Ice Fishing Anyone!

[Southpole]

They have been loading up on pike and perch at the chain lakes around my place between Rose Lake and St. Maries. I saw a guy dragging a stringer with a ton of huge pike to his truck Monday...

Would love to get a pike…

I wanted to catch a few pike this year but everyone I asked about it it told me how much they hated them and nobody wants them so nobody targets them. Granted there’s walleye in every lake here so that’s a nice fish to target but I’ve eaten pickled pike and thought it was fine too. An uncle told me he just cuts his line when he has one on he doesn’t want their slime out of the water and on him and his gear.

That’s interesting, I don’t know anything about them except they’re bony.

[TeacherMan]

They have been loading up on pike and perch at the chain lakes around my place between Rose Lake and St. Maries. I saw a guy dragging a stringer with a ton of huge pike to his truck Monday...

Would love to get a pike…

I wanted to catch a few pike this year but everyone I asked about it it told me how much they hated them and nobody wants them so nobody targets them. Granted there’s walleye in every lake here so that’s a nice fish to target but I’ve eaten pickled pike and thought it was fine too. An uncle told me he just cuts his line when he has one on he doesn’t want their slime out of the water and on him and his gear.

That’s interesting, I don’t know anything about them except they’re bony.

There is a very distinct way to fillet them (3 fillets per fish). Besides that they are pretty darn good eating.

[kodiak10]

Had a good year ice fishing near newport and then even got to check out some scabland lakes after the cold spell. But all this snow on top of the lakes and warm rainy weather inbound is going to end the season for me. Last 2 years have been a bit rough to be an ice fisherman in eastern wa.

[Southpole]

Had a good year ice fishing near newport and then even got to check out some scabland lakes after the cold spell. But all this snow on top of the lakes and warm rainy weather inbound is going to end the season for me. Last 2 years have been a bit rough to be an ice fisherman in eastern wa.

I’m not real happy about the warm up either. Last year we didn’t go at all because of the lack of ice. Cascade is warming up too. It’s going to be a sloppy mess out there so we put the tracks on our side by side instead of bringing snowmobiles. I heard the tournament last week was a sloppy mess and a snowmobile caught fire and burnt to the ground and countless others got stuck.

[Skyvalhunter]

Burnt to the ground? That's terrible

[Southpole]

They have been loading up on pike and perch at the chain lakes around my place between Rose Lake and St. Maries. I saw a guy dragging a stringer with a ton of huge pike to his truck Monday...

Would love to get a pike…

I wanted to catch a few pike this year but everyone I asked about it it told me how much they hated them and nobody wants them so nobody targets them. Granted there’s walleye in every lake here so that’s a nice fish to target but I’ve eaten pickled pike and thought it was fine too. An uncle told me he just cuts his line when he has one on he doesn’t want their slime out of the water and on him and his gear.

That’s interesting, I don’t know anything about them except they’re bony.

There is a very distinct way to fillet them (3 fillets per fish). Besides that they are pretty darn good eating.

I wonder if they would be any good canned? That’s always my answer to unfamiliar bony fish.

[Southpole]

Burnt to the ground? That's terrible

I’m not a snowmobile expert but it seems like they don’t mix with heavy slush. My cousin and I experienced that 4 years ago and barely made it back to the truck. Maybe if you can keep your speed up super fast and float on top? It’s not worth the fight for me.

[metlhead]

I've eaten platters of pike while in engineer training North Dakota. Very fine. The locals cleaned em easy and the trick to good taste is beer marinade. Rolled in spicy cormeal and deep fried, we would all marinade ourselves with Molsons and Coors. Even the white bass tasted good

[Jpmiller]

They have been loading up on pike and perch at the chain lakes around my place between Rose Lake and St. Maries. I saw a guy dragging a stringer with a ton of huge pike to his truck Monday...

Would love to get a pike…

I wanted to catch a few pike this year but everyone I asked about it it told me how much they hated them and nobody wants them so nobody targets them. Granted there’s walleye in every lake here so that’s a nice fish to target but I’ve eaten pickled pike and thought it was fine too. An uncle told me he just cuts his line when he has one on he doesn’t want their slime out of the water and on him and his gear.

That’s interesting, I don’t know anything about them except they’re bony.

There is a very distinct way to fillet them (3 fillets per fish). Besides that they are pretty darn good eating.

I wonder if they would be any good canned? That’s always my answer to unfamiliar bony fish.

I think I’ve only ever had em pickled but ive never caught them myself always just been given it that way.

[TeacherMan]

Little guide to filleting them. I fry them like walleye.

[Rob]

Thanks for that image - I have saved it away for later.

I would really like to get out and try ice fishing.  I have a sled, auger, shelter and several rods and tip-ups.   But I would like to go with someone first to learn the ropes and any safety measures.

I keep talking to my circle of friends out here and I have not found anyone who ice fishes yet!

I am about 300 yards away from Lake Cocolalla so I see folks out there all the time.

[teanawayslayer]

They have been loading up on pike and perch at the chain lakes around my place between Rose Lake and St. Maries. I saw a guy dragging a stringer with a ton of huge pike to his truck Monday...

Would love to get a pike…

I wanted to catch a few pike this year but everyone I asked about it it told me how much they hated them and nobody wants them so nobody targets them. Granted there’s walleye in every lake here so that’s a nice fish to target but I’ve eaten pickled pike and thought it was fine too. An uncle told me he just cuts his line when he has one on he doesn’t want their slime out of the water and on him and his gear.

That’s interesting, I don’t know anything about them except they’re bony.

There is a very distinct way to fillet them (3 fillets per fish). Besides that they are pretty darn good eating.

very good eating fish. Caught my first one this past summer. Wasn’t sure how to fillet it so cooked it whole in aluminum. Bones separated pretty easy. Wasn’t to bony.

[TeacherMan]

Thanks for that image - I have saved it away for later.

I would really like to get out and try ice fishing.  I have a sled, auger, shelter and several rods and tip-ups.   But I would like to go with someone first to learn the ropes and any safety measures.

I keep talking to my circle of friends out here and I have not found anyone who ice fishes yet!

I am about 300 yards away from Lake Cocolalla so I see folks out there all the time.

Best bet would be to just get out on the ice and give it a shot when you see other guys on it  Really good trout and perch ice fishing up your way.

[Southpole]

Thanks for that image - I have saved it away for later.

I would really like to get out and try ice fishing.  I have a sled, auger, shelter and several rods and tip-ups.   But I would like to go with someone first to learn the ropes and any safety measures.

I keep talking to my circle of friends out here and I have not found anyone who ice fishes yet!

I am about 300 yards away from Lake Cocolalla so I see folks out there all the time.

Best bet would be to just get out on the ice and give it a shot when you see other guys on it  Really good trout and perch ice fishing up your way.

I second that, when you see lots of people out on the ice you’re usually good to go for safety. Nothing real technical about it. Drill a hole and drop a line in with a little bait on it and build from there. Lot’s of good people to talk to out there that are willing to share, it’s a community.

[kodiak10]

The ice fishing community has to be one of the more friendly ones around.

My favorite piece of safety gear is a ice chipper or spud bar. That tool may be the best for keeping one from taking a swim more than anything. During early or late ice, it can be used to chip at ice in front of you to test its quality and strength.

Ice picks are good to have too, that way if the nightmare of falling through does occur, you can pull yourself out.