Panfishing in the Panhandle

Through the Ice into the Frying Pan... Fishing the Panhandle

Looking at a map of the Idaho Panhandle reveals a land dominated by water, an angler's paradise. The big waters of Pend Oreillle, Coeur d'Alene, and Priest Lakes garner much of the angler's attention in the warmer month but the region is sprinkled with dozens of smaller shallower lakes.

These smaller lakes teem with a cornucopia of panfish species including Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Crappie, and many are frequently stocked with trout including Rainbow, Brook, and Cutthroat. Shallow, quick to cool, and first to freeze in winter these little lakes form the frosty backbone of the region's ice fisheries.

Read about best places and species to target ice fishing in Montana. 

What's Ice Fishing Season look like?

Once a solid 3 to 4" of ice forms on these lakes anglers eager to deploy their fishing gear make their way out on the ice in search of panfish. Unlike a lot of other fishing gear, ice fishing tackle is relatively inexpensive and you can throw your ultralite reels, spooled with 4 to 6 lb. test mono, onto new ice rods which will set you back $10-15 while a fully dedicated icefishing rod/reel combo can usually be found for under $25.

In Idaho, ice angler's can run up to 5 rods while fishing although I find that 2 or 3 is the easiest number to manage while panfishing. For panfishing an ice auger 7" and under is sufficient and easier to punch a hole in the ice with than a larger auger. A ladle to scoop ice out your fishing hole and bucket to sit on and carry your catch back to the car is also handy.

Looking for a great deal on ice rods? Check these out.

In the summer Yellow Perch, Bluegill, and Crappie tend to occupy the shallows darting among aquatic vegetation for invertebrates and fry while trout occupy the deeper weedlines and open water not straying far from the cool waters they prefer.

In winter these fish trade places and most perch, bluegill, and crappie will seek out deeper water 20-30' in depth and associate strongly with the bottom while trout move to the shallows, less than 15' deep, and often forage in the top 5-10' of the water column. Depending on which species you want to target will dictate how and where you will fish.

Jigging vs. the Deadstick: Two Ice Fishing Techniques Explained

Angler's seeking panfish can use two techniques. Jigging involves actively moving the rod tip up and down 4-8" to give action to the lure down below. Lures or bait can be jigged near the bottom or worked up and down thru the water column depending on what species of fish you are targeting. A deadstick is just that. A rod in which the angler imparts no to little action on. You simply drop your lure or bait down to the desired depth and leave it in a rod holder or hanging across a bucket.

To increase your odds It's best to run a deadstick rod within arms reach, while you jig through another hole nearby. This helps to keep you active (and warm) and engaged in the fishing but also your jigging lure may draw fish in that could lead to bites on your deadstick rod. I often clip a small bell to the tip of my deadstick rods so that I'm made aware of a fish's interest in my gear.

Ice Fishing for Yellow Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill: A Welcome Variety

Perch are the most targeted species thru the ice. Many lakes in the region support large populations of these fish and perch measuring 9-12" are not uncommon. Not only will these fish quite readily bite in the winter, they also possess delicious clean white fillets that make for an excellent fish fry.

Alongside these fish you will occasionally find schools of Crappie and Bluegill and, although these fish are not as large or meaty as perch, they add welcome variety to the days catch.

In our small lakes these fish associate strongly with the bottom in 20-30' of water. Small jigging spoons, smaller spinners, or small plastics with lead head jigs in white, chartreuse, silver, gold, or red tipped with maggots, waxworms, or nightcrawlers are your best bet. A favorite lure of many ice anglers is the Swedish Pimple and comes in a variety of colors. For both deadstick and jigging drop your lure to the bottom and make a half to one full crank off the bottom. Leave the deadstick in the rod holder while gently jigging the other rod for 2 to 3 minutes to attract fish. After jigging for a few minutes slowly lower the rod tip, bringing the lure closer to the bottom and then hold it stationary.

Want to learn more about the Hard Water Season? Read this.

The perch will frequently bite on this slow fall or stationary period just after you cease jigging. If you don't get bit after 60-90 seconds repeat the process. And, if a hole doesn't produce after 15 minutes pick-up and move, sometimes you don't need to go far. Also, if you are getting more action on the stationary rod or getting light bites a favorite tactic is to tie on a small bead head nymph fly 8-12" above the jig or spoon. This tactic is especially effective for Crappie and Bluegill as well as shy Yellow Perch.

Jigging will also produce the occasional bass and catfish that occupy similar depths and habitat in winter. So, be prepared for a long battle if you feel something heavy on the end of the line. Most Pandhandle lakes have no limits on panfish or minimum size requirements. However, anglers should be aware that it takes 4 to 6 years for perch to reach 8-10" and most Crappie and Bluegill gain less than an inch a year in our cool climate. A 9"+ Bluegill is truly a trophy fish that is likely a decade old or more. Harvest only what you need.

Trout "Ice Bites" can be Downright Explosive

Compared to the sluggish nibbles of many panfish, trout ice bites can be downright explosive. Many of the same lures that produce panfish will also produce trout. This allows the angler to shift depths and target different species without the need for re-rigging which can be a chore with cold hands and icy light lines.

If you are in search of trout start closer to shore and drop a deadstick rod with a small bait tipped jig or baitholder holder hook in 5-15' of water suspended well off the bottom. Maggots, nightcrawler, Powerbait, and salmon eggs will all stimulate feeding in trout.

With a greater tolerance to cold water, trout are more voracious winter feeders than perch or sunfish. When jigging for trout start with more aggressive lures, working towards smaller lures until you find what is drawing the most strikes. Small Rapala Jigging Raps or Hali Jigging Aatu's in perch patterns can be deadly in many north Idaho lakes.

We've got a wide range of bait and lures online here.

For trout, work the entire water column until you find the fish. If you have electronics, use them to zero in on the depth the trout are feeding on. If you are getting looks on the fish finder, or nibbles but no hookups try, down-sizing your gear to smaller jigging spoons such as; Swedish Pimples, Kastmaster's, or Hali  Sukkulas or small plastic jigs such as Trout Magnets or Trout Trap tube jigs in pink, red, white, copper, silver, or chartreuse.

Tipping your jigging lures with bait doesn't hurt, but don't pile on so much bait that it inhibits the action of the lure.

Trout will wander more under the ice in search of food, so I'll often give a hole 15 to 30 minutes of attention before moving on to other holes. Rainbow Trout are the most commonly encountered trout in Panhandle lakes, but some lakes provide opportunities to connect with Brown and Cutthroat Trout.

Most smaller lakes allow harvest of six trout but check your regulations to ensure there are no restrictions on Cutthroat Trout harvest. A few lakes support healthy numbers of Brook Trout. These highly invasive trout are readily catchable through the ice and harvest is encouraged by fish and game with a generous 25 fish limit.

Options for Quality Ice Fishing in the Pandhandle are Numerous

Popular lakes in the region include Fernan, Twin, and Cocolalla and they offer enough space to provide private ice even on busier fishing weekends.

Smaller lakes that provide quality fishing and protection on windy days include Kelso, Gamble, Round, Smith, Perkins, and Robinson. Numerous other opportunities exist in the region and in nearby western Montana and northeast Washington as well.

Shop for ice fishing gear online here. 

The goal of any fishing trip should be safety first, fishing second. 4" of black ice is needed to safely support a person and white ice can be half the strength of dark ice so plan accordingly. Always carry retractable ice picks to enable self-rescue, especially when fishing alone. Carry a backup change of clothing in the car as well in the event you take an unexpected Polar Bear challenge, while out on the water.

Get out there and enjoy some quality winter fishing while the ice is nice!