It may sound crazy, but I am glad to see the colder weather forecast throughout our region. Before you write me off as a complete nut case listen to why I think these chilly temperatures are a good thing. First of all, I want to do some more ice fishing this season, and I was getting worried about the ice melting on our area lakes. I haven’t made it to Patterson Lake, near Winthrop yet, and there are some big perch and rainbow waiting for me there. I want to get back down to Moses Lake and get some of those “jumbo”, 13-inch perch. I also want to try Long Lake, near Othello this year. It looks like I may get a chance. The daytime temperatures aren’t that bad, and in fact downright balmy, but the overnights will be well below freezing, so there is hope. I also want to fish for steelhead in the tributaries on the upper Columbia, and they are all blown out right now. If we get some colder weather they will settle down and I can try for steelhead on the Wenatchee and Methow rivers. See, maybe I’m not so crazy after all!