other ice fishing jigs. It sprinkled rain most of the time, I was there from 3:30 to 5:30. It was slightly windy with temperature in mid 40's.

Caught 2 small blue gill and a smaller perch that had scoliosis. I'm fairly new to Liberty Lake, but last summer caught a lot of crappie on the south end. That is where I mainly fished with little success.

[rennad]

I did not go like i had planned on Sunday#-o but will definitely be giving it a try weds or thurs, will let you know how I do.
Thanks for all the info.