Winter has released its grasp on some fisheries, but is still holding on to others. The best news is that the Okanogan River is ice free and flowing. The water temperature in the stream is still pretty chilly though. With the warmer weather forecast for the next week, it should warm a bit and the steelhead bite should be red hot. This is a fishery I wait for all winter. There are very good numbers of steelhead in a biting mood on the Okanogan in March, and the number of very big and bright fish surprises even the locals. Still covered with ice is Palmer Lake, so anglers are going to have to wait a bit longer to get at the big kokanee that inhabit this lake. This is the earliest kokanee fishery that I know of in the region. What makes Palmer Lake even more special is the size of the kokanee. Many taken through the ice this winter were already 19 inches! Roses Lake is shedding its ice cover, too, and anglers will be able to get at the trout that were planted in here last fall. Fishing at Burke and Quincy lakes should be great now, too.