Ice Fishing this season?

[MBLMIKE]

I looked at the camera this eve the view from miller ferry at put in bay one snowmobile running out in front of the board walk to some shanties so there is some brave souls out there but its way to cold for me if you do go stay safe and let us know how you do

[itsbob]

Was too bad we didnt get that two week cold spell in January to make better ice for the ice fishermen.At least they were able to get in some fishing the past week or more.Looking forward to getting on the lake again.Need alot of ice to melt before can do that.The warmer weather coming this week should melt the snow and let the sun do its job of warming the water.Then the wind and current will work on breaking up and melting it.Hoping by third week in March the marinas are clear of ice to start launching boats.The charters should be able to take people out right away this season.No Covid shutdown to deal with like last season.Have read the few posts on the guys ice fishing and a few of their pictures.Seams like the fish were smaller than i expected and also said they were releasing some short fish.We caught some fish last fall that were just over 15".I assumed they were from that record 2018 hatch and some of the ice fishing pictures showed fish that size.Even though the 2019 and 2020 hatches were good,they were not close to the 2018 hatch.I would guess those shorts caught ice fishing were from the 2019 hatch.

[pimplepounder]

Could be on them smaller ones. I had some buddies do good with some nice fish Friday thru- Sunday. I guy a couple sleds went through at Crane Creek. This was where they went out of. I normally go out of Catabwa. But to much on my plate this year, plus I get enough fishing in without freezing my azz off and crossing the crack. Looking forward to another swim at the weather buoy Bob.. lol

[Capt Juls]

This post was on Facebook from Josh Prephan:
First hand report for those wondering how the ice conditions are out of Catawba. We took a sled and atv out and followed another atv and sled. We headed west till we got to the trail going through the shove ice. Stopped where it started to clear up and was sitting on 15” of ice. Fished for an hour with few marks and no fish and decided to head north. Got about 300 yards from where we were and found ourselves on 2” of ice and quickly turned around. I also had a buddy out there today that saw a snowmobile go through and lost everything. If you’re thinking about going out this weekend I would strongly reconsider. I also have yet to hear of a walleye caught out of Catawba. Tight lines everyone

[West Basin]

Got some reliable information. Fishing last weekend wasn't very good off Catawba and not much better west of South Bass Island to Rattlesnake Island. No report from Crane Creek area. No new reports from this week. The ice conditions, especially after this week's snow, are tough to travel on and there are thin ice areas. There should be travel paths by Friday, so stay on them. Hopefully this evening we'll get some reports from today. Be very careful if you go!



West side of South Bass Island, Green Island in background. This is an example of what is out there, and lots of it.

[itsbob]

Yeah Kent,the weather Bouy was very productive last season.Caught well there for a quite a long time.But is a haul out to the middle of the lake.Hope they actually deploy that Bouy earlier than they have the past 2 seasons.A lot of people rely in current water conditions to make their decisions.
I made a mistake in my previous post on the 2019 walleye hatch.The 2019 hatch surpassed the great 2018 and was close to equalling the record 2003 hatch.The last 3 hatches will be putting a record number of walleye in lake Erie.A true gift to all who fish Erie.