Northwest Fishing Reports

Here comes the cold weather. I have heard some early reports of ice forming. Can't wait with how disappointing last year was being so warm. Anyway please post ice thickness and whether or not you fished. As always stay safe and good luck everyone.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! You guys are welcome to it

any lakes you would advise to check out in the cascades ?

Fish lake is good for trout and perch

I came home to Spokane from the Sammamish area yesterday. I saw ice on the water at Moses lake and Sprague Lake was frozen completely over. It was hard to guess how thick the ice was at either location but both looked to be more than just a skim.

I was hoping to get my tip ups over to Idaho in a few days but I suppose the warmup in three days will ruin that. C'mon jack frost!

1/2" around the edges on Moses, open water 50 yards out.

Anybody been around the North Central lakes? Colder and some smaller waters might make a quicker freeze.

There have been at least 40 people fishing the I90 bridge area at Moses, Not sure the ice thickness. It was just open a week ago so guessing around 2-3".

Ive been wanting to go winter whitefish fishing at Banks ever since I watched the video on the WDFW site - with my boat - NOT via ice fishing.

After reading about the big El Nino we are having and how it was going to give us another nice warm and dry winter, I really had my hopes up.

Well, so much for long range forecasts, global warming and El Ninos! The forecast for Banks for the next week is highs in the mid 20's and lows down to 10!

Guess I'll stay home - nice and dry and warm

Well, either people are protecting their local lakes, or it's not freezing the same across the northern lakes. They're fishing on Moses, but I don't know the ice thickness. I do know it's thicker now than yesterday, and looks like it will continue for a while. Anything on Sprague or farther north?

Moses Lake is still to thin. The local authorities are begging people to stay off. One person already fell threw yesterday. My Brother checked it last night and there is MAYBE 2 inches and it is not clear solid ice at all. At the current temperatures you can expect 1-1/2 inches per 24 hours but again the ice is weak. There isn't a fish alive worth my life. Nor would I want to put the life of a rescue worker in jeopardy. Be smart people and stay off until it gets harder and thicker.

Thanks for the Moses update I was thinking about a run perhaps Sunday. I might just have to postpone it for a week.
Buddy from work went to Eloika last weekend and went thru to his Bravery Markers. He is also sitting it out for a while.

Thanks for the Moses update I was thinking about a run perhaps Sunday. I might just have to postpone it for a week.
Buddy from work went to Eloika last weekend and went thru to his Bravery Markers. He is also sitting it out for a while.

Talked to a guy today that was headed out by I90 bridge and he said it was about 2-3". I guess two people fell through yesterday as they got to close to the bridge. One thing you have to keep in mind there is the current and it will make the ice thinner. Even though there was 50+ people out there yesterday I would say it's still not safe it's a cloudy snow covered ice. Be smart people and if you go out don't take the young kids out without at least a life jacket. I saw several kids running around out there, not good

I fished Curlew yesterday....kinda. 2 inches of partially frozen mush over 1 to 1.5 inches of hard ice. We Had to use ropes and hang onto or close to dock at state park and trestle up north. The snow and mush is insulating against much ice accumulation. Got skunked on muskies and perch to boot.

40 -50 people again on Moses, ice just fine, if you stay away from the bridge. If you don't, you shouldn't be allowed in the outdoors. Ever. We had 4" where we were. Unfortunately the fish were S-L-O-W all over the area. They are smaller this year so far. May not have moved in fully yet. South of the bridge was empty, and the ice looked suspiciously wet. Still, great day to be out. Oh, and called Big Wally's, and Banks isn't in action yet, other than the North end for trout and whitefish in open water, according to them anyway.

Any body fish eloika or silver yet

I was out on Silver Sunday morning, ice is about 4.5 inches. we were getting bites as soon as we hit bottom, but nothing of decent size for perch.

I fished Eloika on Sunday. Ice is at 5.5-6 inches. Basically it is 4-5 inches of very cloudy ice and one inch of solid clear ice after a small layer of water between. Not the safest yet, but we have it a go with no problem.