Our goofy winter continues with Magic Reservoir finally completely frozen over and allowing ice anglers to pursue its abundant trout and perch. The fishing isn’t red hot, but it’s certainly worth a try. The reservoir has a really good trout population with lots of fish over a pound, and its perch population has a reputation for “now you see me, now you don’t.”

Well the perch are biting, maybe not numbers seen in years past when you could drill a hole in any random spot and catch a perch. But they’re out there, and that’s a good sign. We still have the whole month of February, so there’s plenty of time for fishing to get better.

Don Hartman, owner of West Magic Resort, said a Kastmaster lure tipped with wax worms is the hot bait for perch. When someone says something that specific, I probably wouldn’t go out on the ice without it.

Steelhead: The annual Women With Bait tournament kicked off this week in Riggins, and it’s a month-long event. Riggins knows how to throw a party, and this one has a well-earned reputation for fun. Gals from all over Idaho and Northwest converge on this cool river town for fishing and festivities, often at the same time. You can get details on the tournament at riveradventuresltd.com.

Keep a close eye on steelhead rivers. Two things tend to get fish moving: length of daylight and water temperatures. As we progress through February, a few sunny days will get those fish moving. Expect everyone to be there in March, but in February, crowds tend to be smaller.