There is a good side of the freezing temperatures that we have been getting throughout the region. It means that there is safe ice already on some of our lakes, and it is getting thicker on others. Traveled up to Fish Lake, near Lake Wenatchee last Sunday, and there were over 50 people fishing on the ice here. The ice was eight inches thick and the people I talked to were getting some perch of 7 to 9 inches and had caught one rainbow of 14 inches. Patterson Lake near Winthrop has been producing good catches of perch, trout and kokanee for a few weeks now. Those who are real fanatics for perch are traveling to Curlew Lake, which is east of Republic. The perch are particularly big on Curlew and fishing has been excellent this winter. A friend checked on the ice at Moses Lake for me and reported that is should be thick enough for safe fishing by now. I always remind people to be sure the ice is thick enough to support yourself and your friends before you venture far from shore. Get some Swedish Pimples, or the new Glo-Shot Jib from Northland Tackle, bait them with worms and get out and get some perch!