Lake Erie Ice Is Melting Away!

Lake Erie Ice Going Soft Fast

Ice conditions are rapidly going the wrong direction for the ice fisherman and the right way for the boaters.  I am definitely no ice expert by any means, however I have ice fishing my whole life since I was a young boy.  My observations over the last week have been that ice is going black, soft, and moving around.  Reports of several machines falling through the ice since Sunday.  One went in on the Ottawa River, one at the A can area, one 4 miles west of Catawba State Park. Even a report of an Airboat breaking through and running 100 yards in the water somewhere North West of the Toledo Water Intake. On Monday night the Lucas County emergency personnel were called to launch their airboat to rescue an ice fisherman stranded at Menkie Marina in Curtice, Ohio. In my solid OPINION the Lake Erie ice fishing is done for the season for most.  Warm temperatures, wind, and time of year are not on our side. 

Now for the walleye fishing report: Anglers that made it out on the ice were reporting good catch numbers as the fish seem to have lifted off the bottom as I predicted they would have once  “stable” weather pattern set up again.  The key to success has been looking for those active marks with forward facing sonar. Find a group of walleyes that are swimming around and looking for food that are not dormant and bam, Fish ON! Catches have been reported on just about anything in the tackle box, however the smallest jigging raps with no bait took first place. The grade of walleyes has been good overall with some eaters and a few trophies in the mix. Most anglers have been getting ½ to ¾ of a limit of walleyes.

It will not be long until the docks are in the water and Lake Erie walleye fishing boats are going everyday!  Hopefully my next week's report will be from the Sir Walleye Jr boat out doing some livescoping or trolling in open water. 

Until Next Time, 

Gotta Go, Fish ON 🎣 Get The Net‼️,

Captain Kris