CASCADE, Idaho — While many anglers hang up their poles when winter arrives and the lakes freeze over, Idaho's ice fishermen embrace the changing landscape and take to the solitary terrain for some of the country's best ice fishing.
In search of massive perch, KTVB's Jude Binkley tagged along with local fishermen and Lake Cascade ice fishing guides, Chris Weber and Parker Weller, in Cascade, Idaho.
The Journey
The frigid forecasts don't stop Weber and Weller from taking to the frozen lake seven days a week for two and a half months chilly months. As temperatures drop, so do their lines.
The journey begins at a landing dock on the northern part of the lake's frozen shores, where the guides and adventure-seekers meet up to go over the basics, hash out the day's plan and gather necessary items for a successful ice fishing trip.
Upon completion of loading up the snowmobiles with the supplies needed for the eight-hour hunt, the crew then treks across 12-inch-thick ice to the ideal spot to set up a warm camp, dig an ice hole and drop a line.
“People sometimes call it an addiction, and I would definitely say so,” Weber said. “Lake Cascade is a world-class ice fishing destination.”
Rated by fishing travel company Fishing Booker as a top place for ice fishing, Lake Cascade reels in anglers from across the country for both the fish below the layer of ice and the moderate weather conditions above it.
“The weather in Cascade is calm and it's really sunny," Weber noted. "It's cool overnight, so it freezes the ice really good. And then during the day, it's quite nice.”
Despite the tolerable Idaho climate, ice shacks are still advised for a long day of fishing.
Inside the insulated huts speckling Lake Cascade's frozen landscape, temperatures can reach up to 70 degrees.
So, Weber advises finding an area on the ice where fish are visible and frequent a specific spot every five to 15 minutes, unloading the day's gear from the snowmobile, and setting up camp.
Once the ice shacks are in place, it's time to drill the 8-inch hole in the ice that will serve as the fisherman's gateway to the aquatic creatures below.
Ice anglers are equipped with the same tools that have been used for generations. However, there have been some upgrades made and new technology added to the typical ice fishing tackle box.
“You can actually scan about 90 feet and see those fish roaming,” Weber said of his high-tech sonar. “A lot of those perch are going to come from the bottom, and they're just going to be cruising down there. And, you know, you're basically enticing them to bite."
The Search for Perch
“You do get a lot of out-of-towners coming from the Midwest. Like 75% of my business as an ice fishing guide comes from the Midwest,” Weber said.
The Midwest is another popular area in the country for ice fishing fanatics. The influx of Midwesterners in Idaho can be attributed to Lake Cascade's reputation of boasting extremely large perch. Perch much larger than those found in the Midwest region.
The Great Lakes Region is known for producing perch that max out in size between seven to 10 inches - a big difference in comparison to Lake Cascade's 15-inch to 16-inch perch.
"It's crazy. Some of our [Lake Cascade's] bigger perch are like 15 to 16 inches. Those perch are from like, 2008," Weber explained excitedly. "They're like 15 to 16 years old!"
The yellow perch can be carefully cooked, anglers say deep-fried tastes best. The fish can also be turned into taxidermy trophies.
“Got 'em!”
For Weber and Weller, chasing highs on the lake when temperatures hit their lows is what Idaho life and the sport of ice fishing are all about.
“So, this is what we do for eight hours a day, every day. Stare at a screen and try to jig up perch," Weber said of a day in the life of an ice fishing guide. "We love it.”
“I like to distract myself as much as possible and immerse in ice fishing just to escape. You know, I think that gets back to the addiction,” Weber said. “The second where that fish bites, and then setting in the hook...those two seconds are the best feeling.”
It's the feeling when enough patience, a little luck and one rapid reaction all collide, leading to a lasting memory and one-of-a-kind experience in Idaho's backcountry on Lake Cascade.
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