A record-breaking warm winter has brought an unexpectedly early start to open-water season at Strawberry Reservoir. With ice receding weeks ahead of schedule, anglers are already launching boats in mid‑March, and the kokanee salmon and rainbow trout action is heating up fast. To catch some early fish, we join the Phillips Family from Strawberry Bay Marina, along with Matt Gillis from Big O Tires and his boys, to take advantage of the rare early ice‑off conditions. What we find is a mix of early‑season kokanee salmon, hungry rainbow trout, and rapidly changing spring fishing patterns brought on by this unusual winter. From trolling tactics to locating scattered schools of kokes, we break down what anglers can expect as Strawberry transitions from a disappointing ice season to an early hot spring fishery.