I mentioned in an earlier report that Rat Lake near Brewster was still iced over. The ice isn’t thick enough to support ice fishermen, so it will probably be sometime in March before anglers can get at the trout in this quality lake. I thought of another lake that is popular in the spring that may have shed its layer of ice, so I got back on Highway 97 and drove up to Okanogan. Here I took Highway 20 to reach Leader Lake. Leader was changed to a year-round lake several years ago and increased in popularity. It is inhabited with a wide variety of species. There is a boat launch here and very good shore access. I found this lake also covered with ice, and no sign of people drilling holes through it. Darn. Here’s another fun lake where anglers will have to wait to fish. Last week I reported on my trip to Lake Chelan to fish for kokanee. I fished with Nate Stull of Stully’s Guide Service and we did a video. He explained in detail how he fishes for kokanee and the video is now posted on my Facebook page and on my YouTube channel.