Ice Anglers Are Grinding Away!
Lake Erie Fishing Report Week Of February 11, 2026
This week's fishing report is going to be something a little different than the usual Lake Erie Walleye report.
I will start off talking about the Lake Erie Walleye, the bite has been slow for most anglers. I have not personally been out walleye fishing since my last report however I have gotten the inside information from others. Walleye are definitely here in good numbers, just not very active. Reports for Ice anglers heading all over the lake from just east of the Maumee Bay all the way to Kelly’s Island. Mixed reports of catches with most fishing all day for just a few fish while a small percentage of ice anglers are catching respectable amounts up to limits. Most anglers are targeting 21 fow and deeper jigging rattle spoons with minnows and Rapala jigging raps tipped with minnow heads. Colors have been all over the rainbow with my personal favorites being blue chrome, bluegill, fire tiger, and perch!. Light twitches and slow action has been getting the walleye to trigger. Right now it is the luck of the draw if anglers happen to land on a very small pod of active fish. The Lake Erie region has been under very high barometric pressure, highest being 30.45 that I have seen over the last week. When the barometric pressure is this high, walleye seem to go to the bottom and bury their heads in the mud and not want to play nice. That is exactly what we are experiencing.
Now for the ice conditions of the Western Basin; ice thickness is 10 to 14 inches in most places. Cracks are opening and closing daily depending on lake conditions. I personally know of 3 machines in the last week that went in the water, due to NOT checking with a spud bar before crossing cracks. As the ice moves with the wind so do the “safe” crossing areas. Just because you took that same track yesterday or even in the morning going out does not mean the crossing is still firm! There is a major crack running from K can area (Davis Besse) extending west going just above the Toledo Water Intake to the Michigan main land. This 911 crack as it has been nicknamed over the years claims lives of ice anglers every year! If going out on the Lake Erie ice please be careful NO ICE IS SAFE especially on the big waters.
Now for what I have been up to! Crappie fish in the local backwater and Inland areas have been my interest lately with the walleye bite being slow. I have been having spotty success but able to grind out enough for a meal for family and close friends each time out. What more can a guy ask for??? Crappies have been following the same patterns as the walleye tight to the bottom and tight lipped. The Active Target unit will be lit up with fish and maybe if lucky a few will take the trap set! I have been targeting a local reservoir the last couple trips with not too bad of results! Crappie are on the bottom ¼ of the water column in 21 to 24 fow and moving ever so slowly. Patience to wait them out, stay put and work the fish under me has paid off the most . My most productive bait and presentation has been an old school Marmuska green in color tipped with 2 white spikes. I am using an OLD noodle 6 ft ice rod with a light bite spring bobber. If you are a panfish ice fisherman and don't know about the light bite boobers LOOK them up they will change your life! The light bite bobber has been able to detect the slightest bites and the noodle rod has been able to get the hook set without pulling the jig out of the fish's mouth. I have to give a shout out to my old buddy Clair for hooking me up years ago with this setup. I will definitely be trying to get back out on the big lake soon to try for some more walleyes. Maybe tomorrow??? Who knows ??? With the low barometric pressure moving in the Lake Erie region I would anticipate the walleye coming off the bottom to play as long as we don't get too much of the dreaded S, SW, W, SE, E winds to blow the ice apart.
Until Next Time,
Gotta Go, Fish ON 🎣 Get The Net‼️,
Captain Kris