You can add Banks Lake to the list of lakes where you can take your ice auger and fishing gear. While heading to Lake Roosevelt last week I traveled the length of Banks, and it was frozen top to bottom. I didn’t see anyone on the ice near the highway that crosses the bottom of the lake. I did notice one truck parked at the marina at Coulee City. I was in a hurry, so I didn’t stop to see if they were fishing there, though. On my way home I passed by Coulee Playland and saw one lone angler pulling a sled way out on the lake. No doubt this angler was going to set up to fish for whitefish. This is the most popular target for ice anglers at this end of the lake. I have encountered big groups of them bringing in coolers full of the big lake whitefish that inhabit Banks. Most of them are in the 2- to 3-pound class, but they can be as large as 6 pounds. I would check in with Lou at Coulee Playland to get the latest report on the fishing at this end of Banks, and advice on how to catch the big whitefish. I hear they are excellent when smoked.