Ice fishing still good

Even with warmer days and sunshine sneaking into February, Sanders County is still very much an ice fishing haven. The cold winter Sanders County experienced this year has left lots of ice and many different locations for anglers to drop in their line.

Even as March nears and the Clark Fork River loses its ice, outdoor enthusiasts are still spending their free time fighting fish out on frozen lakes and reservoirs.

Tom Chianelli is in his fifth year as the Sanders County game warden for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He said ice fishing in Sanders County is an important activity as a sport, food source and as something to do in the winter.

“Some do it for sport and pike are good eating - a lot of people like to eat them,” Chianelli said.

“It's just a good pastime in the winter.”

Chianelli said he probably checks anywhere from 300 to 500 ice fishermen for licenses each year. He said the ice fishing season can typically range from just before the holidays through March. He said that by the time the ice is gone, spring fishing is right around the corner.

Chianelli said the ice fisherman are primarily going after pike and perch on places like Dog Lake off state Route 28 and the Noxon Reservoir.

He said the common tactic for pike is with “tip-ups” or a line with a flag that pops up when a fish is on, with dead smelt as bait. For perch, Chianelli said most fishermen use a lightweight rod and often small jigs for a lure.

Ice on the Clark Fork and its sloughs is almost completely gone, especially in lower parts of the valley. In the spring and summer, anglers are able to fish the lakes, reservoirs and rivers for months and go after a wide variety of species. Trout and bass, which aren't targeted as commonly by ice fisherman as pike and perch, will be fished more heavily during the warmer season.

Fish biologist Jon Hanson of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said there is not as much pressure on fish during the winter as in other times of year, but he said ice fishing does have an impact. Hanson said there will be an effect on any of the species that anglers fish for and it seems pike and perch are the ones most commonly being targeted on the reservoirs. Hanson said that for the reservoirs, FWP collects data that points to trends in which they can look at over multiple years.

“With reservoirs, we use the same protocol every year so we can look back and compare,” Hanson said. “It's a monitoring program. We try to get a general idea of how many fish are out there.”

As temperatures fluctuate, ice fisherman need to be aware of the thickness of the ice so that it is safe. A general rule of thumb is to ensure there is at least two to three inches of ice and Chianelli said seasoned ice fisherman can usually tell when the ice is safe by drilling holes and studying its color.

“A lot of guys will walk out slowly and drill holes as they go to check the thickness and see how it looks,” Chianelli said.

“They can usually tell. Some are a lot braver than I am.” Hanson said ice fishing for many people in Sanders County is a way of life. He said because so many people in Sanders County are outdoor-oriented they will take whatever opportunities they have at outdoor recreation.

“I think a lot of people grow up doing it and it's just a part of their life,” Hanson said. “I think people will fish any way they can.”

Out on the ice over Dog Lake Saturday morning were two fishermen from Missoula, Luke Di Cola and Rich Border. Di Cola said he has been fishing Dog Lake for many years and for him it's all about getting a chance to fish.

He said working in construction, he has to take advantage of the slow working season during the winter and get out on the ice to fish.

“I enjoy fishing a lot, but my job doesn't allow me to get out as much as I'd like to,” Di Cola said. “It sure is nice getting out here.”

Border said he's made it out on the ice a few times this year, but Di Cola is the more avid ice fisherman of the two.

“I've been out probably five times,” Border said. “But Luke, he's been out here about 50 times.”

Di Cola said he was the first person out on Dog Lake, fishing on the ice on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He said there was open water on part of the lake and the fishing was good, but he didn't tell any of his friends about it because he didn't want anyone to fall through the ice.

Di Cola said he thinks people ice fish because the word is getting out that it is an affordable way to have a good time outside and get some tasty food. “It's a good way to fill your freezer,” Di Cola said. “It's nice out here, too, because you see families out here and you didn't used to see that.”

He said there was a time when ice fishermen could have whole lakes to themselves, but now ice fishing is a much popular sport. However, Di Cola said he likes to see people go ice fishing as a family pastime. He said some might think ice fishermen are odd for doing what they do, but he enjoys it. “It's just a good time out here,” Di Cola said. “Of Course, some people think we're crazy, but I can't think of a better thing to do on a Saturday.”

Anyone with questions about ice fishing can contact the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, or pick up a regulations booklet from any business that sells licenses.