ice fishing

[Ridgeratt]

Cant help you there, I don't ice fish. I could see lots of holes that were not being used, Looked like some had froze over, They could be fairly easy to open back up with a hatchet

A quick ice "fishing etiquette" opinion-

If you come across a hole that is not froze over but nobody seems to be using, look around and see if it's part of a grid of holes that some guys have punched so they can hole-hop.  If you notice that is the case, do not hesitate to ask them to fish the holes you they're not using.  90% of the time you'll get a "Sure, just don't fish one hole in front of me!" type of answer.
Another word about cutting holes with axe's / chainsaws / spuds.  Practically no fish that swims under frozen Washington state waters needs more than a 12" diameter hole to come up through, and 8" diameter covers 99% of ice fishing with ease!  If you cut a hole big enough for a human to fit through, there is the distinct possibility that an unlucky one will if the hole gets a skim of ice back over it and it snows.

Have fun out there!

Very good point's Skillet!!

 If you have a place you need a 12 inch hole to get a fish through I need a lesson. I have never had any problems with using an 8" auger.

Last year I did watch some of our Balkan Friends using a chain saw. They stood behind the bar when they were cuttin. It just looked like a darn Good way to get wet!!

[C-Money]

I stopped today on my way home and talked to a fisherman coming off the lake. said there is 6-7" of solid clear ice.

[plugger]

I walked out aways in front of my daughters house, Easy 6" of ice,   also dead frozen crappie all over in the shallows 3 to 4"ers. Probably 50 people out fishing. Must be catching, more guys every day.

[C-Money]

Strange to see deadloss already. rats!

[206]

I wish I was there. 1 more week, but then the ice will probably be too thin.

Ever notice the stink when cleaning perch?  It's a unique stank that stinks, but they eat good. 

[Bill W]

The ice hasn't started getting any thinner yet.

[plugger]

No worries with the ice, forecast  is mid teens at night, low 30's in the day.  So what causes the fish to die? The ones I saw were in shallow water, less than a foot. My only guess is they stayed shallow to long and got trapped.

[Jingles]

Not out yet this year but I use a chain saw and cut a 12 X 24 inch hole but then I put my 4' x 6' ice house over it. Ice shanty has benches, shelves and wood stove for heat and cooking purposes,soups and hot sandwiches, coffee pot and and a pot for hot water for hot chocolate.
I grew up where shanties were spear shanties where we could also spear the pike through the ice and were often used a overnight refuges by the owners instead of sleeping in their cars/ trucks that they drove out to their shanty. The prime fishing spots also ended up being shanty towns on the ice.
Patterson Lake looks like it is drivable.

[206]

How's fishin?  Moses i90, South Soda?  Coulee City?  Lind Coulee, South end Moses 4 trout (always wanted to ice fish them.

[C-Money]

Huge crowd out on the ice yesterday on Moses, but seemed to disperse quickly....to cold or no fish? IDK, I hope to go out Christmas Eve.

[206]

Probably no fish.  My ice fishin history shows it's always hot and heavy at first ice, and then it slows down.  That's what I heard from the Moses reports.  Barometric pressure has a lot to do with biting fish through the ice also.

[Bigshooter]

Any reports on fish lake?  I'll be heading over in a couple weeks to give it a try.