Clearwater/Panhandle Idaho Ice Fishing

[obifishkenobi]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]Hello All,[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]This is my first time posting in a forum like this. Back here in Minnesota I've been ice fishing for the better part of 30 years, which has led to the connections and experience, to not require going to outside sources for information. [/font]


[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]With that being said, I am swallowing my pride and asking for some help here.[/font]


[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]I am planning a road trip with a fishing buddy for mid march. We are going to stop in Big Sky MT to do some skiing, then head to the west coast for some pacific ocean fishing and golfing. On the way, we will be driving through the panhandle of Idaho on I90.[/font]




[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]The idea hit us that maybe we could stop in and do some ice fishing for a couple days.[/font]




[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]From what I have seen so far, it seems like the lowland lakes are VERY questionable that time of year (specifically 3/13-3/15). I haven't really been able to get an answer on the high mountain lakes from any of the bait stores in the area.[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]I understand that ice conditions vary from year to year, but back here in Minnesota, on 3/15, you can bet with 100% certainty you can walk out on most lakes, even find 16"+ of ice, just depending on how far north you are willing to drive.[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]So I am looking for assistance. I can scour the forum boards for tactics, presentations, baits etc. But with the many hours of research behind me already, I have reached a dead end in deciding on which lake/area to target.[/font]


[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]So here's what I am looking for:[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]Within 2 hours of the I90 corridor[/font]
[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]trout species present (not picky on exact species, just looking to add a few species to my list that I cant get back home)[/font]
[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]vehicle accessible (an hour hike would be fine, but we are certainly not mountain climbers. four wheel drive F-350)[/font]
[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]IDEALLY HIGH MOUNTAIN LAKE[/font]


[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]I understand I might need to pick one or the other when it comes to vehicle accessible and high mountain lake, but poking around on the IFG website I found Hoodoo Lake and Little Bayhorse lake that look like they are at some high elevations with scenic views and a cool drive, but they are a bit too far from the I-90 corridor.[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]Now, 2 hours from the I-90 corridor is not a must. I can change the route if you have a gem on the south side of the state, I am just assuming that the further north you go, the better odds of finding fishable ice around 3/15.[/font]



[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]Also, I wanted to add, since if it were me reading this post I would chuckle and say "do your own field work", I am not looking to keep any fish. I am not going to post any recommendations or any fish I catch to social media.[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]It has always been a dream of mine to catch trout through the ice in the shadow of a picturesque mountain scene. Absolutely any assistance in locating this scene is greatly appreciated.[/font]

[font="Open Sans", sans-serif]One more note, I would really like to do this trip self guided, but if you have any ice fishing guides to recommend in the area, send them my way.[/font]

I'm glad you said your willing to go south, your best bet would be Henrys Lake in South East Idaho it is just outside West Yellow Stone Montana and is a Blue Ribbon Fishery for Cuttthroat, Cuttbows and Brook Trout and will still have good ice at that time with easy access. Until this year it was closed from January 2 through Memorial weekend, but now it is open for catch and release fishing during your dates. You will also find lots of You Tube videos with useful ice fishing tactics and I would be willing to answer any question you may have and tell you what works there for me.