Catawba Ice Fishing?!

[West Basin]

Looks like a few folks ice fishing out off Catawba State Park. itsbob said same.

Any locals confirm?

If so, ice nearshore must be "good" enough to go out. At least there. There is always someone... :-)

I would think today and Saturday morning would be it.

Open water off Marblehead / in the South Passage.

I know ice fishing continues north of South Bass / Put-in-Bay.

Open water season isn't far off despite the ice.

[Capt Juls]

Looks like a few folks ice fishing out off Catawba State Park. itsbob said same.

Any locals confirm?

If so, ice nearshore must be "good" enough to go out. At least there. There is always someone... :-)

I would think today and Saturday morning would be it.

Open water off Marblehead / in the South Passage.

I know ice fishing continues north of South Bass / Put-in-Bay.

Open water season isn't far off despite the ice.

Yes, there were some out of Catawba yesterday (walked out). Some did very well too. But, the ice is the ice, and is never safe.

If you go, take a spud bar, ice picks, and the other safety equipment one should have out there...many were seen out there that didn't have any safety equipment with them.

Heard a rumor of someone falling through twice, or two people fell through once, but I can't confirm either, soooo....take it fwiw.

Hopefully, no one will lose their life over a walleye today.

The weather coming in will destroy this ice, and hopefully, it won't be back again.

The boat is ready to get back on the water.

[island troller]

Lot of warmth and offshore winds all next week. Thinking positive about open water by next weekend. I believe.

[Big_O]

Lot of warmth and offshore winds all next week. Thinking positive about open water by next weekend. I believe.

Just saw where Coast Guard is pulling ice fisherman off lake at Catawba with air boat.

[Capt Juls]

There was a big crowd down there today to watch what was going on. Everyone got off safe.

[itsbob]

Read a report on Ogf that a person fell through the ice off Catawba Friday.Had a survival suit on.Got out and went fishing after the plunge?Juls posted pictures of today's rescue below.After the blow tonight,looks like the ice fishing is done for the season,unless put in bay still has safe ice.

[branhamautomotive]

glad everyone is safe, thank God for the first responders and all those near by who helped.

hate reading this even though it's a yearly thing where ppl risk their lives for a few pounds of fish meat

[itsbob]

From what I have read on the forums and the news,seams like responders knew this was coming today.Some experienced guys on the ice Friday said they saw the ice changing.All you needed was the South wind.Lucky nobody died.Did read a post that said some guys jumped in water to swim across that crack.Not sure if true,but you never jump in that water.Someone will get you off that floating ice.Bet that most of the ice will be gone in western basin by Tuesday,after this blow.

[Capt Juls]

From what I have read on the forums and the news,seams like responders knew this was coming today.Some experienced guys on the ice Friday said they saw the ice changing.All you needed was the South wind.Lucky nobody died.Did read a post that said some guys jumped in water to swim across that crack.Not sure if true,but you never jump in that water.Someone will get you off that floating ice.Bet that most of the ice will be gone in western basin by Tuesday,after this blow.

I know of one who was interviewed by the news media that said he fell in as he was jumping cracks. Luckily, he had ice picks and was able to pull himself out.

[pimplepounder]

Thanks for the Report Captn! Sure do value your experience! I am an icer at heart, but the ice in our zone was NeVer good enough for me this year. These people do not understand the power of the lake in my opinion ...