I checked in with my friend Keith Roe up in Omak who now works for North 40 Outfitters, on how the ice fishing season was going up north. The popular perch fishing is good again on Patterson Lake, near Winthrop. Roe and I have fished this one together and he said the perch caught this year are up to 13 inches. There are also many nice rainbow being taken and even some kokanee. The road to Leader Lake is now open and anglers are catching a mix of perch, crappie, bluegill and some trout near the dike. Leader is on Highway 20 outside of Okanogan, and a Discovery Pass is needed here. Another lake that is producing kokanee through the ice is Bonaparte Lake. It is also good for perch and some trout. Palmer Lake is taking longer to freeze, but with sustained cold weather should be ready to go soon and is known for great perch fishing and there are good numbers of kokanee in Palmer, too. Near Leavenworth, Fish Lake now has a three- to four-inch layer of ice and last weekend many anglers were out fishing for perch here. Most of the perch are 8 to 9 inches on Fish Lake.