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I have a dilemma. Next week I will be between jobs and have Wednesday - Friday off. I have a free pass to fish! I was hoping the Ice on Lake Erie would hold, but I'm not getting a warm and fuzzy about it. The Maumee is a possibility, but not sure if it will be low enough to fish, assuming the ice is even out! Any suggestions where to fish and for what? I was really hoping to put a few meals in the freezer.
Detroit river launch out of lake Erie metro park
Is the water open there? I assume you suggest fishing from shore and for Walleye?
Maumee River is out for at least a week. I will post some photos in a day or two but the river is way over flood stage and full of ice chunks. There are huge ice piles at the flood line, some as big and tall as many have seen in years. There will probably be a lot of damage to traditional fishing access areas such as Buttonwood, Side Cut Park, and Orleans Park. I would guess the river fishing won't really start for two weeks assuming they don't get more significant rain. It will probably take time to clear and repair access areas once the water level does come down enough to get into those areas.
On Lake Erie there is some open water in the North West corner of the Western Basin, at the entrance of the Detroit River, but that is in Michigan Waters. The previous post mentioned a boat launch ramp in that area. Launching a boat anywhere on Lake Erie the next two weeks or more is crazy (stupid).
I am not an experienced Lake Erie ice fisherman, so the following is just based on what I've been told by the experts. Safe ice fishing is over. If the wind cooperates the next few days the ice along the southern shore - Crane Creek to Catawba and the Islands - MIGHT still be thick enough and stable enough to get out a LITTLE WAYS. The runoff from the Maumee is quickly warming up Maumee Bay and pushing currents around the Western Basin, degrading the ice. The ice surface is warming, honey combing, and pooling water. NO MATTER WHERE YOU MIGHT BE CRAZY ENOUGH TO TRY AND GO IT WILL BE DANGEROUS! If you really want to find out, call a local bait shop and ask before you go. I am pretty certain they will tell you it's very risky or they may (probably) tell you the season is over, do not go. I imagine there will be a few die-hards that will try and go out (probably walk) until the last possible moment. Remember there is a whole season of open water fishing ahead, so don't take any unnecessary risks. Good luck.
Yes open water, yes walleye. I fished from 14 ft alum had to dodge ice a few times but nothing severe. I assumed you had access to a boat when I replied the first time sorry. I launch there and run up river this time of year just in case there is a big ice flow and I have to get out quickly, I can get back to the launch before the ice blocks it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvs2Fish
Thanks for the replies! I'm going to load up the Suburban tonight with River and Ice fishing gear. I have a 14' inflatable canoe I'll bring to enable more options and will get an early start tomorrow. I'm going to scratch that fishing itch one way or another! One bait store said some guys were still getting on yesterday, but it's getting difficult to get on the ice since the shore is warming. The winds look like they'll cooperate the next couple days.Quote:
Originally Posted by eyesnperch
It looks like the there's a slim chance the Maumee will cooperate. Maumee tackle has a river update blog, keep an eye on that. It appears that most of the ice is out of the river and the temp has come up a bit. The water is still high but fishing a high river from shore is still safer than going out on sketchy ice.
Good luck and don't forget the pics!
There will be full trees and lots and lots of wreckage from winter haulin ass down that river for a while. Not to sure a canoe would be a good idea. Maumee tackle claims they heard a walleye has been caught but take that with a grain of salt. There are plenty of resident wlleye in that river. Be safe and good luck.
You're right, I should've clarified I wouldn't recommend anything except bank fishing the Maumee at this time. Rivers everywhere are pretty gnarly right now. I've seen the Ohio up higher than it is now, but I don't remember seeing that excessive water this constantly ever. Be safe.
Stay off the Maumee and the lake. Maumee is high and flowing fast with ice chunks flowing. Side Cut metro was supposed to be closed for a long time for major damage from ice flow. I would suggest and inland lake that has some open water near shore for a crappie fishing trip. The entire region has had alot of melting and some rain so all waterways are flowing heavy and very stained water.
Jump on a plane , head for Texas to do some crappie or bass fishing before the new job.
Good luck on the new job !
Safety first when dealing with early season fishing and the weather !
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Well, after checking the ice conditions I decided to get the last of Lake Erie ice fishing in. I left my sled at home so I wouldn’t be tempted to buzz all over and decided to walk. Keep in mind, this wouldn’t have been possible without cooperating light winds from the West and North both days. I also pulled an inflatable canoe just in case a large crack somehow opened up. A worthy insurance policy.
I launched at McGee Marsh and hoofed it 8 miles each day. Wednesday was long day with only a few hour’s restless sleep and 10 hours on the ice. I didn’t have a hit all day. I only marked one fish I thought may have been a walleye. I debated going out again on Thursday with an aching body and the temptation to try the Maumee.
Thursday I hit it hard again and looked for someplace to launch closer to Turtle Creek or Wild Wings. Nothing, so I launched again at McGee. Once achieving 19 FOW (about 3.5 miles out) I hit them hard. The first 30mn was one after the other. I couldn’t hardly fish 2 rods. After the initial barrage, they started just looking and not hitting. Then they slowed to a fish an hour or so. I came off with limit and released about 5 smaller eyes. The largest is 30” followed by 29” and a couple good eaters.
The ice conditions were changing rapidly. Wednesday was 10-15” everywhere with hard to punkie ice. Thursday was about an inch thinner, but the ice was punkie to spongy. You could tell the ice was melting faster from the bottom up with the warming river waters. I wouldn’t go out again today and expect things to break up in a few days. A good wind will get things going for soft water fishing. 3 years ago I fished the same area from the boat the last weekend of March!
Good deal. Sounds like you had it figured pretty well. I had buddies out last Saturday and I chickened out then. Well, the transom of my boat is in pieces, so I figured I'd better get busy with that so I don't miss the jig bite. Getting that limit the second day sure saved you from a sour taste in your mouth for the last ice fishing, didn't it? Put in the work, you get rewarded (usually).
Wow. I don't know whether to admire Luvs2Fish or consider him nuts! :-) I think I'll go with cautious admiration. After looking at webcam photos of the ice the last few days it almost looks like his photos were taken a week ago. But I will believe him.
What was the water clarity? Still clear or had the inflow muddy water made its way that far east?
The weather forecast for Saturday night through Tuesday is for well below normal temps and calm winds. Daytime highs in the low 30s and night lows of 26 / 24. Maybe the surface 4-6 inches firms up enough to make some ice more stable, enough to walk out a ways and ice fish?
The water was still clear @ 19 FOW. I wouldn't recommend venturing out since the ice is being eroded so quickly from the bottom up. If you did, I would have a partner and a large floatation device, plenty of distance between partners and ropes tied to each. I was never worried about going through, just cracks. I would be worried about going through now. The big difference in the ice between Wed and Thurs was with the auger. Wed was mostly shavings, some chunks, water in hole about 10" down. Thursday was mostly chunks and water appeared in the hole about 4" down. The auger went through the ice almost 2x faster on Thursday. I'd hit the Maumee now and have the boat ready for the weekend after next!
Now that's an informative post! It would be great if all posts were detailed and concise like that.
Details like that ("The big difference in the ice between Wed and Thurs was with the auger. Wed was mostly shavings, some chunks, water in hole about 10" down. Thursday was mostly chunks and water appeared in the hole about 4" down. The auger went through the ice almost 2x faster on Thursday.") are what we need in posts. Generalized comments that can be interpreted several ways don't help readers much. After reading that post I know exactly what the ice conditions were in that area and can make a much better decision.
Nice job Luvs2Fish!