In a large bowl combine warm water and yeast. Stir with a fork to blend and allow yeast to dissolve. Set aside to stand for 3 minutes.
In a medium bowl whisk whole wheat flour, bread flour, oats and salt together. Set aside.
Add the cool water, starter sponge, honey, molasses and oil to the yeast mixture and mix with your fingers for 2 minutes. Mixture will be gloppy and feel messy and will be slightly foamy. Add the flour mixture and stir with your fingers to blend in flour, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Fold dough over itself until it gathers into a shaggy mess.
Move dough to a slightly floured surface and knead for 7-8 minutes by hand. Or transfer to a mixing bowl attached with dough hook and knead on low speed (level 2) for about 7-8 minutes. Dough should clear sides of bowl but not bottom. Add as little flour as possible. Dough should be soft and moist. If it's too wet add a tablespoon of flour at a time. If it's too stiff add cool water 1 tablespoon at a time until you have a supple dough.
Cover dough with oiled plastic and let rest for about 20 minutes. You should be able to stretch it easily but it won't be transparent because of the oatmeal.
Knead the dough for 2-3 more minutes. Lift up the dough. Lightly oil the bowl and place the dough back into the bowl. Turn to coat dough with oil. Cover with oiled plastic and let rise at room temperature for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours OR until doubled.
Dough is ready when you make an indention with your finger and it does not spring back.
Remove dough from bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Shape into a log. *See directions below.*
Place extra oats in a shallow dish. Mist or lightly brush tops of loaves with water. Roll tops of loafs in oats. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Cover with oiled plastic. Let rise for about 2 hours OR until doubled.
Thirty minutes before baking preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place cast iron skillet and mini loaf pan or other small pan (not glass) on the bottom rack of the oven. Place baking stone (if you have one) two rungs above on oven rack.
Fill plastic spray bottle with water. Prepare several cups of water to be boiled later using a teakettle or saucepan.
Five to 10 minutes before baking turn water to boil. Carefully place two ice cubes in the oven in small loaf pan. This creates moisture.
When loaves are ready place pans on the baking stone. If not using just slide onto oven rack. Quickly pour water into the skillet and shut the oven door. After 1 minute quickly spray loaves with bread and shut door again.
Reduce oven temperature to 400 after 20 minutes. Rotate loaves for even browning. Bake for another 25-30 minutes until loaves sound slightly hollow when tapped on bottom. Sides and bottom should feel firm. If you have a thermometer loaves should read around 210 degrees.
Cool completely on wire rack before cutting.
To freeze: Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place in freezer bag.